At Aiguasol, we are proud to coordinate the IncentEU project, supported by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under the LIFE program funding. Running from 2025 to 2028, IncentEU is focused on advancing sustainable District Heating and Cooling (DHC) networks, prioritizing renewable energy sources and the use of waste heat in alignment with the EU’s Efficient District Heating and Cooling Strategy.

Driving innovation: Aiguasol’s role in IncentEU

As the project coordinator, Aiguasol leads the overall management of the consortium, ensuring smooth collaboration between all partners, monitoring project execution and performance indicators, and reporting to CINEA. Beyond coordination, we serve as WP leader for investment plans development and as the local technical partner, aiming to develop more than 15  investment plans for new DHC projects in multiple municipalities within the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB).

Our work involves:

• Assessing local demand and available renewable energy and waste heat resources.
• Designing conceptual system layouts.
• Evaluating costs and conducting technical, economic, and environmental feasibility analyses.
• Performing risk and sensitivity analyses.
• Preparing phased investment plans tailored to each project.

Through these activities, we will help municipalities across Europe make informed investment decisions and provide a clear roadmap for sustainable urban heating and cooling systems.

A strong consortium of experts

IncentEU brings together a robust network of partners, each contributing specialized expertise:

• IREC – Leading the development of the general methodology and conducting demand and resource assessments.
• AMB, Strasbourg Eurométropole, Tallinn Municipality – Providing three regional case studies at different stages of DHC deployment, allowing for meaningful cross-country comparison and replication potential.
• EGIS Conseil, EnergyMentor and AIGUASOL – Serving as the technical partners, supporting system design, feasibility analysis, and implementation strategies.
• SEFA – Acting as the finance expert, responsible for financial modeling, capacity building, and dissemination of project results.

A holistic approach with lasting impact

What sets IncentEU apart is our holistic approach and focus on replication:

• Partnering with regions at different stages of DHC development—Tallinn (high penetration), Strasbourg (expanding), and Barcelona (emerging)—to facilitate cross-country knowledge exchange.
• Creating a comprehensive database of technologies and costs, coupled with a pre-analysis methodology, to allow rapid evaluation of project feasibility.
• Integrating 5th Generation DHC systems (5GDHC), which operate at low temperatures, enabling efficient use of residual and renewable heat while minimizing distribution losses.
• Analyzing business and financing models for implementation and operation, ensuring long-term sustainability and adaptability to local conditions.

Powering expertise: building a community of practice

A key part of our work is fostering a Community of Practice (CoP) of DHC stakeholders, including ESCOs, utilities, financiers, and policymakers. By engaging this network, we will identify sector needs, share best practices, and ensure that the methodologies developed are replicable across Europe, bridging knowledge gaps and strengthening the DHC value chain.

Measurable results: what we aim to achieve

Through our leadership and technical expertise, we aim to achieve the following tangible results:

• Primary energy savings: 21.5 GWh/year (9 GWh/year in AMB).
• Renewable energy generation: 19.5 GWh/year (10 GWh/year in AMB).
• CO₂ emissions reduction: 9,700 tCO₂eq/year (3,800 tCO₂eq/year in AMB).

At Aiguasol, coordinating IncentEU allows us to combine strategic project management, technical excellence, and collaborative innovation to drive the adoption of efficient, sustainable District Heating and Cooling systems throughout Europe. 

This late September 2025, the kick-off meeting will bring together all project partners in Barcelona to officially launch this ambitious initiative and set the stage for collaborative success.

“Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of Aiguasol only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”