New competence centre for sustainable heating and cooling
New competence centre for sustainable heating and cooling is led by the Department of Energy Technology, KTH
Millions of SEK in funding. Seven Swedish universities. Around 40 industry partners. Ten international research institutions. HEAT-X, a new strategic centre for sustainable heating and cooling led by Hatef Madani, professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology will bring all these together to tackle one of the energy transition’s biggest challenges.
Heating and cooling account for around half of Europe’s energy demand. Yet the transition has largely focused on decarbonising energy supply. HEAT-X takes a broader approach: making heat an active resource in a resilient, fossil-free energy system.
The research will span next-generation heating and cooling technologies, AI-driven control, building renovation, energy systems and industrial waste heat recovery – connecting technological innovation with the people, policies and business models needed to put solutions into practice.
“The funding is a recognition of the work we have put in and our long tradition of collaboration between academia and industry,” says Hatef Madani. “I look forward to the doctoral and postdoctoral projects that will be launched as part of HEAT-X.”
Funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, the centre will start in January 2027, with research and collaboration planned through 2031.
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