ENZA publishes joint recommendations for a pragmatic and inclusive EU Heating & Cooling Strategy

The European Net Zero Alliance (ENZA), of which Liquid Gas Europe is an active member, has released a common paper urging the European Commission to adopt a Heating & Cooling Strategy that fully reflects the diversity of Europe’s energy needs. As the Commission prepares this flagship initiative, ENZA’s recommendations highlight a clear message: a successful Strategy must build on a multi-energy, multi-technology approach that empowers all regions to decarbonise in ways that are both realistic and cost-effective.

Across Europe, heating and cooling requirements vary widely — from dense urban environments with established district systems to rural and off-grid communities where 49 million households remain outside the gas grid. Many of these homes are older, harder to renovate, and face structural, economic, or geographical barriers that make deep electrification difficult or slow to implement. Recognising and accommodating this diversity will be essential for ensuring a fair and socially balanced transition.

ENZA’s paper calls for a framework that provides:
• the ability for local authorities, communities and SMEs to choose solutions that best match their local conditions
• clear, predictable investment frameworks that help accelerate the rollout of clean technologies
• support for all renewable and low-carbon options capable of delivering immediate emissions reductions

This perspective aligns closely with Liquid Gas Europe’s long-standing call for technology neutrality and the inclusion of renewable molecules in Europe’s heating and cooling pathways. Renewable liquid gases such as bioLPG and rDME can reduce emissions by up to 80–90% while working seamlessly with existing appliances and infrastructure — offering a practical pathway for households and businesses that cannot easily switch to other technologies.

By enabling a broader set of solutions, the Heating & Cooling Strategy can advance decarbonisation more quickly, strengthen resilience, and ensure that Europe’s transition remains affordable and inclusive. Liquid Gas Europe looks forward to continued collaboration within ENZA to support a strategy that delivers for all regions — urban and rural, on-grid and off-grid — and ensures every community has access to a realistic, fair pathway to a cleaner energy future.