On 29 September 2025, the District Heating Divas hosted an inspiring international webinar exploring how the social dimension of sustainability connects to the practical implementation of district heating (DH) projects. The event brought together over 70 professionals from across Europe for presentations and discussion moderated by Hanne Kortegaard Støchkel from DBDH.
Kirstine Pape Stensgaard, Head of Planning & Distribution at COWI, opened with “Recommendations for a Good Implementation of District Heating.” She guided participants through the Danish approach, spanning early stakeholder engagement, detailed project design, tendering, supervision, and ESG considerations. Her key message emphasizes that clear communication and collaboration with local authorities are crucial for achieving timely, safe, and high-quality construction. Download Kirstine’s presentation here →
Johanna Ayrault, Postdoctoral Researcher at WU Vienna’s Institute for Urban Management and Governance, followed with “How a Focus on Social Sustainability Can Support the Development of District Heating.” She demonstrated how social factors — affordability, inclusion, aesthetics, transparency, and local engagement – can strengthen both project acceptance and long-term system value. Ayrault called for integrating social KPIs throughout planning and operation phases to ensure DH systems truly benefit communities. Download Johanna’s presentation here →
In the concluding dialogue, both speakers emphasized that technical excellence and social responsibility must go hand in hand. Sustainable heat is not only about pipes and pumps, but also about people, place, and participation.
The webinar, coordinated by DH Divas Scandinavia in collaboration with Divas networks in Brussels, the UK, and the Baltic countries, underlined a growing recognition: the most resilient DH projects are those built on both solid engineering and strong social foundations.