District Energy News

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Scaling district heat – beyond borders, through open networks, with ready-to-run projects

Europe’s district energy transition is accelerating. In this edition, we highlight how cross-border planning unlocks system value, how regulated third-party access makes room for more low-carbon heat, and how replicable project “blueprints” can shorten time-to-delivery across Europe’s DH networks.

Editorial: Breaking the Insular Mindset
– THE GREEN TRANSITION NEEDS
CROSS-BORDER THINKING

Europe’s energy system doesn’t stop at national frontiers—and neither should heat planning. This perspective argues for regional coordination, shared risk frameworks, and infrastructure that follows actual heat flows to deliver the most decarbonisation per euro. Read the cross-border viewpoint by Lars Gullev, Founder & CEO, Gullev DH Advisory  →

THIRD-PARTY ACCESS TO DISTRICT HEATING NETWORKS – a concept for Germany and beyond

A regulated third-party access (TPA) regime can be both workable and fair. The dena team outlines a clear, phased framework that aligns with municipal heat planning and gives operators and new heat suppliers a predictable path to negotiate and connect low-carbon sources. Explore the TPA framework and phases by Dr. Jana Bosse, Dr. Rita Ehrig, Carla Groß, Dr. Tim Mennel (dena) →

Closing the loop: 
HOW INDUSTRIAL UTILITY SYMBIOSIS IN ODENSE FORGES A BLUEPRINT FOR DECARBONIZATION

Industrial heat is one of Europe’s largest untapped resources. This feature demonstrates how the Envases packaging facility in Odense captures process heat and feeds it into the municipal network, converting a site-specific by-product into dependable urban heat. The piece walks through the collaboration model, the technical integration with district heating, and why this approach is both repeatable and financeable. The takeaway: Industrial utility symbiosis can move from one-off pilots to a scalable decarbonisation pathway for cities and manufacturers alike. Dive into the Odense case, article by Ronak Monga, Head of Sales, Development CBS, District Energy →

WaterWarmth Podcast No. 2 
“YES, IN MY BACKYARD! – COMMUNITY-LED AQUATHERMAL HEAT

Guests: Morten Westergaard (Middelfart Municipality, DK) and Joachim Vanwalleghem (Energent, BE) • Host: Lesia Logvynenko

While national frameworks evolve, communities are already building projects. In this episode, two practitioners explain how local coalitions unlock aquathermal energy (AET), including choosing viable sources, aligning stakeholders, securing permits, and integrating projects into municipal heat planning. Expect practical insights on risk sharing, governance, and citizen engagement that shorten delivery times and raise bankability for small and mid-scale schemes. Read more and listen to the episode now →

REPLICABILITY AND STANDARDISATION TO FACILITATE TIME-EFFECTIVE DECARBONISATION

Decarbonising DH at pace needs repeatable solutions. SET_HEAT identifies six model investment cases—from sewage heat recovery to large heat pumps—each backed by multi-criteria assessment, pre-feasibility, and technical guidance to cut risk, cost, and lead times. See the six ready-to-use blueprints, article by Jacek Kalina, Silesian University of Technology →

MEMBER COMPANY PROFILE: BRUGG PIPES
Piping Systems for Efficient DH/DC Networks

From distribution mains to service connections, BRUGG Pipes offers pre-insulated piping solutions for district heating, district cooling, and hot/cold water applications. This profile outlines their system approach—components, accessories, and services that support quick installation, dependable operation, and long service life—alongside use cases across renovation and greenfield networks. For utilities scaling low-carbon heat, robust pipe infrastructure remains the backbone of reliable delivery. Explore the BRUGG Pipes profile →

We hope these insights spark new ideas, collaborations, and actions. The tools are here – now it’s time to implement.