On 4–5 November 2025, the HEAT35 consortium gathered in Kraków, Poland for a two-day project meeting hosted by MPEC Kraków. The meeting was highly productive, providing partners with the opportunity to discuss the project’s progress and define the next steps for each pilot area.
Each pilot presented updates on their pilot action plans, shared lessons learned, and outlined upcoming activities. The lively discussions helped strengthen collaboration and ensure alignment across all project partners as the HEAT35 project continues to advance toward its goals.
After the meeting sessions, the consortium had the opportunity to visit MPEC’s dispatch centre, where dispatchers demonstrated how they monitor and manage Kraków’s complex district heating system. Partners learned how the team detects leaks, responds to technical challenges, and optimizes network performance by adjusting temperature and pressure levels. The dispatchers also kindly answered a wide range of technical questions from participants.
The visit continued with a special HEAT35 bus line transferring the partners to the Ekospalarnia Kraków incineration plant. During the guided tour, participants discovered how waste is transformed into energy, the types of waste used in the process, and the measures in place to protect air quality, including advanced smoke filtration systems. In a unique demonstration of environmental awareness, the facility even maintains beehives on-site to prove air quality and support biodiversity.
The Kraków meeting was an excellent example of how knowledge exchange and local experience can inspire innovative solutions for sustainable district heating systems across Europe.