Starting point 2026: energy security, cooperation and capacity building

The new year has offered a cold start, literally and figuratively. Snow and minus degrees across Europe are nothing to worry about. It’s seasonal. Here today, gone tomorrow. However, the geopolitical chill we are experiencing is likely to remain. And possibly worsen. Europeans in particular have reasons to be worried, for a multitude of reasons, and not least when it comes to energy security. Without stable supply of energy, we are soon back to the basement level in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

As a result, we are faced with a series of critical concerns:

• Energy Security – disruptions in global energy markets
• Energy Supply – disruptions in supply routes – pipe networks, shipping
• Energy Costs – impact on economic stability, growth, and balance of trade
• Environmental Costs – climate change and ecological degradation
• Food Security – natural gas is a critical component in the production of fertilizers
• Political Stability – geopolitical risks and social conflicts

Heating of buildings is a key area to address to mitigate the impact of a potential energy crisis. The strategic priorities are:

• Reduce – minimise the demand for heat
• Reuse – recirculate heat from water and air
• Retain – recover waste heat – sewers, data centres, industries
• Replace – shift to locally sourced heat – biomass, heat pumps, geothermal, heat storage
• Redistribute – enable transfer of heat – heat networks of different configurations

These strategic headlines have been in focus for many years, underpinned by some very ambitious political objectives in terms of energy savings and decarbonisation. What’s new is that we are running out of time to actually do the things we must do. The situation is very similar to that of the military defence of Europe. We have been talking and dragging our feet for years. And suddenly we needed the guns and bullets yesterday. An energy defence of Europe is equally critical. Failing to address the potential risks related to heating would be devastating. We need to deliver. At scale. Now.

• Energy is fossil fuels – 80%+ of all primary energy
• 90%+ of all oil and natural gas is imported from countries outside of the EU – see table.
• The value of the imports was €400+ billion in 2024
• Heating represents 50% of all primary energy consumption

All in all, a very gloomy picture of the future. However, it is also a great opportunity for those offering proven solutions and services to address the issues in practice. The sector of decarbonising heating. Now is our time to shine. And we will. All of us. It’s a crisis not to waste. Let’s get the things done.

Achieving the objectives in saving and decarbonising heat involves investments at a scale we have never experienced in our sector. Millions of pieces of technologies must be fabricated, distributed and installed at an ever-increasing pace. We need to apply the proven solution we have at hand. Innovation should be focused on streamlining the processes for business modelling, design, installation, and operations. Perfection is our enemy. We need to simplify and do the things in the right order. Like picking apples. Start with the windfall and work ourselves up, hand-in-hand, branch by branch. Forget the big red apple at the top. That’s for the birds.

Doing this at the required scale and pace is a monumental task. It will require tight and smooth cooperation between all stakeholders from politicians to investors, suppliers to installers, operators to end-users. Furthermore, we must simplify and standardise solutions and processes. Share experiences on best practice, and what to avoid. Replicate and streamline.

We must also address the topic of capacity building. Who will design, produce, distribute, install, operate, and maintain all the technologies and systems involved? There are already constraints in the supply chain. Unless rapidly resolved we will be faced with major bottle necks resulting in higher costs and lower quality. In brief, we need people. 10s of thousands of new colleagues. All equipped with the required skills and a doer-attitude. And we need them now.

This is where we aim to play a role at Heatnet Global. Providing services to facilitate cooperation and capacity building. Step-by-step we have mobilised a network involving key stakeholders in the sector of decarbonising heating. An international and still expanding eco-system of technology suppliers, engineering consultants, contractors, IT companies, operators, political decision makers, technical colleges, universities, and investors. Each bringing in their unique set of skills and solutions. And proven reference cases. Our ambition is to provide a hub to facilitate cooperation and a context and structure to channel the skills and solutions of our partners through a range of capacity building areas:

• Strategy – strategic, commercial, political, financial, and legal advice
• Skills – professional and vocational training and upskilling
• Solutions – technologies, digital solutions, and bundled kits
• Staff – resource pool of project managers, engineering specialists, contractors, welders, and other critical service providers
• Sponsors – access to public and private funding partners and financial specialists

We will present each of these activity areas in more detail in upcoming newsletters.

We are in the process of preparing a detailed schedule of activities and events for the coming months. More information to follow shortly. I would still want to highlight two scheduled events:

Lund, Sweden – 3–4 February

Heatnet Global – Euroheat & Power – In person

DHC Winter School – Preparing VET providers for future DHC training across Europe!

In this activity we aim to mobilise partners to the DHC Academy initiative. We will present some of the first vocational training packages we have developed to be delivered in collaboration with partners in 2026. The Winter School is organised in cooperation with Euroheat & Power and with support from Alfa Laval, Daikin, Kraftringen, and Lund University.

Vienna – 4–5 March

Heatnet Global – In person

Accessing the DACH Region – key topics on the agenda:

• Highlighting trends and market opportunities in the region
• Facilitating exchange of best practice
• Introducing new innovative technologies and processes
• Developing cooperation in training activities