For potential IEA DHC members

Benefits of membership

for IEA DHC members

• can obtain international funding
• obtain a close connection to the international DHC community
• can influence research direction of international DHC research

for researchers from member countries

• can apply for additional money
• can extend their international collaboration

Description

Membership in IEA DHC fosters sharing of knowledge and current best practice from many countries including those where:

•     DHC is already a mature industry
•     DHC is well established but refurbishment is a key issue
•     DHC is not well established.

Membership proves invaluable in enhancing the quality of support given under national programmes. Participant countries benefit through the active participation in the programme of their own consultants and research organisations. Each of the projects is supported by a team of experts, one from each participant country. As well as the final research reports, other benefits include the cross-fertilisation of ideas which has resulted not only in shared knowledge but also opportunities for further collaboration.

New member countries are very welcome – please simply contact us (see below) to discuss.

DHC makes a difference

One of the key technologies that can make a difference is District Heating and Cooling.
DHC is an integrative technology that can make significant contributions to reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollution and to increasing energy security. Furthermore it creates Jobs, benefits the local economy and increases energy security and resilience.

The fundamental idea of DHC is simple but powerful: connect multiple thermal energy users through a piping network to environmentally optimal energy sources, such as combined heat and power (CHP), industrial waste heat and renewable energy sources such as solarthermal, geothermal and other natural sources of heating and cooling.
The ability to assemble and connect thermal loads enables these environmentally optimal sources to be used in a cost-effective way, and also offers ongoing fuel flexibility. By integrating district cooling carbon-intensive electrically-based airconditioning, rapidly growing in many countries, can be displaced.

As an element of the International Energy Agency Programme, the participating countries undertake co-operative actions in energy research, development and demonstration.

One of the programmes that has run for more than 30 years is the Implementing Agreement ‘District Heating and Cooling including Combined Heat and Power’.

District Heating not only offers excellent opportunities for reducing environmental pollution, but also for achieving the goal of saving energy. It is an extremely flexible technology which can make use of any fuel including the utilisation of waste energy, renewables and, most significantly, the application of combined heat and power (CHP).

It is by means of these integrated solutions that very substantial progress towards environmental targets, such as those from the Paris Accords can be made.

How to Join?

Any person from a third party can become a country representative. IEA DHC membership is for country representatives only. Should you and your organisation wish to represent a country as a member of IEA DHC, please contact the IEA DHC programme manager. You will receive a detailed description of the joining procedure.