DISCO

Advancing DIStrict heating and COoling solutions for efficient waste heat utilizations (DISCO)

May 2025 - May 2029

On this page: Project background About the project Codema's role Project aims Project team Project partners and funders

Photo of district heating pipes running along the grass beside a road

Project background

Europe’s industries are powered by large quantities of energy: fuel, heat, steam and electricity. Heat is a common byproduct, usually dissipated into the atmosphere in large amounts. Capturing this for re-use would reduce energy bills and slow climate change.

The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive sets the context and public authorities play a key role because they are responsible for the related energy policy regulations. However, they are not well equipped and organised, and need to join forces to learn from each other and elaborate innovative responses together.

The increasing complexity of the energy systems, together with technological uncertainties, requires a high level of knowledge and skills to act wisely. The DISCO partnership will explore how European public authorities can take the lead on this.

About the project

DISCO will test and develop energy efficiency policies and solutions to decarbonise heating and cooling for buildings in ten European regions. Partners will exchange experiences on district heating and cooling using residual energy by 2029.

The project includes six public authorities and four energy agencies, who will exchange good practices and improve their policy instruments focusing on the following themes:

Technical considerations (i.e. infrastructure analysis applied solutions and technologies, data analysis, waste heat utilization methods, planning and design)
Economic potential, and the costs and benefits of using waste heat
Regulatory requirements and assessment
Stakeholder cooperation and capacity-building (i.e. how to build partnerships between public sector, industries and citizens through diverse types of engagement and how to increase knowledge to lead the process in defining and implementing relevant policies and strategies).

Codema's role

Codema’s key role will be to support Kildare County Council as part of DISCO, to help the local authority apply the findings of the project to their own Climate Action Plan and County Development Plan, with the aim of improving the local authority’s overall policies regarding waste heat.

Codema will also participate in dissemination and knowledge-sharing activities.