An exceptional close to the Act!onHeat Training Programme’s first season

The EU-funded Act!onHeat project had an exceptional send off to the first season of its heating and cooling (H&C) Training Programme. Over the course of three sessions, the Training Programme, geared towards all local energy planners, examined the process of strategic H&C planning, specifically highlighting how the digital tools Hotmaps and Thermos can be accelerating instruments for a faster, more efficient, and more cost effective means to develop and implement thermal projects. In doing so, the programme focused on the first steps within the overall workflow of strategic H&C planning.

The first out of the three online sessions explored the vision and stakeholder engagement strategies in H&C planning across Europe as well as released the results of the Act!onHeat meta-study. In the second webinar, the programme continued by investigating different approaches of data acquisition for creating a heat inventory and analysing the renewable and excess heat potential of a given area, showcasing the Hotmaps tool.

The final session then dived into further details about the use of digital tools as an essential instrument for accelerating and improving the process of strategic H&C planning, with a demonstration of THERMOS.

Juan Varo López (CREARA) highlighted the integrated use of the free online tools Hotmaps and THERMOS, specifically heat demand estimation, identification of suitable DHC areas, and detailed feasibility analysis.

Aadit Malla (TU Wien) presented on how the Hotmaps toolbox can identify areas of interest for district heating developments via its integrated methodology: demand data alignment, demand projection, and economic potential area identification.

To conclude the session Martin Holley (CSE) gave a live demonstration on using the THERMOS software for optimised thermal network planning online by zoning into the case of Sans Sebastian.

While this season of Training Programme has come to an end, Act!onHeat has more to offer for all energy planners: a Call for Application has now opened for its Support Facility, which provides free individual support for municipalities to start, complete or improve upon their strategic H&C planning. Learn more about the opportunity here.

Check out the final session’s recording and full presentations here.