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The CHAMP project, funded by GIZ within the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), develops methodologies, planning tools, and training to support local authorities in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Greece in the preparation of municipal heating and cooling (H&C) plans, thereby complying with Article 25.6 of the revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
One of the first tasks of the project partners (BSERC, Bulgaria; REGEA, Croatia; CRES, Greece) was to conduct an in-depth review and analysis of the framework conditions in the heating and cooling sector. The results of this study are presented in a report titled “Review of the current heating and cooling framework in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Greece.”
The report analyzes the heating and cooling sector in three pilot municipalities: Pernik (Bulgaria), Rijeka (Croatia), and Veria (Greece). Each pilot case reflects the broader national context and challenges related to H&C planning, energy efficiency, and renewable energy integration.
Comparative analysis reveals shared challenges across the three countries, including low building renovation rates, limited data infrastructure, insufficient municipal planning capacity, and reliance on fossil fuels. While Croatia excels in strategic planning and Bulgaria in air-quality-driven action, Greece leads in solar thermal adoption. Yet, all three countries need stronger coordination, financing instruments, and capacity building to meet EU targets.
District heating systems, where present, are outdated and fossil-fuel reliant. Transitioning to modern, low-temperature systems integrated with renewables is not yet mainstream. Consumer-level challenges include affordability, lack of information, and limited financial incentives for non-poor households. One-stop shops, tax incentives, and regulatory sandboxes are largely missing.
The report identifies multiple gaps, including incomplete EU legislation transpositions, limited financial accessibility, lack of comprehensive national H&C strategies, and underdeveloped integration of H&C into urban planning. Although there are pilot programs and funding streams, they often operate in isolation and fail to build systemic change.
In conclusion, the report calls for comprehensive national strategies, improved data systems, targeted financial tools for all income levels, and local capacity building. Accelerated adoption of renewable technologies, modernization of district heating, and inclusive planning are crucial to achieving a sustainable, efficient, and equitable H&C sector in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Greece.
The report can be found here.