The World Commits to a More Sustainable Future with District Energy

Last year the world committed to a more sustainable future. The rollout of efficient district energy systems in cities can help make it happen, and newly approved funding will boost action and implementation.

Copenhagen, 6 June 2016: The Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation, which owns the Danfoss Group, today announced DKK 9 million in new funding to support UN’s District Energy in Cities initiative under the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Partnership and its Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform.

The new funds, spread over three years, will create a team of deployable district energy experts to support UNEP’s District Energy in Cities initiative in scaling-up, retrofitting and developing district energy projects.

The team will assist up to 31 cities that have been chosen as part of an extensive consultation process to determine municipalities of high district heating or cooling potential. Deeper engagements are initially planned in China, India, and Serbia.

Announcing the funding approval, President & CEO of Danfoss Niels B. Christiansen said, “The Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation and the Danfoss Group are fully committed to action and acceleration on energy efficiency. The District Energy in Cities initiative is designed to help cities develop state-of-the-art district energy solutions. This is a very important step in delivering on the Paris Agreement and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals".

According to UNEPs Report modern district energy systems can reduce primary energy consumption for heating and cooling of urban buildings by up to 50%. Modern DES provide the only means to use of low-quality thermal energy (waste heat) to provide heat, cool and hot water services in buildings. They allow for high levels of affordable renewable energy supply through economies of scale, diversity of supply, balancing and storage making them a key measure for cities/countries that aim to achieve 100% renewable energy or carbon neutral targets.

The District Energy in Cities initiative is one of the implementation mechanisms for the SEforALL Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, which is also supported by the partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UNEP-DTU Partnership will employ the new team of district energy experts at its offices in the UN City, Copenhagen.

Additional quotes:

Niels B. Christiansen, President & CEO of Danfoss:

“As co-convener of the District Energy in Cities initiative, we work together with UNEP and many partners to support cities in developing, upgrading or scaling up district energy systems. The new funding from the Foundation will help boost implementation and enable countries and cities to deliver on their commitments.”

The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen:

"This is a great example of a public-private partnership where public finance help mobilise private funding. We strongly support the SEforALL initiative. I am delighted to this example of Danish know-how and expertise play a significant role in the creation of sustainable solutions with global reach"

UNEP’s Director, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Ligia Noronha:

“UNEP’s District Energy in Cities Initiative has been active in raising understanding about the potential of district heating and cooling.

“We are grateful for the new resources that will turn this awareness and expressions of interest by many cities into tangible investments, energy use reductions and greenhouse gas cuts. With this new opportunity, we will be able to expand our work with national and local governments and contribute to meeting climate, energy and sustainable development goals.”

President of the Technical University of Denmark, Anders O. Bjarklev:

"DTU's researchers are working intensively together with colleagues from all over the world to create new knowledge that can lead to a green and sustainable energy sector. Denmark is at the forefront of new technologies within district heating and district cooling and at DTU, we are delighted to be able to contribute to the latest knowledge being tested in practice in towns and cities, where it can really make a difference."

Chief Partnerships Officer of SEforALL, Sandrine Dixson-Declève:

“With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the COP21 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we need to move from commitment to action. Sustainable Energy for All is positioning its Accelerator Platform as a key partnership mechanism for international energy efficiency implementation.

“We are grateful to Danfoss for their generous funding and are proud to host the new team at our global energy efficiency hub in Copenhagen. This funding is an example of the type of support needed to further catalyse the clean energy transition our climate change and energy targets demand"

About Danfoss:

Danfoss engineers technologies that enable the world of tomorrow to do more with less. We meet the growing need for infrastructure, food supply, energy efficiency and climate-friendly solutions. Our products and services are used in areas such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control and mobile machinery. We are also active in the field of renewable energy as well as district heating infrastructure for cities and urban communities. Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933 and today, Danfoss is a world-leader, employing 23,400 employees and serving customers in more than 100 countries. We are privately held by the founding family. Read more about us at www.danfoss.com.

About SEforALL and the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched Sustainable Energy for All in 2011 as a global initiative to support three interlinked objectives: 1) provide universal access to modern energy services; 2) double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and 3) double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform was established to help reach the second of these objectives by supporting accelerated energy efficiency action in specific sectors, such as district energy, lighting, appliances, vehicle efficiency, buildings and industry, and is coordinated by a Secretariat at the SEforALL energy efficiency hub in Copenhagen. SEforALL is linked both to the United Nations and the World Bank and seeks to bring business, industry, NGOs, and government together and focuses on all levels of engagement from city to multilateral. The UNEP District Energy in Cities initiative is a key implementation mechanism for the SEforALL District Energy Accelerator.

About UNEP-DTU Partnership:
UNEP DTU Partnership is a leading international research and advisory institution on energy, climate and sustainable development. As a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Collaborating Centre, UNEP DTU Partnership is an active participant in both the planning and implementation of UNEP’s Climate Change Strategy and Energy Programme. Through in-depth research, policy analysis, and capacity building activities, the Partnership assists developing countries in a transition towards more low carbon development paths, and supports integration of climate-resilience in national development. UNEP DTU Partnership comprises two centres: Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development, and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency; The Energy Efficiency Hub under Sustainable Energy for All. Read more about us at www.unepdtu.org

About The District Energy in Cities Initiative:

The District Energy in Cities Initiative is a multi-stakeholder partnership coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with financial support by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Danida, and Italy. As one of five accelerators of the SEforALL Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, launched at the Climate Summit in September 2014, the District Energy in Cities Initiative will support market transformation efforts to shift the heating and cooling sector to energy efficient and renewable energy solutions, with an aim to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements for heating and cooling in buildings by 2030 and quantify the corresponding decrease in GHG. As of June 2016, the Initiative is providing technical support to cities in seven countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Morocco and Serbia to develop modern district energy projects and city-wide district energy plans.

For more information:

Danfoss, Media Relations: +45 70 20 44 88

Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Media Advisor, Dorte Mikkelsen: +45 50 77 86 98

Sustainable Energy for All, Communications Director, Callum Grieve: +44 (0)7734 399994

UNEP-DTU Partnership, Special advisor, Mette Annelie Rasmussen: +45 21 79 88 83

UNEP DTIE, Moira O'Brien-Malone, Head, Communications: +33 1 44 37 76 12