Decarbonising local heating systems is becoming one of the defining challenges of Europe’s energy transition — and communities are playing an increasingly important role in shaping solutions. A new Research Brief developed within the HeatCOOP project explores how different organisational and governance models support successful local heating transitions across Europe. Based on the analysis of 14 initiatives in countries including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, the study highlights how cooperatives, associations, municipalities, and purpose-driven companies each contribute to the development of sustainable heating systems. While there is no single “ideal” model, the findings show that strong community engagement, democratic participation, and locally adapted governance structures are critical drivers of long-term success. Readers can explore the full findings and case study insights in the accompanying Research Brief.
One of the key takeaways from the research is that many successful projects begin as grassroots, bottom-up initiatives but gradually evolve into more professionalised organisations as technical and financial complexity increases. This transition often enables greater scalability, improved access to expertise, and more stable operations — while also creating the challenge of maintaining active citizen participation. According to the Research Brief, the most resilient and scalable heating initiatives are those that successfully combine community-driven mobilisation with structured management and sustainable financing models. The publication offers valuable lessons for policymakers, municipalities, cooperatives, and energy communities seeking to accelerate the local heat transition across Europe.
