About ESCALATE - ESCALATE

ESCALATE was initiated in response to the the critical need for decarbonising Heating and Cooling (H&C) systems in the European Union, where buildings account for the largest share of energy consumption. Heating, cooling, and water heating make up 80% of this demand, making sustainable H&C systems essential to reaching the EU’s climate-neutrality target by 2050.

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) Recast mandates that cities with populations over 45,000 must develop local H&C plans. However, many local and regional authorities (LRAs) still lack the expertise and resources to create such plans, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe. These regions face specific challenges, with limited experience in H&C planning.

ESCALATE responds to this challenge by offering rather than creating a unified methodology and comprehensive training program to build the capacity of regional energy agencies. These agencies will then empower LRAs across Europe to design and implement high-quality, tailored H&C plans that align with EU climate goals.

With 11 partners from 10 countries and a project duration of 36 months, ESCALATE will accelerate the clean energy transition by supporting the development of sustainable H&C solutions in cities and regions across Europe. By providing technical expertise and facilitating collaboration, ESCALATE ensures that both large and small municipalities can effectively contribute to Europe’s low-carbon future.

Our objectives

ESCALATE aims to drive the Clean Energy Transition by helping local and regional authorities (LRAs) develop effective heating and cooling (H&C) plans. The project focuses on six key objectives to ensure comprehensive support and capacity-building across Europe:

Develop and Roll-Out a Methodology for Local H&C Plans

Create and implement a flexible methodology and template to support municipalities and regional energy agencies to develop tailored local H&C plans, with guidelines offering recommendations on the methodological approach and assistance in completing the template for easy adaptation.

Build Capacity for H&C Planning

Enhance the knowledge and skills of energy agencies and local and regional authorities through an open-access capacity-building platform, enabling them to effectively draft H&C plans.

Implement an Information Campaign for H&C Planning

Launch an information campaign to raise awareness about H&C planning and ensure its effective integration across different levels, promoting policy alignment at local, regional, and national levels.

Empower Regional Energy Agencies

Strengthen regional energy agencies and transform them into central support structures for developing H&C plans across six European regions.

Support the Development of H&C Plans for 12 Cities

Support the creation of local H&C plans in line with the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) for twelve selected cities across Europe.

Ensure Long-Term Sustainability and Replication

Guarantee the long-term sustainability, exploitation, and potential replication of project results, ensuring a lasting impact and continued support for H&C planning across Europe.

Partners

Welcome to our Partners page, where we highlight the collaborative efforts and expertise of each partner involved in the ESCALATE project. Together, we’re working towards accelerating the transition to sustainable Heating and Cooling systems across Europe.
Project Partners and Their Contributions

The ESCALATE project brings together a diverse range of experts and organisations from across Europe. Our partners play key roles in shaping the future of heating and cooling systems, developing sustainable energy solutions, and supporting the wider community in the transition to a carbon-neutral future.