On 17 February, the Green Transition Initiative and the Embassy of Sweden hosted an evening of strategic dialogue in Washington, D.C., centred on the future of district energy. The event highlighted expertise in integrated infrastructure as a vital tool for decarbonizing cities, university campuses, and data centers.

The full-capacity event represented a board cross-section of the energy sector, including energy managers from major universities across the U.S., industry executives, and representatives from city and state governments throughout the D.C. metropolitan area.

The program opened with introductory remarks from Mathias Hultgren, Head of Trade and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden; and Johanna Eklund, Senior Advisor at GTI. Following the introduction, a distinguished panel of experts shared insights on scaling low-carbon thermal networks:

• Scott Emery: Engineering Manager at FVB Energy Inc.

• Neil Parry: Global Head of District Energy at Alfa Laval

• Mary Thomas: Director, Building Innovation Hub at the Institute for Market Transformation.

• François Gressier: Vice President of Capital Projects at ENGIE North America Inc.

The conversation specifically addressed overcoming barriers to campus conversions, the high potential for waste heat recovery from data centers, and the critical need for municipal planning to align policy with industry action, drawing on learnings from Sweden’s long experience in developing district energy networks.

Thank you to our Swedish partner companies: FVB, a leading global consultancy specializing in the engineering of efficient and low-carbon district energy systems, and Alfa Laval, a world leader in heat transfer technology and energy recovery optimization.

Photo Credits: Sullivan Gaudreault