On 18 June, around 60 experts from industry, the energy sector, research and public administration gathered at the OÖ Nachrichten Forum in Linz for the first stakeholder workshop of the FutureHeatHighway (FHHW) project. Organised by Business Upper Austria, the event focused on the efficient use of industrial waste heat and its integration into heating networks.
Particularly interesting were the insights into the HEATLINK project, which emerged directly from the FHHW project. LINZ AG and LAT Nitrogen are jointly driving this initiative forward. The aim is the cross-sectoral use of industrial waste heat to feed into Linz’s district heating network.
Learning from mistakes: In small groups, participants analysed typical stumbling blocks in project implementation. A key aspect of the discussions was that, for the success of heat cooperation schemes, stable organisational structures, transparent communication and clearly defined responsibilities are often just as crucial as technical feasibility.
Many thanks to Business Upper Austria for organising the event and to the speakers:
🔹 Simon MOSER (FHHW Project Manager) for the conceptual framework for inter-company cooperation
🔹 Marie-Theres Holzleitner-Senck for her clear overview of RED III and the Austrian legal framework
🔹 Christoph Kolmer (Office of the Upper Austrian Provincial Government) for insights into the interrelationships between waste heat utilisation and water management
🔹 Stefanie Hagemann (LAT Nitrogen Linz) and Simon Glaser (LINZ AG) for their insights into the successful HEATLINK project
🔹 Günter Hochrathner (Smurfit) for the flagship project with the Bioenergy Group
🔹 Jakob Lugmayr (Bernegger GmbH) for highlighting the exciting potential at the Enns Raw Materials Park
The workshop highlighted the enormous potential of cross-company heat cooperation and provided valuable solutions.
The event featured an ENERGIZE workshop as an integral part of the programme.