French-Swedish Conference on Sustainable Heating and Cooling Systems: Spotlighting Innovation and Collaboration

On 26 November 2024, Simon Bolteau from EKA participated in SHC by Sweden’s third annual conference, held at the Swedish Embassy in Paris. The conference brought together leading players in sustainable heating and cooling from Sweden and France to discuss innovation, financing, and the role of technology in shaping the energy solutions of the future.

A Day Filled with Insights and Networking

The conference was opened by Marie Eck, Programme Manager for SHC by Sweden, who set the tone for the day with the theme: “New heat sources, electrified solutions, and network transformation.” Håkan Åkesson, Sweden’s Ambassador to France, followed with a welcome address highlighting the strategic partnership between Sweden and France to build sustainable and digitally resilient societies.

Themes and Highlights

1. New Heat Sources and Electrified Solutions

Aurélie Beauvais, Managing Director of Euroheat & Power, moderated the session, which featured two inspiring keynote presentations:

• Bénédicte Genthon, Director of the French Heat Fund at ADEME, presented how renewable heat can reduce carbon emissions while creating broader benefits for society.

• Anders Egelrud, CEO of Stockholm Exergi, discussed bio-CCS and heat pumps as key components in the industrial transition, as well as the need for financing to scale up these technologies.

  
  

The session concluded with a panel discussion where Ebba Fjelkner (Alfa Laval), John Robinson (BK Tech), and Håkan Knutsson (SweHeat & Cooling) shared their experiences and reflections on emerging technologies and financing challenges.

2. Transforming District Heating Networks

After the coffee break, the next theme was led by Aurélie Beauvais and focused on improvements to existing district heating networks.

• Sebastien Despont, Technical and Energy Manager at IDEX, presented concrete areas for improvement in the design and operation of district heating networks.

• Sezgin Kadir, CEO of Kraftringen and Chair of Swedenergy, shared the key success factors behind the Swedish model for transforming district heating networks through collaboration and innovation.

  
  

A concluding panel discussion with Herman Nedar (Energy Opticon), Sezgin Kadir (Kraftringen), and Håkan Klarin (Pipeguard Nordic) explored how technology and network optimisation can help meet the future demands of district heating.

Site Visit and Networking

The day concluded with a site visit to IDEX’s facility in La Défense, Europe’s largest business district. The visit included a tour of the facility, which combines cooling production, storage, and heating systems. Participants also had the opportunity to network during a closing cocktail reception.

SHC by Sweden – A Platform for Collaboration

The conference was organised by SHC by Sweden, an initiative led by Business Sweden in collaboration with the Swedish Energy Agency and SweHeat & Cooling. The platform aims to strengthen partnerships and accelerate the implementation of sustainable heating and cooling technologies.

EKA – Part of the Future of Energy Solutions

Simon Bolteau’s participation in the conference reinforces EKA’s role in developing energy-efficient solutions based on natural refrigerants. We look forward to turning the insights shared in Paris into concrete projects that contribute to a sustainable energy future.