Mind the gap! Shaping skills for the DHC transition

The skills gap is real - but so is the opportunity. Discover how the DHC Academy and Skills4DHC are building the foundations for a skilled, future-proof workforce, and share your views on where the sector should focus next.

The energy transition needs more than just technology - it needs people with the right skills. 
Europe’s district heating and cooling sector is gearing up for massive transformation, but skill gaps and recruitment challenges are slowing it down. 

In this online workshop, DHC Academy and Skills4DHC projects join forces to explore how we can build a future-proof workforce for a greener, smarter, and more resilient DHC sector. We’ll share fresh insights from Skills4DHC’s assessment of skills and training needs, with a focus on both DHC operators and the authorities shaping the sector’s regulatory and policy landscape. You’ll also get a first look at the DHC Academy’s ambitious plans to revolutionise education and training and open the floor to your thoughts through polls and guided discussion. 

Whether you’re an energy professional, policymaker, educator or simply curious about how we can tackle the skills gap, this session is your chance to shape the future of DHC talent in Europe. 

Your voice will help us co-create the next generation of training and learning for the sector. 

 

Agenda: 

  • 10:00 – 10:10 Welcome to the online workshop and introduction to the DHC Academy project 
  • 10:10 – 10:25 Skills4DHC presentation: key findings and skill gaps 
  • 10:25 – 10:30 Quick interactive poll: reactions to Skills4DHC findings 
  • 10:30 – 10:45 Guided discussion: interpreting the skills needs 
  • 10:45 – 10:55 Drill down on DHC Academy focus – Where should the DHC Academy prioritise?  
  • 10:55 – 11:00 Quick interactive poll: priorities for the DHC Academy 
  • 11:00 – 11:20 Open discussion: shaping the DHC Academy curriculum  
  • 11:20 – 11:25 Final quick interactive poll: expectations and future hopes 
  • 11:25 – 11:30 Closing  

Speakers:

  • Connie Ocando, Project Officer, Euroheat & Power
  • Matteo Pozzi, Partner and General Manager, OPTIT
  • Dominik Rutz, Head of Biomass and Bioeconomy Unit, WIP
  • Christian Ramerstorfer, Science Researcher, AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies

Upcoming events

05 - 06
November
Euroheat & Power Event
Euroheat & Power Summit 2025
Brussels, Belgium
read more & register
17 - 23 August 2025
13th international DHC+ summer school
Copenhagen, Denmark
Euroheat & Power Event
4 September 2025
SupportDHC Toolbox Launch
Online
Euroheat & Power Event
7 - 10 September 2025
The 19th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling
Genk, Belgium
Promoted Event
16 - 17 September 2025
11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems
Copenhagen, Denmark
Promoted Event
5 - 6 November 2025
Euroheat & Power Summit 2025
Brussels, Belgium
Euroheat & Power Event
9 June 2026
Euroheat & Power Congress 2026
Kraków, Poland
Euroheat & Power Event