A growing focus on district heating and its possibilities for export and renewable energy is the reason for a larger than expected registration for the upcoming International Conference on Smart Energy Systems and 4th Generation District Heating in Copenhagen on August 25-26. Last year, the conference was attended by around 90 people, and this has doubled this year to 180 from 24 different countries around the globe.

- We have expanded the subject with Smart Energy Systems this year, but this is not the only explanation. 4th generation district heating is an area with a growing focus both from industry and science, because it has a lot of potential for creating jobs and export and at the same time saves heat and energy and can be based on 100 % renewable energy sources. Latest we have also seen the EU prioritise district heating in the new Energy Union, says Henrik Lund, Head of 4DH Research Centre and professor of Energy Planning at Aalborg University, Denmark.

Deputy Head of 4DH and professor Brian Vad Mathiesen agrees:

- This really shows that the work we do in the 4DH Research Centre has had an effect and is highly relevant. We have created knowledge and awareness about the future generation of district heating, which plays an important role in the green transition and achieving the European 2020 goals of increasing the share of renewable energy. The unique cooperation between scientific research and the industry ensures that the knowledge we create is put to good use. It is important that we keep doing this crucial research and investigate the district heating solutions of the future, says Brian Vad Mathiesen.