The REPOWER REGIONS project has released its
Landscape Analysis Report, offering a comprehensive overview of decarbonisation trends in heating and cooling across nine European countries: Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Serbia, and Spain. The findings highlight growing momentum toward electrification, low-temperature systems, energy recovery, and digital optimisation—while also identifying persistent challenges in implementation and workforce skills.
Based on 68 case studies from various building types and district-level systems, as well as 110 educational programmes, the report outlines both technical developments and critical skills gaps. Commercial and industrial buildings are at the forefront of adopting AI-based controls and hybrid heating systems. Public and institutional buildings show a shift toward smart ventilation and low-temperature distribution. In the residential sector, heat pumps and rooftop photovoltaics are gaining ground, though issues like outdated infrastructure and overheating risks remain. Successful examples of decentralised, renewable-based district heating were documented in countries such as Germany, Latvia, and Denmark.
Despite this progress, the report identifies high upfront costs, fragmented regulation, and limited digital interoperability as major barriers. Labour shortages and insufficient training further complicate the transition. A review of 110 higher education, vocational (VET), and continuing education (CVET) programmes reveals uneven coverage of key competencies such as digital tools, commissioning practices, and regulatory literacy.
The study also analyses how EU legislation—including the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), and Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III)—is reshaping national frameworks. For instance, municipalities with over 45,000 residents are now mandated to develop local heating and cooling plans, under Article 25(6) of the EED recast.
To address these challenges, the report provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, municipalities, industry, educators, and researchers. It calls for updated curricula, stronger public-private cooperation, and the deployment of smart, interoperable systems. “Success will depend on aligning curricula with real-world needs, investing in workforce development, and ensuring that digital and low-carbon systems are implemented effectively and inclusively,” the report concludes.
