PlanHeat showcased at Bioenergidagen in Växjö: cross-sectoral dialogue on heat planning in Sweden

PlanHeat was highlighted at Bioenergidagen (Bioenergy Days) on 12th February 2026, where around 80 stakeholders from Southern Sweden’s sustainable energy sector gathered at Linnaeus University in Växjö to network and discuss the latest developments in bioenergy and district heating. The conference was organised by the PlanHeat project partner, Energy Agency Southern Sweden (Energikontor Syd), together with the local utility company – Växjö Energi, and linked sector discussions directly to ongoing work on regional heating and cooling planning.

The event brought together several key PlanHeat target groups, including sectoral agencies, interest groups, public service providers, and municipal and regional representatives, reflecting the cross-sectoral cooperation needed for effective local heat planning.

Supporting the transition to sustainable energy systems is an important part of Energy Agency Southern Sweden’s work to contribute to regional climate goals. Bioenergidagen is organised annually to present the latest research and address current, sector-relevant topics related to decarbonization in the energy sector.

PlanHeat status update for Kalmar County

Representing the Energy Agency Southern Sweden, Göran Gustavsson introduced PlanHeat and provided a status update on the project’s implementation in Kalmar County. He shared impressions from the initial interviews with district heating utilities in the region and from the first reference group meetings, highlighting early insights that will feed into the development of the regional heating and cooling plan.

The conference was attended by the Swedish PlanHeat Ambassador Cities and Regions Kalmar County, Municipality of Kalmar, Municipality of Hultsfred, Kronoberg County, Skåne County and Blekinge County, underlining the strong national engagement in the project.

Key conference messages: flexibility and communication

A central theme of the day – highly relevant to PlanHeat’s objectives – was production flexibility in district heating. Erik Thornström (Energiföretagen Sverige) presented how new EU legislation is affecting the sector, and Elin Karlsson (Tranås Energi), together with Maria Lund (Nässjö Affärsverk), presented the successful collaboration within the Carvinge Initiative, which aims to increase public awareness of the benefits of district heating.

Speakers stressed that the district heating sector is facing major pressures from rising fuel prices and increasing competition from alternative heating solutions, making flexibility in both fuel choices and production methods increasingly critical.

Växjö Energi described how it is assessing the technical and economic feasibility of electricity-based solutions such as heat pumps and an electric boiler to complement existing production, increase flexibility and reduce vulnerability. The importance of proactive, transparent customer communication was also emphasised as essential for maintaining trust during periods of change.

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