The ongoing conflict and energy crisis are a reminder of the pressing need to decarbonise our energy systems and ensure energy independence through the integration of renewable energy sources.

Over the last decade, the electricity sector has undergone a remarkable transformation, turning it into the cleanest energy carrier in Europe, with an impressive 37.5% of renewables in gross electricity consumption in 2021. However, the influx of variable renewables such as wind and solar needs to be accompanied by greater system flexibility, to balance the demand and supply in real-time.

Sector integration is the key to enhancing flexibility and enabling a more energy- and cost-efficient energy system. By connecting and combining energy carriers and sectors, including electricity and heat, we can create a more resilient and flexible energy system.

Fortunately, there is already an effective toolbox available for sector integration. District energy networks, when combined with large heat pumps and thermal storage, can absorb substantial amounts of renewable heat and variable green electricity, making them a critical component of our decarbonisation efforts.

The workshop will explore the policy needs to enable system integration beyond the Fit for 55 Package. Through concrete examples of EU-funded projects (RES-DHC, SenergyNets and REWARDHeat), the workshop will show that it is possible to greater flexibility and resilience of energy systems.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FULL AGENDA HERE.

9:30-10:00 Welcome coffee

10:00-11:30 First session: Integrated and flexible energy systems, The power of Heat

Lelde Kiela -Vilumsone, Team Leader - End-use sectors, impacts and methodologies (Renewables and Energy System Integration Policy (ENER.C.1))
Rodrigo Barbosa, Manager, Long-term planning (ENTSO-E)
Pauline Lucas, Policy Director (Euroheat & Power)
Raymond C. Decorvet, Senior Account Executive, Global Business Development ETES, CO2 Heat-Pumps & Power Storage (LDES) (MAN Energy Solutions)

11:30-11:45 Break

11:45-13:00 Second session: Innovative DHC and other solutions for sustainable integrated energy systems in Europe: concrete examples

Pernille Salomonsen, Energy & Development Consultant (Albertslund Forsyning)
Thibaut Wissocq, Researcher scientist (CEA)
Guillaume Bardeau, R&D Engineer (Renewable heating & Cooling) (EIFER)

13:00-14:00 Networking lunch

Event calendar