Skills4DHC

Duration: 

September 2024 – August 2027

Description:

Why Skills4DHC?

The Skills4DHC project addresses two key challenges in the district heating and cooling (DHC) sector: the urgent need for skilled professionals and the recruitment of new talent. As Europe strives to meet its ambitious sustainable energy transition goals, the demand for a highly skilled workforce in the heating sector is growing. Skills4DHC is committed to bridging this gap by training existing professionals and attracting new workers to the DHC sector, ensuring that Europe’s heating systems are ready for the future.

How We Do It

Skills4DHC develops a comprehensive set of 13 specialized training programs and mentoring schemes, clustered in 5 programmes:

  • Transnational DHC academy training program
  • White collar professionals and authorities DHC training programme
  • Accademia DHC training programme
  • Blue Collar DHC training programme
  • Trainee recruitment programme

 

Our programs are designed for a wide range of target groups, including staff from DHC enterprises, civil servants in local and national authorities, university students, and skilled workers involved in the construction and maintenance of DHC systems. These programs will be piloted in six European countries—Austria, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands—and are set to expand across Europe through a dedicated replication and transnational training initiative. By combining lectures, hands-on training, and technical site visits, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the DHC value chain, enabling them to identify, evaluate, and implement clean energy solutions.

Expected outcome

Skills4DHC will build a skilled workforce to drive Europe’s heat transition. By developing and testing tailored training programs, we will equip professionals across the DHC sector with the expertise to design, operate, and maintain sustainable, energy-efficient, and renewable heating and cooling systems. This initiative will enable faster modernization and fuel switching of DHC systems, driving the heat transition across Europe.

Partners

The project consortium is composed of 9 partners:

Austria

  • AEE – Institut für Nachhaltige Technologien: https://www.aee-intec.at

Belgium

  • Euroheat & Power: https://www.euroheat.org

 Denmark

  • PLANENERGI FOND: https://www.planenergi.dk

 Estonia

  • MTÜ Enerhack Foundation: https://www.enerhack.org

 Germany

  • WIRTSCHAFT UND INFRASTRUKTUR GMBH & CO PLANUNGS KG: https://www.wi-ig.de
  • AGFW-PROJEKTGESELLSCHAFT FUR RATIONALISIERUNG, INFORMATION UND STANDARDISIERUNG MBH: https://www.agfw.de

 Ireland

  • Irish District Energy Association CLG: https://www.idaireland.com

Italy

  • Politecnico di Milano: https://www.polimi.it

The Netherlands

  • Stichting Warmtenetwerk: https://www.warmtenetwerk.nl

Project website

https://www.euroheat.org/dhc/eu-projects/skills4-dhc

Funding:

LIFE Programme – GRANT AGREEMENT Project 101167015 – LIFE23-CET-Skills4DHC