Addressing the need for more sustainable sources of heat will
have to become a major component of renewable energy policy if
nations are to achieve long term targets for CO2 emission reduction and if innovation and deployment are to be adequately
stimulated. Perhaps the overarching lesson of the RES-E policy
experience is the need to develop a holistic policy environment,
addressing all elements of policy in order to be effective. The
different levels of technological and commercial maturity represented by the RES-H technologies will require different policy
instruments if they are to progress to commerciality. These
policies will need to provide both appropriately targeted financial
support to create opportunity for demonstration and increasing
demand for technologies, whilst applying other instruments to
assist in overcoming barriers to penetration of technologies.
Action to expand stakeholder awareness and engagement must
be leavened with practical assistance to expand the base of
trained personnel capable and willing to deliver systems to
consumers. Experience in Upper Austria, a region which is among
the most advanced in developing RES-H Policy and deploying
RES-H technology is that making the process as easy and painless
as possible more easily attract consumers to engage with the
technology