Austria, Italy, Spain – September 2024 – The HAPPENING EU project, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, has officially concluded after delivering outstanding tracked results across its three pilot sites in Austria, Italy, and Spain. Designed to address the critical energy efficiency challenge in multifamily buildings, the project has achieved expectations, demonstrating a cutting-edge solution for decarbonising existing residential structures.

HAPPENING EU introduced an innovative retrofitting solution through its decentralised heat pump system. The solution proved to be not only easy to install but also minimally disruptive to occupants. It was extensively tested in real-world settings, yielding remarkable outcomes in terms of energy savings, among other things.

Key achievements include:

• Outstanding Pilot Results: The pilot projects in Austria, Italy, and Spain showcased substantial energy savings, with significant reductions in primary energy (PE) consumption compared to traditional natural gas boilers. These successes validate the system’s potential to dramatically improve the energy performance of residential buildings across Europe.
• Innovative Technology: HAPPENING’s decentralized heat pump technology represents a leap forward in building energy systems, integrating renewable energy sources such as solar PV with low-temperature heat pumps for optimal energy efficiency.
• Award-Winning Project: The project has been recognized for its contribution to the European Green Deal, receiving accolades for its innovative approach and scalable solution that aligns perfectly with the EU’s ambitious climate goals.

The final results suggest that the technology developed by HAPPENING is not only a viable solution for significantly reducing energy consumption in Europe’s building stock but also a key enabler of the EU’s Green Deal objectives. With reduced planning and installation times and a quick payback period for investors, this technology paves the way for broader adoption in the residential sector.

As the HAPPENING project comes to a close, the consortium remains optimistic that these achievements will inspire further advancements in energy-efficient retrofitting, contributing to Europe’s transition to a more sustainable energy future.