Date: September 16–17, 2025
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark & Online
Conference: Smart Energy Systems Annual Conference (#SESAAU2025)
A Compact and Insightful Gathering
Over two days, Copenhagen hosted the SESAAU2025 Smart Energy Systems Conference – an international meeting point for researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders committed to building a climate-neutral energy system. The program featured keynote sessions, thematic tracks, and technical tours, complemented by an extended online programme for wider participation.
The event delivered what it promised: insightful presentations, meaningful findings, and actionable takeaways. For the INTERSTORES project, it was also an opportunity to reconnect with partners, exchange ideas, and highlight our growing impact in the field of seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (sTES).
SESAAU2025 in-person programme
INTERSTORES Contributions
The INTERSTORES team made a strong presence with a diverse range of presentations across sessions:
Techno-economic advantages of coupling large-scale sTES with heat pumps in district heating systems
Demonstrating how optimised sizing and strategic allocation of heat pumps can unlock massive OPEX savings and CO₂ reductions.- Presented by Dr. Adulrahman DAHASH, AIT
Risk Assessment for sTES in District Heating Networks – Highlighting uncertainties that could evolve into risks and proposing future mitigation measures.
- Presented by Ralf-Roman Schmidt, AIT
Data-Driven Surrogate Models of sTES for MPC Applications – A digital twin case study on the Dronninglund pit storage, stressing the need for continued development through reference dataset validation.
- Presented by Dr. Curtis Meister, HSLU
Optimizing the Operation of a Thermal Source Network Using Matlab/Simscape – Exploring system-level optimisation to support efficient district heating and cooling operations.
- Presented by M.Sc. Simon Müller, THI
Cascading of sTES for Optimal Operation of DHC Networks – A case study on a cooling-dominated grid, paving the way for multi-functional and multi-application storage concepts.
- Presented by M.Sc. Michael Bayer, HSLu
Optimal Integration of sTES within a Thermal Source Network – The Planning Phase – Focusing on system integration and planning methodologies.
- Presented by M.Sc. Shariq Akbar, THI (online contribution)
Why It Matters
These contributions underscored the central role of seasonal Thermal Energy Storage in Europe’s energy transition:
Reducing dependency on fossil fuels in heating and cooling.
Increasing resilience of district energy networks.
Enabling system flexibility through digital twins and advanced control strategies.
Linking techno-economic performance with environmental and policy considerations.
Looking Ahead
The energy and momentum at SESAAU2025 confirmed that collaboration is key. With INTERSTORES actively contributing research, demonstrations, and methodologies, we are helping shape the path toward sustainable and resilient district heating and cooling systems.
Stay tuned as we continue to share insights, results, and updates from our work.
The Abstract Book
