Programme
The preliminary programme is shown below:
Session 1 Digitalisation of DHC: optimal control 1
Session 2 Sustainabilty of DHC and user engagement
Session 3 Cost optimal design strategies 1
Session 4 Thermal source networks
Session 5 Modeling and data handling
Session 6 Planning of DHC networks 1
Session 7 Cost optimal design strategies 2
Session 8 Planning of DHC networks 2
Session 9 Efficiency improvements, modernisation and RES integration 1
Session 10 Digitalisation of DHC: optimal control 2
Session 11 Efficiency improvements, modernisation and RES integration 2
Session 12 Geothermal DHC
Session 13 DHC+ Student Award presentations
Session 14 Digitalisation of DHC: fault detection and diagnosis
Session 15 Technological advances for new and existing networks
For more information on the organisation of the special sessions, please contact the organisation on IEADHCSymposium2025@energyville.be
Keynote speakers offering a unique global perspective
We’re especially proud to present a strong line-up of keynote speakers, representing Europe, Asia, and North America. Together, their talks will offer a unique global perspective on DHC innovations, challenges, and realisations across continents:
Europe
Robin Wiltshire (IEA DHC and Heatmatters Ltd)
With 30 years’ experience in the Energy Sector, Robin now divides his time between work on Heat Networks and teaching duties where he strives to integrate his experience with the curriculum for the next generation. He is currently Chair of the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on District Heating and Cooling.
Asia
Jianjun Xia (Tsinghua University)
Professor Jianjun Xia is currently Associate Professor in the Building energy research center, school of Architecture, Tsinghua University. Prof. Jianjun Xia’s areas of expertise include energy planning, utilization of industrial waste heat for space heating, and building energy systems. He is currently principle (co-)investigator for several 15th and 14th five-year national science and technology supporting projects, which involving key research of improving energy efficiency for district heating system in Northern China, industrial surplus heat application, and high-performance HVAC equipment. He is the deputy director of the Tsinghua building energy research center, and member of the Executive Committee (ExCo) and representative for China of IEA District Heating and Cooling TCP (IEA DHC). He is also the deputy director of Scientific Committee of China District Heating Association. He serves as associate editor for international journal “Building Simulation”, and he is author or co-author of five books and more than 150 scientific papers.
North-America
Michael Ahern (Ever-Green Energy LLC)
Michael Ahern has over 30 years of experience in leading development, engineering, construction, operation, and management of industrial and energy systems. This includes operational oversight of businesses in the industrial and energy fields, with a specific focus on district systems over the last fifteen years. At Ever-Green, he leads the development and advancement of mission-based campus and community energy and utility systems. Ahern holds a BS in Business Finance from the University of Notre Dame, with an International Business Minor. Michael is currently on the Board of the International District Energy Association (IDEA).
David Woodson (University of Washington)
David Woodson is the Executive Director of Campus, Energy, Utilities, and Operations at the University of Washington where he is leading the effort to upgrade the utility infrastructure, decarbonize the district heating system, and make the energy systems more resilient, at the flagship Seattle campus. David previously had a similar role at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and now is enjoying the opportunity to apply the lessons learned from UBC at UW. David is a UW Alum (Aero and Astro ‘91) and has his MBA ‘06 from UBC. David is the current Chair of the International District Energy Association (IDEA).
This is a rare opportunity to hear from leading voices in the global DHC community.
