Partners

Key partner categories include:

• Universities and research institutions
• District heating utilities
• Municipal authorities
• Energy consultants and modelling experts
• Innovation and technology organisations

Together, they represent the full value chain needed to accelerate renewable heating deployment across Europe.

GREETIN Partners:

DTU (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark):

DTU Management conducts excellent research in the intersection between management, technology and economics. We develop solutions in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. Our research aims at strengthening welfare, productivity, and sustainability within society. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department is divided into four divisions: Technology & Business Studies, Management Science, Climate & Energy Policy and Transportation Science.
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU collaborates with the best universities around the world.

PK (Cracow University of Technology, Poland):

The Cracow University of Technology (PK) in Crakow is one of the leading technical universities in Poland. Founded in 1946, it offers a wide range of courses, including energy engineering, environmental engineering, architecture, civil engineering, computer science and mechanics. The University is renowned for its high level of teaching, innovative research and cooperation with industry. It has modern laboratories and infrastructure that attract students from all over the country and abroad. PK actively participates in international programmes, enabling academic exchanges and work placements. The Department of Energy at the Cracow University of Technology is a research and educational unit specialising in studies and teaching in the field of energy, with a particular focus on modern and sustainable energy technologies.

MPEC Krakow (Cracow District Heating Company, Poland):

Kraków District Heating Company (MPEC) in Krakow - is one of the leaders of the heating industry in Poland. The company, which was established in 1953, is one of the key municipal companies in Krakow, currently providing heat for over 65 percent of the city's residents. The heat from the city's network, currently 940 kilometers long (almost 70 percent of which are pre-insulated pipes made in the latest technology that allows signaling possible uncontrolled water leaks) goes to housing estates, shopping malls, congress halls, offices, schools, hospitals and churches. The clean and safe energy of Krakow provided by MPEC - apart from central heating - is also used for other technological purposes, such as air conditioning and ventilation. In recent years, thanks to the expansion of the city's district heating network, the Company has contributed to the elimination of more than 5,000 coal-fired furnaces. The environmentally friendly heat from MPEC has even reached the heart of the city - Krakow's Main Square, where it heats the Sukiennice and the City Hall Tower. The city's district heating network now encircles almost the entire historic center of Krakow: from the Main Square to the edges of the city.

LTM (Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality, Denmark):

Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality (LTM) is located north of Copenhagen, covers 38,8 km², and has 57.000 inhabitants. LTM is the public entity responsible for public services, parts of the municipality infrastructure and energy planning among other things. LTM has 2 climate goals: 90% CO₂-reduction in 2030 compared to 1990, and to be CO₂-neutral in 2050.

LTM has together with the District Heating Company Vestforbrænding developed a heat plan for Lyngby-Taarbæk municipality which will see the coverage of DH go from 65% in 2020 to 98% in 2030. This will require the establishment of a regional low-temperature DH network to exploit new heat sources. The current heat supply from the incineration plant in Glostrup will not be sufficient to fulfil new heat demand in Lyngby, Furthermore, local low-temperature sub-net as well as offgrid networks will be considered. These will be used to exploit local surplus heat opportunities from industry and water pumps, as well as lowering the general temperature from waste incineration and other sources.

UOULOU (University of Oulou, Finland):

OULUN YLIOPISTO (UOULU) is a multidisciplinary university with 16,000 students and over 3,000 employees located in the north of Finland. The university has eight faculties which range from humanities and medicine to business, science and technology. The structure of the University and its wide collaboration network allows it to build multidisciplinary projects, conduct high level research and contribute to solving global challenges in the following five focus areas: 1) Creating sustainability through materials and systems; 2) Molecular and environmental basis for lifelong health; 3) Digital solutions in sensing and interactions; 4) Earth and near-space system and environmental change and 5) Understanding humans in change. UOULU collaborates in many ways with various partners to meet the changing demands of information and work life, and to promote well-being and competitiveness of the society. UOULU has a proven track record of participating in the EU Framework programmes throughout their evolution since FP4.

For GREETIN consortium, UOULU provides process design, modelling and simulation knowledge for evaluating and optimizing potential system or city-scale effects related to the implementation of low temperature heat and waste energy sources including sector integration and heat storages. UOULU has experience on system wide process intensification and design by model-based methodologies.

