5th DeCarbCH Annual Networking Conference

2-3 March 2025, Seminar-Konferenzhotel, Olten

The 5th DeCarbCH Annual Networking Conference featured highlight talks, a poster session, researcher pitches, and presentations of the new Work Packages and planned outcomes of SWEET DeCarbCH Phase II (running until 2028).

Ongoing research activities were presented and critically discussed.

A strategic workshop on the second day prioritized and developed roadmaps for concrete, impact-oriented DeCarbCH KTT products and engagement activities through discussions in three groups: industry heating and cooling, thermal networks, and thermal storage.

The conference provided a platform for structured knowledge exchange with DeCarbCH cooperation partners, focusing on the key technical, regulatory, economic, and systemic barriers currently hindering the rapid and effective decarbonisation of heating and cooling across sectors.

Program

Monday, 2 March 2026 (with cooperation partners)

• Welcome from DeCarbCH and SFoE
• Highlight talks: Poster session with researcher pitches
• New work packages presentation & planned outcomes
• Networking dinner

Tuesday, 3 March 2025 (for DeCarbCH researchers only)

• Introduction
• Keynote lecture: Dr. Sergio Mazzotti (Project Manager, TBF): How to access the flexibility of buildings to optimize operation of thermal grids
• Shared understanding of the impact model and vision of DeCarbCH
• Strategic workshop:
  • Prioritize and roadmap concrete, impact-oriented DeCarbCH KTT products and engagement activities
  • Discussion in 3 groups:
    • Industry heating and cooling
    • Thermal networks
    • Thermal storage
• Standing lunch & end of meeting

Posters:

Thermal Networks:

1. Voitchovsky, J., Patel, M. (UNIGE): LCA study of an office building renovated according to Kegel Klimasystem vs. Standard retrofit​
2. Sasso, F., Patel, M. (UNIGE): Future cooling and heating demand of the Swiss building stock​
3. Decormis, A., Patel, M., Koirala, B. (EMPA, UNIGE): Leveraging building thermal inertia for demand side management in integrated district heating and cooling systems​
4. Kolahi, M., Patel, M. (UNIGE): How Integration and Decentralization Within DHC Systems. Can Lead to the DeCarbonisation of Cooling and Heating?​
5. Bühler, P., Mennel, St., Villasmil, W. (HSLU): Identification of Optimal Evaporator Inlet for Combined District Heating and Cooling​ (not for the public)
6. Speich, M., Ulli-Beer, S. (ZHAW INE): Excess Heat Recovery of Data Centers: Addressing the Governance Gap​
7. Speich, M., Ulli-Beer, S. (ZHAW INE): Current challenges of thermal grid development in cities – insights from a stakeholder workshop​
8. Speich, M., Ulli-Beer, S. (ZHAW INE): Implementation and Ecosystem development for a timely decarbonisation pathway ​
9. Camprubi, M. (ZHAW IRW): Acceleration instrument of the grids «of national interest» – taking thermal grids into consideration​

Industrial Heating and Cooling:

1. Arpagaus, C., Bless, F., Bertsch, S. (OST IES): Retroperspective DeCarbCH KTT​
2. Bless, F., Arpagaus, C., Bertsch, S. (OST IES): Industrial High-Temperature Heat Pump (HTHP) Transfer of Knowledge​
3. Arpagaus, C., Bless, F., Bertsch, S. (OST IES): Survey Results on Steam-Generating Heat Pumps​
4. Speich, M., Ulli-Beer, S. (ZHAW INE): How to govern the industrial heat pump ecosystem?​
5. Arpagaus, C., Bless, F., Brendel, L.M., Paranjape, S., Gstöhl, D., Bertsch, S. (OST IES): Steam Compressors or Closed-Cycle HTHPs?
6. Engelbrecht, R., Arpagaus, C., Paranjape, S., Bless, F., Gstöhl, D., Kong, L., Walmsley, T.G., (OST IES, AHUORA NZ): Transcritical-Transcritical CO2 High-Temperature Heat Pump Cycle for Dairy Spray Dryers​
7. Babaei, M., Patel, M. (UNIGE): Data-Driven Prediction of Compressor Efficiency for High Temperature Heat Pumps​
8. Babaei, M., Patel, M. (UNIGE): ASTRA: From Expert-Driven to Automated Industrial Heat Pump Design and Integration​ (Potcast introducing the ASTRA framework)
9. Damalerio, R., Wellig, B., Patel, M., Ong, B. (HSLU TEVT): Application of simulated annealing for multi-period heat exchanger network retrofit​
10. Bhadbhade, N., Berchtold, M. Grand, J., Ong, B. (HSLU TEVT): Rapid Energy Profiling for Industrial Processes​
11. Leukens, E., (OST SPF): X-Fuels in Process Heat in Swiss Industries​

Thermal Storage:

1. Palacios, A., Ammann, S., Fischer, L.J., Worlitschek, J., Stamatiou, A. (HSLU TES): End-user-driven White Paper on Commercial High Temperature TES for Industrial Applications​ (not for the public)
2. GE-RGBA team (UNIGE): Spatial Multi-Criteria Play-Based Analysis for HT-ATES Systems Across the Swiss Molasse Plateau
3. Akhtar, N., Eruteya, O., Ventra, D., Makhloufi, Y., Moscariello, A. (UNIGE): Quantification of ATES potential of the fluvial Molasse reservoir across the Swiss Plateau
4. Mahmoudan, A., Giraud, F., Patel, M. (UNIGE): From borehole to process heat: Trade-offs between depth and heat pump integration in Aargau