Europe | Robin Wiltshire (IEA DHC and Heatmatters Ltd) |
Asia | Jianjun Xia (Tsinghua University) |
North-America | Michael Ahern (Ever-Green Energy LLC) |
David Woodson (University of Washington) |
- Numerical Analysis of a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Substations in Low-Temperature District Heating from a German Living Lab Project
Rahul Mohandasan Karuvingal (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) - Optimising integration of high-temperature underground thermal energy storage in district heating systems via co-simulation and control
Tijs Van Oevelen (VITO/EnergyVille, Belgium) - A bi-level strategy for optimal control of heat distribution in meshed District Heating Networks including multiple production units
Mohamed Tahar Mabrouk (IMT Atlantique, France) - Digital Twin modelling to optimise District Heating inlet temperature control
Pascal Sander (University of Bremen, Germany)
- New method for welding steel district heating and cooling pipes
Erik Tønjum, Snapwelder AS, The Netherlands - Environmental advantages and recycling potential of temporarily flowable backfill as bedding material for district heating pipes
Florian Spirkl, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Germany - Field tests and retrofit attempts on the operational electricity consumption of Chinese district heating network
Menghan Wan, Tsinghua University, China - Evaluating the potential of gamification in District Heating Systems: Insights from stakeholder and user surveys on motivational tariffs and behaviour change
Nermina Abdurahmanovic, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany
- Optimizing DH Supply for Positive Energy Districts
Nirav Patel, TU Wien, Austria - Optimizing a Multi-Vector Energy Community with Geothermal-Powered District Heating
Natalia Kozlowska, University of Liège, Belgium - Impact of Demand Simultaneity on Optimal District Heating Network Design
Amadeo Ceruti, Technical University of Munich, Germany - Decarbonisation of the Linz district heating system - determining the cost-minimising generation portfolio through optimisation and the role of seasonal thermal storages
Ralf-Roman Schmidt, AIT Austrian Institute for Technology, Austria
- Decarbonization existing urban fabric through 5th Generation District Heating and Cooling
Arthur Ackermans, Ingenium nv, Belgium - Performance of a prototype substation for 5th generation district heating and cooling networks
Gianni Martinazzoli, A2A Calore e Servizi & Università degli Studi di Brescia, Italy - A 5th generation district heating and cooling network (5GDHC) driven by shallow geothermal, economic analysis and geohydrological modelling for comparison with an individual system
Hoes, Hans, Terra Energy, Belgium - CollecThor: technical realisation of a low temperature thermal network
Gert Moermans, VITO/EnergyVille, Belgium
- Integrating High-Temperature ATES into District Heating Networks: FMI-Based Co-Simulation with Modelica and FEFLOW
Max Ohagen, Technical University Darmstadt, Germany - Generation of Large DH System Models Using Open-Source Data and Tools: An Exemplary Workflow
André Xhonneux, Forchungszentrum Jülich, Germany - Modeling with the 223P ontology and adaptation for optimized DHC operation
Steffen Wallner, Fraunhofer IOSB, Germany - Optimizing Thermal Energy Storage Models: Enhancing Accuracy through Variable Layer Calibration
Jonas Cleiren, University of Antwerp, Belgium
- Presentation of the Italian Atlas of potential District Heating networks to recover industrial waste heat
Alice Dénarié, Politecnico di Milano, Italy - Economic evaluation of a heat highway between existing district heating networks
Katharina Rusch, Energieinstitut an der JKU Linz, Austria - Feasibility Assessment Tool for District Heating and Cooling (FAST DHC): a simple decision support tool for the techno-economic evaluation of DHC networks
Henrique Lagoeiro, London South Bank University, United Kingdom - Modelling Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Sustainable District Heating Development
Luis Sánchez García, Högskolan i Halmstad, Sweden
Barenzaal Genk, C-MINE, Evence Coppéelaan 91, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
- Synergies Between District Cooling Expansion and Carbon-Neutral District Heating
Gerhard Totschnig, AIT Austrian Institute for Technology, Austria - Hydraulic integration of large-scale seasonal thermal energy storage with heat pumps in district heating systems
Abdulrahman Dahash, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria - A Linear Heat Dispatch Model Considering Temperature and Pressure Losses in District Heating Networks
Jerry Lambert, Technical University of Munich, Germany - Multi-scenario design optimization of district heating networks with thermal-hydraulic validation
Yacine Gaoua, CEA, France
- Achieving efficient district heating targets in a Croatian network: heat source mapping and techno-economic scenarios analysis
Daniele Anania, Eurac Research, Italy - Review of Tools and Methods to identify excess heat potentials in district heating
