Research project COOLGEOHEAT II supports the climate transition with sustainable, cost-effective solutions for thermal energy sharing between buildings. It strengthens local energy supply and reduces emissions. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Interreg Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak.
The project addresses current technical and commercial barriers to upscaling, including: National regulations and boundaries between Sweden and Denmark. A lack of design and dimensioning guidelines needed to ensure comfort and security of supply for varying heating and cooling needs. The project consortium consists of public, private, and research institutions from Sweden and Denmark with expertise in the energy industry, including participants from the original COOLGEOHEAT project.
The project aims to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable geothermal energy by scaling up 5th Generation District Heating and Cooling (5GDHC)—also known as "thermonets"—from individual demonstration projects to consistent, widespread implementation across Sweden and Denmark. Specifically targeting the ÖKS region, the initiative focuses on overcoming current technical, commercial, and legislative barriers to improve the cost-effectiveness and broader adoption of collective geothermal networks in both future green cities and rural areas.
The project is built on 5GDHC technology, which connects individual household heat pumps to a shared network of underground pipes. By utilizing the ground as a large thermal storage unit, the system allows communities to efficiently share and store energy, providing a secure and sustainable collective supply for varying heating and cooling needs.