IBS (Applied Research Institute – Warsaw University of Technology, Poland):

The Applied Research Institute – Warsaw University of Technology is a company with limited liability, which 100% of shares are held by the Warsaw Institute of Technology. It was formed in accordance with Article 81, Paragraph 1 and Article 81, Paragraph 5.2 Law on Higher Education (act of 27 July 2005, with further amendments).

In 2023, the Applied Research Institute - Warsaw University of Technology was granted the status of Research and Development Centre from the Ministry of Development and Technology by Decision 8/CBR/24.

The objective of ARI activities is better utilization the intellectual and technical potential of the University and support modern science through technology transfer. Our aim is to improve the competitiveness and effectiveness of the Warsaw University of Technology through the use of innovation.

Our activities are focused on the support of the creating innovation, cooperation with the industrial sector and managing intellectual property rights.

EH (Energie Holding A/S, Czechia):

Energie Holding (EH) is heat and electricity provider owned by Enetiqa Group. Energie Holding provides heat in district heating system of Litomerice, Louny and Mimon in Czech Republic.

In considered site of Litomerice, heating plant uses a total of 3 biomass boilers (4 MW, 7.5 MW, 15 MW) and one lignite-fired boiler (15 MW). Backup and peaking source located in the downtown Litomerice is a low emission natural gas fired boiler with an output of 4.75 MW. District heating system with nominal 120/80 °C (winter) and 80/60 °C (summer) has total length of distribution network 23 km. The average annual supply of thermal energy to customers is 250 000 GJ for 6 490 households, 79 tertiary customers and 2 industrial enterprises.

CVUT (Czech Technical University in Prague, Czechia):

Czech Technical University in Prague (CVUT) is the oldest technical university in the Czech Republic. The University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings (UCEEB) is a multidisciplinary institute of CVUT focused on applied research and technology transfer in the field of energy efficiency and a sustainable built environment. Department of Energy Systems conducts research in solar thermal technology, heat pumps, combined heat & power and heat and cold storage for application in both buildings and district heating systems. The team has a rich expertise in modelling and detailed simulations of buildings’ energy systems with a significant share of renewable energy and evaluation of their real usability for covering local energy needs. The team has developed detailed models of elements for integration into complex simulation systems as well as simplified calculation tools for balancing renewable resources in buildings and districts. The team has a strong industrial collaboration in developing innovative solutions, usually combining multiple functions (hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors, advanced heat pump circuits, ORC CHP units and complex energy systems). The team also provides laboratory testing (solar laboratory, laboratory of heat pumps, organic Rankine cycle) and verification of functionality, operational reliability and efficiency of the developed systems in both semi-operational conditions and a real-life environment.

EUC (Energie- und Umweltconsulting - Cebrat Gerfried, Austria):

EUC is an experienced technical bureau focusing on energy since 1997. District heating respectively local heating networks are a recurring topic in projects since the start-up. The tasks in those projects included quality control for biomass heating networks, district heating system simulation, economic analysis, usage of sewage water for a heat pump, Model Predictive Control for solar thermal and storage buffer in a district heating subnetwork. They also included operation of district heating heat transfer stations in buildings (project EPC4SES)).

Projects also were comprising IoT and measurements for fuzzy control of shading. The office is staffed with personal computers, laptops, secured network attached storage, A3 colour printer, flipchart and a conference table. The hosted web server allows to create progressive web applications using PHP and mySQL. IoT equipment comprises many Raspberry PIs, sensors and hats to connect self developed 2D temperature probes.

The growing SoHo lab comprises several air-air heat pumps (+heating A/C), room condition monitoring, solar thermal and Heat Pump monitoring, several PV appliances connected to smart plugs and partly networked measuring devices for temperature, humidity, power, illumination, pressure, sound etc.. For thermal activation of walls, a 2D probe for the wall has been developed and is combined with thermal activation, recording temperatures for on-line usage.

This know-how will be used to support the set-up and validation of an investment plan for a local district heating network targeting fossil free operation. EUC will contribute with ideas and specification of investment alternatives and set up a simulation combining physical and economic models.

