Heat Highway Final Workshop

On June 25^th, 2024, the final hybrid workshop of the NEFI Heat Highway project, which examines the use of industrial waste heat to decarbonise the heat supply, took place at the project partner Business Upper Austria.

Project manager Simon Moser from the Energieinstitut at the Johannes Kepler Universität Linz reported on the success of the project, the Upper Austrian Heat Highway between Vöcklabruck and Enns, as well as the lessons learnt and successes of the project. Josef Steinegger from the Montanuniversität Leoben presented the results of the survey and calculations for Styria. Valerie Rodin (Energieinstitut at the Johannes Kepler Universität Linz) gave an insight into the results of the Upper Austrian case studies in Linz and the Region of the Innviertel. Furthermore, Marie Theres Holzleitner-Senck (Energieinstitut at the Johannes Kepler Universität Linz) showed the milestones already achieved in terms of regulation, how a heat highway could be legally implemented and what else would be required for this. Finally, Nicolas Marx from the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) reported on the follower case in Tyrol and the opportunities and challenges that exist here.

With three prizes won last year (DECA Award, Innovation Award of the Province Upper Austria and Energy Globe of the Province of Styria), the innovation of an interregional heat transfer network and the great potential for saving CO₂ emissions were recognised by the respective juries. The feedback from the consortium was also very positive; due to the numerous questions and the need for further research and development, continuing the project definitely seems to be useful.

Moreover, further possibilities for cooperations between research and industry were discussed during an informal concluding get-together.

Additional information about the project and publications on this innovative concept can be found on our website: Heat Highway | NEFI.