What does a fossil-free city heating system look like—at scale? This is the roadmap.
In this talk, Petr Fajmon presents how one of Central Europe’s largest district heating systems is preparing to transition from natural gas to a low-carbon, diversified energy mix.
The future system combines nuclear heat from Dukovany, biomass, and waste-to-energy—cutting gas dependency from today’s dominant share to a small backup role. At the core is a major infrastructure project: a 95 km pipeline connecting the nuclear plant to Brno’s existing network.
You’ll gain insight into the technical design, system integration, and long-term planning required to transform an entire city’s heat supply—while maintaining reliability for more than 100,000 households and industrial users.
Takeaway: Large-scale district heating transformation is not just about new energy sources—it’s about infrastructure, integration, and long-term energy security.
The presentation outlines a step-by-step transition strategy built on three pillars: nuclear heat from Temelín nuclear power plant, biomass, and waste-to-energy. Together, these technologies are replacing over a century of coal-based heat production while maintaining supply to more than 31,000 households and hundreds of companies.
You’ll get a practical insight into the real challenges of transforming district heating—balancing legacy infrastructure, industrial steam demand, and long-term investment decisions—while significantly reducing emissions and improving local air quality.
Takeaway: District heating isn’t just infrastructure—it’s a powerful lever for decarbonising cities when multiple energy sources are integrated in a coordinated system.
