Press Release

Over the past decade, EU Member States have indeed already reduced fossil fuel reliance and increased energy efficiency. However, despite this progress, fossil fuels still dominate, comprising nearly 70% of the EU’s gross available energy [1], whereas heating and cooling account for half of the final EU energy use [2]. Hence its decarbonising is critical.
Across the Baltic Sea region, cities and municipalities are exploring new ways to make district heating more sustainable and climate-friendly. Launched in July 2024, DecarbonDHS is now halfway through its 36-month journey and is at the forefront of this transition, bringing together experts, researchers, and energy providers to reduce carbon emissions and integrate renewable energy into heating networks.

Collaboration and Innovation at the Heart of DecarbonDHS

Decarbonizing district heating is not just a technical challenge — it’s about collaboration, local innovation, and creating systems that serve communities sustainably for decades - said Prof. Adam Cenian, IMP PAN, DecarbonDHS Coordinator. Further he adds - Through cross-border cooperation, we are demonstrating that practical solutions for cleaner, smarter, and more resilient heating are within reach across the Baltic Sea region.

Share of Knowledge and First Results

Over recent months, DecarbonDHS has hosted and participated in key events, including the Baltic District Heating Innovation Forum in Gdańsk, workshops in Poland and Lithuania, a study visit to Stadtwerke Rostock AG in Germany (Fig. 1) or Interreg South Baltic Annual Event in Bornholm, Denmark (Fig. 2). These gatherings brought together over 250 participants from municipalities, energy companies, and research institutions to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and explore the latest technologies in district heating digitalization, waste heat recovery, and renewable integration.

By the end of 2025, DecarbonDHS will deliver two major reports:

• Assessment of Existing District Heating Infrastructure, Energy Mix, Efficiency, and Carbon Emissions, prepared by IWEN and IMP PAN, providing a comprehensive overview of current networks in the region.
• Potential for Integrating Renewable Energy Sources into District Heating Networks, led by IWEN in cooperation with project partners, analyzing opportunities to increase renewable energy share and reduce carbon footprints.

Project Consortium: A Cross-Border Partnership

The project consortium includes 8 partners across Poland (Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) – Lead Partner, and OPEC Heat Distribution Company, Germany (IWEN – Energy Transformation Institute), Lithuania (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Kretinga District Heating Company, and Kretinga District Municipality Administration), Denmark (Bornholms Energy & Forsyning, and Sweden (Linnaeus University). By bringing together research institutions, district heating operators, and municipalities, this partnership enables DecarbonDHS project to foster cross-border collaboration, share knowledge, and implement innovative solutions for decarbonizing district heating networks throughout the Baltic Sea region.
Additionally, the project collaborates with associated partners including the Energy Agency Southern Sweden, Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic, Lessebo District Heating Company, and Stadtwerke Rostock AG.

Stay Connected: Follow DecarbonDHS Online

To learn more about DecarbonDHS, explore our results and project activities on our website at www.decarbondhs.eu. Stay up to date with ongoing events, news, and publications by following us on LinkedIn: DecarbonDHS LinkedIn page.

DecarbonDHS is co-financed from the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021-2027 through the European Regional Development Fund. (Project: DecarbonDHS, STHB.02.01-IP.01-0009/23).

Contact:
Prof. Adam Cenian
Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences
DecarbonDHS Coordinator
cenian@imp.gda.pl
+48 58 5225 276

[1] European Environment Agency / en / europe-environment-2025, ”Europe′s environment and climate: knowledge for resilience, prosperity and sustainability, Europe's environment 2025 (EEA)
[2] EEA 2023, https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/decarbonising-heating-and-cooling