“Vilniaus šilumos tinklai” is the largest central heating company in the Baltic States. The desire to be innovative, efficient, and competitive is inseparable from our daily operations. We constantly rethink our business models, technological solutions, and explore creativeways to utilize our capacities throughout the year.  

One of the key challenges we face today is the efficient utilization of heat during the summer months. Due to seasonality, the demand for heating drops significantly, yet there remains untapped potential. Market conditions, such as the low price of biomass and the availability of waste heat from industrial processes and cooling units, present a unique opportunity: we have the capacity to act, but lack a clear direction for the best use of this excess heat.  

Could the solution lie within our own sector, related industries, or even in entirely new and innovative applications outside the energy domain? Solving this challenge would help us reduce operational seasonality, improve efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable use of resources.  

Our goal is to discover innovative solutions to effectively utilize excess heat during the summer season. These solutions can range from ideas within the energy sector to creative, cross-industry applications.  

The energy sector is a field where technological advancement and innovation intersect with sustainability and purpose. The solutions implemented in the sector not only affect companies as economic entities but also have a significant impact on the overall goal of sustainability and a cleaner world.

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Kaunas University of Technology

From Waste to Worth: Harnessing Excess Summer Heat

What is the best way to use cheap summer surplus heat of district heating?

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Critical and innovative thinking

Inter-personal skills

Media and information literacy

“Vilniaus šilumos tinklai” is one of the largest district heating companies in the Baltic States. The company’s customers are the residents of Vilnius, and every day, services are provided to nearly 220,000 Vilnius clients, heating almost 7,500 buildings. We not only provide heat to the city’s residents but also heat for hot tap water. The consumption of hot water during the day has its peaks and managing them is crucial whole year. A sudden increase in hot water usage places a heavy load on the production chain, which also needs to maintain the temperature required for heating. While managing this is a technical necessity, it also impacts customer satisfaction, energy efficiency, and the broader goals of sustainability.  

What possible solutions, using technologies or other means, could help manage consumption peaks and minimize their impact?  

We aim to discover innovative, actionable solutions to manage hot water consumption peaks more effectively and minimize their impact on our production chain. These solutions may include technological innovations, smart systems, or creative non-technical approaches.  

The energy sector is a field where technological advancement and innovation intersect with sustainability and purpose. The solutions implemented in the sector not only affect companies as economic entities but also have a significant impact on customers satisfaction and the overall goal of sustainability and a cleaner world.  

This is more than just a challenge—it’s a chance to solve a real-world problem for one of the largest district heating companies in the Baltic States. By participating, you’ll gain valuable experience in tackling complex issues, working with industry-relevant scenarios, and contributing to meaningful solutions that can shape the future of energy management.

Associate partner

Vilniaus šilumos tinklai

Associate partner

Vilniaus šilumos tinklai

Learning opportunities of Vilniaus šilumos tinklai