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Programme

Cities driving the energy transition

Speakers
  • 13 May
  • 14 May
Krakow, Poland
Decarb Cities 2025

Held over two days, Decarb Cities 2025 in Krakow brought together more than 150 participants from across Europe to explore one of the most pressing challenges of our time: decarbonising urban heating and cooling.

Through five focused sessions, we tackled topics ranging from technical realities and financing options to city cooperation and EU policy frameworks. The event also featured a hands-on World Café, where participants joined small-group conversations on specific tools and challenges, and a memorable gala dinner at Kraków’s City Hall, hosted in partnership with local leaders.

We wrapped up with a site visit to one of Poland’s most advanced public buildings — the National Archives — showcasing a working ground-source heat pump system in action.

Input speakers included:
• Prof. Dr. Hab. Inż. Krzysztof Mendrok, Vice-Rector for Education, AGH University of Krakow
Paul Kenny, Director, European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)
Grzegorz Grzybczyk, Climate Officer, Department of Environment, Climate, Krakow City
Ciaran Cuffe, Co-Chair, European Green Party, Former MEP & Rapporteur on EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
Waltraut Schmid, Head of Energy, Urban Innovation Vienna
Pawel Wrobel, Director, Polish Electricity Association Brussels (PKEE)
Marek Miara, Heat Pump Coordinator, Fraunhofer ISE
Kristina Lygnerud, Professor, Efficient Energy Systems, Lund Research University, Sweden
…and over 30 other speakers.

Organised by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) and the Polish Association for Heat Pump Technology Development (PORT PC), with the support of the City of Krakow, under the patronage of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

Schedule title
Conference Day
  • 13 May
  • 14 May
Time Duration Sessions
09:30 - 10:30 1h

Welcoming coffee and registration

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater Hall

10:30 - 11:00 0:30min

Welcoming session

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

 

• Prof. Dr. Hab. Inż. Krzysztof Mendrok, Vice-Rector for Education, AGH University of Kraków
• Paul Kenny, Director, European Heat Pump Association, EHPA
Format: Keynote speeches
11:00 - 12:30 1:30min

Session 1: The heat is on Kraw: a city showing the way

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater 

 

This panel will explore current decarbonization efforts in Kraków’s heating sector. The discussion will explore national and local incentives such as Czyste Powietrze (Clean Air) and Mój Ciepło (My Heat) