This allocation is part of the second call for the Incentive Program for Heat and Cooling Networks (RENORED 2), managed by the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDEA). The main objective is to promote energy efficiency and the diversification of energy sources in buildings and infrastructure, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
In this call, 43 million euros from the NextGenerationEU funds, under the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), have been distributed among 36 projects focused on renewable energy heat and cooling networks. The initiative seeks to promote 17 new networks and the expansion of 19 existing ones, both public and private, with a total investment of 210 million euros.
The selected projects have a combined thermal capacity of 252.1 MW and are expected to achieve an annual saving of 12,600 tons of CO2, contributing significantly to the country's decarbonization. The majority of initiatives (24) are based on biomass, but projects also include geothermal (6), aerothermal (3), hydrothermal (2), and solar energy (1).
The project selection prioritized initiatives driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, located in areas facing demographic challenges and just transition, and those that include heat supply to vulnerable neighborhoods. The grants will be received definitively after verification of project execution and investment certification, with the possibility of advances up to 80%.
This initiative aligns with the objectives of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) and component 31 of the PRTR, focusing on reducing energy demand, introducing high-efficiency technologies, and promoting renewable energy and self-consumption.
