HeatMineDH

To do so, it addresses the need for increased sustainability and resilience in district heating (DH) by focusing on breaking existing barriers hindering the adoption of low-grade heat sources. Acknowledging the predominant reliance on fossil fuels in the DH sector across Europe, the project aims to provide investment plans to 8 DH case studies, emphasizing the integration of low grade (or low temperature) waste heat (or residual heat) and renewable sources.

Introduction 

HeatMineDH seeks to overcome barriers related to mapping, policy incentives, technical know-how, and perceived high investment costs. The project's comprehensive approach includes assessing, mapping, analysing, and planning for feasibility studies and investment plans to greener, smarter, and more resilient energy systems. The project's impact is anticipated not only in achieving sustainability goals but also in contributing to the broader European energy transition and Net-zero carbon economy targets.

Background

District heating (DH) can contribute to achieving the objectives of the European energy transition and a net-zero economy by replacing consumption of fossil fuels by an increased use of renewable energy sources. This results in heating systems that are more resilient and environmentally friendly. The HeatMineDH project will thus support district heating utilities and municipalities in achieving the efficiency targets along the next 10 years.

Project Description

HeatMineDH brings together universities, research centres, companies, and associations to support DH utilities and municipalities in meeting efficiency targets over the next decade. The project develops feasibility studies and investment plans for integrating low-grade renewable and waste heat sources into existing networks, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Its work is structured around four steps: assessing current conditions, mapping available sources, planning optimal roadmaps, and developing business models and draft contracts for 10-year investment strategies. All activities align with European directives such as the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the Renewable Energy Directive (RES), and the evolving EU taxonomy regulation.

In addition, HeatMineDH emphasizes stakeholder engagement through workshops, training, and investor dialogue, ensuring that utilities are prepared for implementation. By connecting cities and stakeholders across Europe, the project aims to create a network for knowledge sharing and replication of best practices, accelerating the uptake of low-grade heat in district heating systems.

Case Studies

To develop real-life solutions that can be replicated, the project is working with eight case studies across four countries, reflecting a wide variety of economic, geographical, and political contexts.

Croatia

•Karlovac. AP: Gradska Toplana Karlovac.
•Vukovar. AP: Tehnostan Vukovar.

Germany

•Braunschweig. AP: BS Energy.
•Göttingen. AP: Stadtwerge Göttingen.

Italy

•Milan Pompeo Leoni. AP: A2A.
•Milan West. AP: A2A.

Poland

•Barlinek. AP: SEC Region.
•Szczecin. AP: SEC.

AP = Associated Partner.

Work Done and Tools

Mapping Tool

Waste Heat Explorer of AIT is a WebGIS application designed to visualize and explore waste heat potentials from industrial, urban, wastewater, and solar-thermal sources for integration into district heating networks. It enables stakeholders—such as utilities and energy consultants—to assess the economic and ecological feasibility of utilizing waste heat, supporting strategic energy planning and expanding heat networks without additional generation capacity. The tool uses automated GIS solutions, open data (e.g., building areas, OpenStreetMap tags), and a semi-automatic QGIS plugin to estimate heat availability from sources like supermarkets and data centers. It also fosters collaboration by allowing companies to contribute heat data. The tool covers cities including Vukovar, Karlovac, Milan, Szczecin, Barlinek, Göttingen, Brunswick, Trento, Bolzano, Ospitaletto, and Graz with varying heat sources analyzed per city.

News & Event

Knowledge Exchange Forums (KEF) are interactive meetings during which engaged stakeholders come together to share challenges and solutions in our journey to decarbonise the termal energy systems in Europe. 

Recorded Knowledge Exchange Forums 

Heat Pumps and Residual Heat 26th June, 2025
Alternative Investment Models for District Heating Networks 3rd April, 2025

Contact 

Marco Cozzini, Project Coordinator (marco.cozzini@eurac.edu)

Links & Social Media 

HeatMineDH LinkedIn page. 

Associated Partners

The participating companies come from several European countries. From Croatia, the representatives are Tehnostan d.o.o. and Gradska toplana d.o.o. Karlovac. Italy is represented by A2A Calore e Servizi, while Poland contributes with SEC Region Sp. z o.o.. From France, the company Kyotherm is included. Finally, Germany is represented by two organizations: Stadtwerke Göttingen and BS Energy (Braunschweiger Versorgungs-Aktiengesellschaft & Co.)