Insights from the FILTER Baltic Energy Conference 2024
The Baltic Energy Conference 2024, themed “Life After Change,” brought together industry leaders, innovators, and energy professionals to discuss the future of renewable energy and district heating. The event featured the newest technologies and insightful presentations on solar energy, gas engines, heat pumps, and electrode boilers.
Building smart energy solutions
In the welcome address, Egert Killing, CEO of FILTER Group, emphasized the critical role of renewable energy in forming a sustainable future. He posed essential questions about investing in the right technologies and highlighted the significance of heat accumulation in achieving net-zero carbon footprints. Egert Killing’s speech set the stage for discussions on smart energy solutions that promise greater peace of mind for businesses and consumers alike.
“We should squeeze everything and maximum out of every molecule, every kilowatt, every cubic meter before we send it back to the environment.”
Egert Killing, CEO of FILTER Group
Learn more about smart industry and smart factories
Driving change – gas engines in the renewable energy market
Dr. Klaus Payrhuber, Strategic Product Development Manager at INNIO Jenbacher, presented an overview of the evolving role of gas engines in balancing volatile renewable energy sources. He emphasized how Jenbacher’s high-efficiency gas engines are integral to flexible distributed power solutions such as combined heat and power (CHP) and microgrids. With innovations like hydrogen-ready engines, Jenbacher is positioned to support the shift toward cleaner energy systems while delivering resilience to energy grids globally. Dr. Klaus Payrhuber underscored the increasing role of heat pumps and microgrids in Europe’s electrified heating sector, advocating for synergistic energy solutions.
“Heat pumps and CHP solutions can produce with the same input more heat output, showing how these technologies are not competitors but complementary forces.”
Dr. Klaus Payrhuber, Strategic Product Development Manager at INNIO Jenbacher
He also described how Jenbacher’s innovative gas engines support the EU’s Fit for 55 initiatives by achieving substantial reductions in CO₂ emissions, and noted an impressive focus on fast-start, flexible engines, which are increasingly essential for grid stability as renewable energy sources fluctuate seasonally.
Learn more about INNIO Jenbacher gas engines
Harnessing clean energy for a sustainable future – the power of solar collectors
Head of International Projects at VIESSMANN Martin Pejstrup’s presentation focused on the potential of large-scale solar thermal systems in district heating. Viessmann has developed over 150 solar thermal plants worldwide, offering cost-effective, long-term solutions for local and industrial heat supply. Solar thermal energy is a proven, safe, and sustainable alternative that contributes to a stable, CO2-neutral energy production, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Emphasizing Denmark’s extensive experience, Martin pointed to solar thermal’s simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and land efficiency compared to other renewable sources like PV solar. He underscored the synergy between solar thermal and biomass in heating, showing how oversizing solar thermal systems allows biomass boilers to be turned off seasonally, thereby extending their lifespan and improving overall efficiency.
“Biomass and solar thermal are not competitors, but they are full of synergies,”
Head of International Projects at VIESSMANN Martin Pejstrup
Case study. Large-scale solar collector field in Salaspils Siltums
Ina Bērziņa-Veita, CEO of Salaspils Siltums, presented a practical case study from Latvia, where Salaspils Siltums successfully integrated a large-scale solar collector field with a biomass heating system. This innovative setup, covering 23,220 m², generates 12,000 MWh annually—meeting 25% of the city’s heating demand while stabilizing costs and reducing carbon emissions. In just five years, this project saved €2.8 million compared to natural gas reliance, illustrating the economic and environmental impact of solar thermal energy.
“We saved €2.8 million during those five years,”
Ina Bērziņa-Veita, CEO of Salaspils Siltums emphasized capturing the substantial financial benefits of this renewable energy solution.
Read more about Solar Thermal District Heating Plant in Latvia
Heating the future with electrode boilers in district heating and frequency market control
Håkon Skogseide, Sales Engineer at PARAT Halvorsen, introduced high-voltage electrode boilers as a crucial technology for grid frequency regulation within renewable energy systems. He highlighted their remarkable efficiency, positioning them as an ideal solution for grid regulation in district heating networks.
“An electrode boiler has a thermal energy efficiency of about 99.9%. The actual energy transfer from high voltage to water heat is 100%,”
Håkon Skogseide emphasized, illustrating how these boilers achieve nearly loss-free energy conversion, with only minimal thermal loss through insulation.
This impressive efficiency, coupled with the boilers’ ability to reach full load in just 30 seconds, enables them to swiftly respond to grid frequency fluctuations—vital in a grid increasingly dependent on renewable energy. By storing energy when prices are low and utilizing it during peak demand, electrode boilers offer a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution to modern energy challenges.
Learn more about high voltage electrode hot water & steam boilers
Heat pump revolution – optimizing district heating with industrial waste heat integration
Oleksii Kokosha, Energy Solutions Sales Engineer at FILTER, showcased how advanced industrial heat pump technology can supplement existing energy systems, especially in industrial processes, to optimize efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions. Oleksii emphasized that heat pumps are not competitors to technologies like electrode boilers or CHPs but instead serve as valuable complements, particularly for harnessing low-temperature waste heat. As he explained, the process begins with a thorough site survey to assess waste heat potential, followed by a customized conceptual solution that integrates the most feasible technologies.
“Heat pumps are a booming solution for industries aiming to boost efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions while supporting a greener company image,”
Oleksii Kokosha noted, highlighting the rising demand for this technology.
FILTER advanced heat pumps solutions, with features like automation and digital monitoring, can achieve high temperatures up to 120°C, making them ideal for both heating and cooling needs across sectors. This approach ensures that energy solutions are tailored to maximize cost savings, enhance system efficiency, and help industries achieve sustainability goals.
Learn more about energy recovery solutions
AS Rīgas Siltums’ heat pump technology – from installation to operation
Kalvis Kalniņš, CHP/Cogeneration Station Manager at Rigas Siltums, shared insights on the company’s innovative use of heat pumps to optimize district heating efficiency in Riga. By integrating a flue gas heat pump system, Rigas Siltums successfully diversified its energy sources, enhanced system efficiency, and increased renewable energy production. K. Kalviņš highlighted that since launching the flue gas heat pump system, they’ve achieved a 4.25% efficiency increase, which translates to significant fuel savings and a substantial reduction in emissions.
“In wood chip scale, it’s like ten tons of wood chips per day we’re getting back for free,”
K. Kalniņš noted, underscoring the financial and environmental impact of the system.
Over five months, this technology has recovered 5,700 MWh of energy—equivalent to the annual output of a solar park—demonstrating the potential of heat pumps to support sustainable district heating solutions.
A collaborative effort toward a green future
The 2024 FILTER Baltic Energy Conference brought forward critical discussions and case studies that demonstrate the transformative power of renewable energy technologies. From large-scale solar thermal fields to electrode boilers and heat pump integration, the energy industry is rapidly evolving to meet sustainability goals. As the Baltic region continues to lead in renewable energy adoption, these innovations will play a great role in making a greener and more sustainable future.
