EUROPE HAS CHOSEN – IT’S TIME TO DELIVER.

After many discussions, the EU finally reached an agreement on 3 December 2025 to phase out imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027.

By Elsebeth Arendt, Chairperson at DBDH and Head of the District Heating Division at Kredsløb

Published in Hot Cool, edition no. 1/2026 | ISSN 0904 9681 |

This decision is a major victory for current climate changes. But it also places pressure on the many national politicians, authorities, and stakeholders responsible for its implementation. We are all very busy!!

Fortunately, we are not starting from scratch. Many countries are already well underway in implementing the EU’s Fit for 55 initiatives and have developed heat plans. Very often, I hear district heating mentioned as a crucial component of the solution.

Two million Danish homeowners cannot be wrong

Denmark has more than 120 years of experience with district heating. Today, nearly two million Danish homes are heated by district heating – almost 70% of all households. District heating is therefore a well-known and thoroughly proven technology, ready for deployment.

I frequently meet international delegations eager to learn which instruments and methods have created this success – and how Denmark has managed the green transition of the heating sector. Whether politicians, heat planners, or other stakeholders, I always encounter strong commitment and a clear desire to expand district heating in their cities.

But how successful are European countries outside Denmark in turning political ambitions into reality? Willingness is certainly there, but progress remains limited.

How hard can it be?

District heating is just hot water in pipes. So why is it so difficult?
At its core, district heating is simply about transporting hot water through pipes from one location to another. Technology is not a barrier.

Sometimes the explanation is that there is no local heat source. I do not accept that argument. The very strength of district heating is its ability to be built around whatever heat source is available locally – and heat is always available.
Heat technology is not a barrier either.
So why is it so difficult to advance district heating deployment across Europe?

What is the Danish key to success?

The large-scale expansion of district heating in Denmark took off in the 1980s. The two oil crises in 1973 and 1979 had passed, and Denmark had learned how vulnerable it is to depend on imported oil. Today, the oil crisis has evolved into crises of energy security and a climate crisis, reinforced by concerns about dependence on energy imports from countries we do not necessarily entrust with our societal and economic stability.

At the time, back in the 1970s and 1980s, Danish politicians took responsibility. Together with the civil service, they developed a national heat plan that mapped available local heat sources. A political decision was made to convert power plants into CHP, allowing surplus heat from electricity generation to be captured and used for district heating.

Cities were subsequently required to use district heating for space heating. A bold national decision. To protect consumers from rising prices and ensure orderly conditions, a Heat Supply Act was also introduced.

District heating in Denmark is a strongly regulated sector. This tight regulation can sometimes feel restrictive, but it also provides stability for consumers and very clear rules and responsibilities for regulators, authorities, and district heating companies. This enables the sector to adapt quickly and make new investment decisions when needed.

This was clearly demonstrated in 2022, when natural gas prices surged. In a short time, close cooperation between politicians, heat authorities, and district heating companies was activated. Since then, a large number of natural gas customers have converted to district heating.

Political ownership is essential

Across Europe, I often hear local politicians say to heat planners: “We need district heating in our city!”

But too often, politicians fail the heat planners in the process. If politicians do not define clear and long-term framework conditions – covering financing models, ownership structures, company forms, and consumer protection – progress will remain slow, difficult, and sporadic.

My message to European politicians and leaders is therefore clear: Feel the pressure. Act now . If you genuinely believe that district heating is part of the solution, you must take ownership. And establish stable framework conditions.

Legislators and opinion leaders must help civil servants remove the barriers they face – by making both popular and unpopular decisions.

That is what Danish politicians did in the 1980s.
That is why district heating is so widespread in Denmark.
That is why we are so advanced in the green transition of heating.
And that is why Denmark is now close to being independent of imported fuels for heating.
You can do the same today!