The Future of Heating: Innovative Concepts for Sustainable Cities and Communities
Organizational details
· Location: Inselhalle Lindau, Zwanzigerstraße 10 / Therese-von-Bayern-Platz 1, Conference Room L1-L2
· Organized in the frame of the“EUSALP Annual Forum 2026”
· Languages: German and English (simultaneous interpretation)
· Moderator: Stefan Drexlmeier, Chairman of Energiewende Oberland
Online registration here
Conference pitch
The heat transition is one of Europe’s most urgent energy challenges – and one where regions and cities can make a real difference. Heating is at the heart of Europe’s energy transition, linking climate action and energy security with affordability, innovation and regionaland local development efforts. The question is how we can accelerate this transformation on the ground.
The EUSALP Energy Conference 2026 in Lindau will bring together leading experts from municipalities, energy suppliers, energy agencies, universities, research, businesses and public administration from across the Alpine region. The conference will be opened by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Messerer, Director General of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
Under the theme “The Future of Heating – Innovative Concepts for Sustainable Cities and Municipalities”, the conference will explore political developments, innovative technologies and flagship projects shaping the heating transition at local and regional level. From aquathermal and geothermal energy to hydrogen, bioenergy and district heating, experts will showcase solutions that are already turning innovation into practical action.
The conference will conclude with a high-level expert panel addressing a crucial question: What legal and economic conditions do we need to turn promising solutions into successful implementation?
From the Alps to Europe, the heat transition needs more than technology – it needs cooperation, the right framework conditions and solutions that work in real places.
Detailed program
8:30 Registration
9:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks
The Heat Transition in Europe: Goals and Challenges
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Messerer, Ministerial Director and Deputy Head of Department at the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy, Munich
- Dr.- Ing. Ulrich Santa, Director General of the Energy Agency South Tyrol – CasaClima and EUSALP Action Group 9 co-leader
9:10 Thematic Session:The Heat Transition in Bavaria: Current Status and Practical Implementation
Municipal Heat Planning – A Building-Specific Approach
- Fabian Schatz, Head of the Division for Heating Planning, Heating Networks, and Combined Heat and Power, Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy -
- Dr. Stefan Kresse, Head of the Division for Energy Efficiency, Environmental and Climate Protection, Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy
09:30 Topic Block: Study by the Working Group of Alpine Countries
Project Results of EigenAlp for the Building Sector (ArgeAlp Project)
- Martin Ploss, Energy Institute Vorarlberg, Head of the Construction and Renovation Division (energy agency)
9:50 Topic Block: Innovation and Technology, Part 1
Thermal energy utilization from lake water for the Bregenz Local Heating Network
- Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Winkler, Stadtwerke Bregenz GmbH, Managing Director (municipal energy supplier)
H2-Dahoam in Hohenwart
- Manuel Gaßner, Energienetze Bayern GmbH & Co. KG, Head of Network Technology, Technical Manager for Gas (Bavarian energy grid operator)
Hybrid Heating Networks, Energy Management, Sector Coupling
- Focus on Thermal River Water Utilization, Stadtwerke Rosenheim Rolf Waller, Stadtwerke Rosenheim GmbH & Co. KG, Head of the Combined Heat and Power Plant Division (municipal energy supplier)
10:50 Coffee break
11:10 Topic Block: Innovation and Technology, Part 2
Hybrid heating networks, energy management, sector coupling
- Focus on Bioenergy, Heat Supply in Memmingen/Benningen
- Peter Waizenegger, e-con AG, Board Member
- Thilo Bär, e-con AG, Heat Project Developer
Geothermal Energy as a Key Technology for a CO₂-Neutral Heat Supply
- Guido Schüre, Stadtwerke München GmbH, Head of Renewable Energy for the Region (municipal energy supplier)
11:50 Topic Block: The Heat Transition at the Local and Regional Levels
Shaping the heating transition at the regional level
- Mr. Martin Sambale, Allgäu Energy and Environment Center (eza!) gGmbH, Managing Director (energy agency)
12:10 Expert Panel on the Heating Transition
- Manuel Gaßner, Energienetze Bayern GmbH & Co. KG, Head of Network Technology
- Prof. (FH) Dr. Peter Kepplinger, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences
- Peter Waizenegger, e-con AG, Member of the Executive Board Dr.
- Ing. Wolfgang Winkler, Stadtwerke Bregenz GmbH, Managing Director
12:40 Conclusion and Outlook
- Stefan Drexlmeier, Chairman of Energiewende Oberland
Attachments
(pdf - 0.93 MB)
(pdf - 0.94 MB)
- Detailed programme in German Language
(pdf - 312 KB)