Cool Heating Coalition director, Delia Villagrasa, underscored the urgency of transitioning to decarbonised heating and cooling across the EU during her appearance at the Irish District Energy Association (IrDEA) Annual Conference on 24th October 2024. Hosted at The Alex Hotel in Dublin, the event was a significant gathering for industry leaders, policymakers, and experts committed to advancing Ireland’s low-carbon heating sector.
Villagrasa took part in the panel discussion, “Planning for the Energy Transition by Learning from the Mistakes of the Past,” where she was joined by notable figures including Niall Cussen, Chief Executive and Planning Regulator at the Office of the Planning Regulator, and Matteo Pozzi, CEO of Optit and partner of the EU-funded Enable DHC project. The panel, moderated by Bonaldi da Costa, Public Affairs Manager for the EU & Ireland at Danfoss, explored the lessons learnt from previous energy transition efforts, as well as the challenges ahead in decarbonising district heating systems across Europe.
The conference was an essential platform for exchanging knowledge and fostering partnerships within Ireland’s energy landscape. Villagrasa’s contributions highlighted the role of district energy in meeting EU-wide climate targets, emphasising the need for robust planning, community engagement, and policy support to enable a decarbonised, renewable and affordable energy future.