MDU (Mälardalen University, Sweden):

The Future Energy Center (FEC) at MDU is an internationally competitive research environment with a focus on renewable energy, resource efficiency and digitalisation – towards a sustainable future, in co-production with industry and society. The FEC has grown tremendously over the past 10 years and is one of Sweden's strongest environments in process optimization targeting the process industry, energy and transport sectors and built environment. It is also one of two established research specialisations at Mälardalen University that is ranked as internationally outstanding. This achievement has been enabled through financial support from the Swedish Knowledge Foundation (KKS) and others.

The research at FEC and the research profile has been aimed towards meeting the future challenges in energy and environmental systems by improving the energy and environmental performance of existing systems, and by increasing and streamlining the share of renewable energy in the form of biomass, biogas, solar energy and biowaste. We develop innovative solutions and tools within the areas of energy, building and environmental engineering.

Researchers at MDU have extensive experience in energy modelling and optimization, with focus on digitalization and sustainability, which aligns with the project goals.

OE (Oulun Energia, Finland) :

Oulun Energia is a leading energy company based in Oulu, Finland, known for its strong commitment to sustainability and innovation. Established in 1889, the company has grown to become a major player in the energy sector in Northern Finland. Oulun Energia operates across various segments, including electricity generation, distribution, and sales, as well as district heating, waste management, and smart energy solutions.

One of the cornerstones of Oulun Energia's strategy is its focus on renewable energy. The company has made significant investments in wind, solar, and bioenergy, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to Finland's ambitious climate goals. Oulun Energia's wind farms and solar power plants are pivotal in supplying clean, renewable energy to the region, while its bioenergy initiatives harness waste and residuals from local industries to produce energy, thereby promoting circular economy practices.

District heating is another key area of Oulun Energia's operations. The company operates an extensive district heating network that efficiently distributes heat generated from renewable sources to homes and businesses across Oulu. This system not only ensures reliable and affordable heating but also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional heating methods.

Oulun Energia is also at the forefront of developing smart energy solutions. The company is involved in various projects aimed at improving energy efficiency, integrating renewable energy sources into the grid, and enhancing the overall resilience of energy systems. Through its digital platforms and services, Oulun Energia provides consumers with tools to monitor and optimize their energy consumption, thereby promoting more sustainable energy use.

In addition to its core energy services, Oulun Energia is deeply committed to the local community. The company actively supports various social and environmental initiatives, including educational programs, sponsorships, and partnerships that foster innovation and sustainability in the region.

Overall, Oulun Energia represents a forward-thinking energy company that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility, playing a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainable energy in Finland.

SEC (SEnerCon GmbH, Germany):

SEnerCon GmbH is a specialized Berlin-based SME established in 1992, focusing on building energy consultancy and district heating systems. As an ESCO (Energy Service Company), senercon brings over three decades of expertise in building energy efficiency, energy performance certificates, and district heating demand analysis. The company's District Heating Group provides comprehensive heat demand assessments utilizing advanced modeling techniques and data-driven approaches to optimize energy systems. senercon's deep expertise in heat demand mapping, particularly in Berlin, combined with their experience in data analytics for decarbonizing district heating systems, makes them ideally positioned to contribute to the GREETIN project's objectives of advancing renewable energy integration in district heating and cooling systems.

EML (Energy Modelling Lab ApS, Denmark):

Energy Modelling Lab (EML), a Danish leader in energy system analysis, specializes in feasibility studies for district heating companies, including the financial aspects. With expertise in advanced energy systems modeling, techno-economic assessments, and renewable energy integration, EML delivers data-driven, actionable strategies tailored to the green transition. Their proven track record - collaborating with municipalities and utilities - ensures solutions that balance technical viability, financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

TNO (The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Netherlands):

TNO is an independent research organization. We connect people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the sustainable competitive strength of industry and well-being of society. For this purpose, TNO is established by law as a legal public entity. The TNO-law allocates certain tasks and responsibilities to TNO while also providing the parameters for the execution. The reasoning behind it is to safeguard TNO’s independent position to conduct the research needed to create reliable solutions for the challenges society faces.

TNO has a very central position in developing and delivery of knowledge to the national, regional and local government in the field of district heating and cooling. TNO initiated many programs to accelerate and innovate collective heat systems from a socio-technical perspective, like Nieuwe Warmte Nu, and WarmingUP. TNO is member of DHC+, a knowledge focussed initiative of Euroheat and Power and of EERA (Energy Efficiency Research Alliance) and valued member of COST Action on Positive Energy District (PED-EU-NET).

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.