3 years of mapping, planning and building investment cases for Europe's district heating transition are culminating in a public final event. On 18 June 2026 HeatMineDH, will present its results in Brussels.
Institutes & CentersInstitute for Renewable Energy - Sustainable heating and cooling systems - News - HeatMineDH final event
The project, which runs from September 2023 to August 2026 under the EU LIFE Programme, brings together universities, research centres, district heating utilities and industry associations from across Europe. Its central objective is to support municipalities and district energy operators in integrating low-grade renewable and waste heat sources into existing high-temperature district heating networks, helping them meet efficiency targets over the next decade.
HeatMineDH structured its work around four steps: assessing the current situation in each case study network, mapping the availability of low-grade and waste heat in the surrounding area, planning the most feasible integration pathways, and developing business models and draft contractual frameworks for implementation. The result is eight investment plans, each tailored to a specific district heating context in a different European city.
The case studies span multiple countries and heat source types. Among them, Milan's network is examined in the context of waste heat recovery from data centres, a topic of growing relevance as digital infrastructure expands rapidly across European urban areas. Croatian networks in Karlovac, Vukovar and Rijeka, as well as systems in Germany and Poland, are addressed through country-specific knowledge exchange and financing analyses.
Beyond the investment plans, the project has developed a set of practical decision-support tools, including heat source mapping instruments and assessment frameworks designed to help utilities and local authorities evaluate integration options independently.
The final event, taking place on 18 June at Comet Meetings Louise (Pl. Stéphanie 20, Brussels, 14:00–19:00), will present all eight investment plans alongside these tools and open a structured dialogue on financing mechanisms and policy frameworks. Plenary sessions alternate with round-table discussions, and the afternoon closes with a networking reception.
Registration is free and open until 15 June 2026. Register for the HeatMineDH Final Event
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