Rasmus Magni Johannsen, Aalborg University, Denmark - Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Sustainable District Heating Development
Daniel Møller Sneum, Energy Modelling Lab/Lund University, Denmark/Sweden - Transitioning from High-Temperature to Low-Temperature District Heating: The Evolution of the Energy Master Plan at UZ Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg
Joris Dedecker, Ingenium nv, Belgium
- Natural circulation and other measures to ensure heating supply to buildings connected to district heating in the event of electrical grid blackout
Merilin Nurme, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia - Optimizing Low-Grade Waste Heat Recovery for District Heating: A Case Study of a Steel Plant in China
Zanyu Yang, Tsinghua University, China - Integration of Decentralized Renewable Energy Sources into DHC Systems: Technical Challenges and Experimental Solutions
Mohd Basit Wani, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia - Deterministic optimisation of district heating network retrofit to reduce supply temperature
Anne-Geneviève Lemelle, CEA, France
- Demand side management for peak shaving in district heating systems using model predictive control at substation level
Antoine Piguet, CEA, France - Demonstration of peak shaving through combined demand response and supply temperature control
Tijs Van Oevelen, VITO/EnergyVille, Belgium - Data-Driven Cooling Demand Forecasting for District Cooling Operation
Hjörleifur Guðbjörn Bergsteinsson, Danfoss, Denmark - Using machine learning to optimize district heating operations
Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany
- Hydraulic and thermal effects of different building refurbishment strategies in district heating networks
Dmitry Romanov, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Germany - Improved District Heating Return Temperatures by Cascading Concepts
Jan Eric Thorsen, Danfoss, Denmark - Mitigating the hidden cost of electrifying heat: A case study using solar and thermal storage to achieve a zero-emission campus while minimizing electric grid demand impact
Raymond Boulter, National Resources Canada, Canada - Innovative Methodology for Profiling Foam Density: Non-Destructive X-ray Microscopy (XRM) Approach
Pakdad Langroudi, HafenCity Universität Hamburg, Germany
- Status of the VITO deep geothermal project in Mol – Donk (northern Belgium)
Ben Laenen, VITO, Belgium - Enhancing waste heat integration into district heating through geothermal storage and heat pumps: risk and techno-economic assessment
Amir M. Jodeiri, Eurac Research, Italy - Design of closed-loop geothermal single wells for heating applications
Justin Pogacnik, VITO, Belgium - Borehole Heat Exchanger Field Layout Optimization for Sustainable District Heating and Cooling Networks
Kai Droste, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
- Performance of a prototype substation for 5th generation district heating and cooling networks
Gianni Martinazzoli, Universita degli Studi di Brescia, Italy - Data-driven approach for diagnosing inefficiencies and optimizing district heating networks
Sajedeh Roustaei, Politecnico di Milano, Italy - Systematic Assessment of Scientific Case Studies on Optimization Measures – A Value-Added Approach for District Heating Operators?
Anna Vannahme, TU Munich & Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- Exploiting Synergies of Data-Driven and Model-Based Approaches for Leakage Localization in District Heating Networks: Application of improved Approaches
Dennis Pierl, University of Bremen, Germany - From Time Series to Images: Exploring Convolutional and Vision Transformers for Fault Detection in District Heating
Jonne van Dreven, Blekinge Institute of Technology/VITO, Sweden/Belgium - Data-Driven Fault Detection and Diagnosis in District Heating Substations and the Impact of Return Temperature Reduction
Vera Alieva, Technical University of Dresden, Germany - Automatic fault detection in DHC systems using hybrid modelling
Pieter Jan Houben, University of Antwerp, Belgium
- TFSB as bedding material in district heating pipe construction - scientifically proven long-term experience
Bernd Wagner, AGFW, Germany - Data Pre-process Methods Enhancing HCA Measurement Usability
Michele Tunzi, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark - Experimental Investigation on the Thermal Conductivity of Alternative Bedding Materials for District Heating Networks
Stefan Dollhopf, HafenCity University Hamburg, Germany - Optimizing the Next Generation of District Heating and Cooling Systems While Ensuring Reliable Domestic Hot Water Supply
Mohammad-Reza Kolahi, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Thor Terrazza, Thor Park 8000, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
Beer tasting BRAUW, Molenstraat 37/1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
- Genk: Visit the Open Thor Living Lab and enjoy a walk with a ranger
- Mol - Antwerp: Visit the geothermal site and the heating netwerk in Antwerp. People leaving Belgium after this event can easily connect to Brussels Airport of Brussels South train station after the visit.
- Genk: Discover C-Mine and visit the Open Thor Living Lab