The International District Heating Summit 2025 concluded two days of intense dialogue, inspiration, and collaboration among global leaders in district energy.
Hosted by the Think Tank Brundtland, the Danish Energy Agency, the Danish Board of District Heating (DBDH), Danish District Heating Association, State of Green, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the summit brought together utilities, policymakers, financial institutions, and technology providers from across Europe to explore how district heating can drive the clean energy transition.
With energy security, renewable integration, and decarbonisation high on the global agenda, the timing was fitting. District heating is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of Europe’s climate ambitions, with the updated EU Heating and Cooling Strategy expected in 2026.
The second day opened with welcoming remarks by Magnus Skovrind Pedersen (Think Tank Brundtland) and Peter Christian Baggesgaard Hansen (Danish Energy Agency), setting the tone for a deep dive into Financing the Clean Energy Transition. Speakers from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, and Sweden showcased how climate ambitions are being transformed into concrete investment strategies.
In Energy Pioneers: Stories of Heating Europe, participants heard from leading utilities presenting large-scale projects – including Høje Taastrup Fjernvarme’s thermal storage initiative, DIN Forsyning’s megawatt-scale heat pump project in Esbjerg, and SAV Systems and Kamstrup’s digital customer engagement solutions.
A keynote by Dr. Katherine Richardson on Living within Planetary Boundaries offered a scientific perspective on how the heating sector can accelerate decarbonisation while maintaining system balance and security.
Further reflections came from Konstantiantyn Kovalchuk, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories of Ukraine, who stressed the importance of European cooperation and resilience.
State of Green moderated the session A New Reality: Utilities under Pressure, where Danish and international experts discussed cybersecurity, supply risks, and operational resilience.
The day concluded with insights from Dr. Ilkka Hannula (International Energy Agency) on the global outlook for renewable heating, followed by closing reflections from Magnus Skovrind Pedersen.
Participants rounded off the summit with a networking dinner at Brasserie Fionie – a fitting close to two days of knowledge sharing, collaboration, and inspiration on how to scale sustainable and secure district heating for the future.
For further reading, explore State of Green’s white paper “District Energy – The Backbone of a Futureproof Energy System”, developed in collaboration with DBDH, the Danish Energy Agency, and Danish Industry.
White paper in English
White paper in German
📸 Photo gallery coming soon.
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