From Heat to Asset Class: Mobilising Private Investment in District Heating
District heating (DH) is one of the most cost-effective and sustainable solutions for decarbonising energy systems. Yet, despite its potential, the expansion of DH networks often hits a familiar roadblock: financing.
Large-scale by nature, DH projects demand high upfront investments and long payback periods, which can deter private investors. Traditional financial instruments are often not designed with the specific needs of DH in mind, leaving the sector heavily dependent on public funding.
The webinar will explore how the sector can unlock new financing pathways by defining district heating as an asset class, attracting more private capital and accelerating deployment. Experts will discuss the project results and discuss how private investors can help close the financial gap and support a faster uptake of sustainable and efficient district heating across Europe.
Speakers:
- Evan Bernardi, Project Officer, Euroheat & Power
- Daniel Møller Sneum, Research and project manager, Energy Modelling Lab/ Visiting Research Fellow, Lund University
- Luís Sánchez García, PhD, Halmstad University
- Kristina Lygnerud, Professor in energy sciences, Lund University
- Prof. Dr. Tobias Popovic, Professor, HFT Stuttgart / Founder, Steinbeis Transfer Center for Sustainable Finance & Management
- Shivali Mathur, Associate for Energy Transition, DESNZ
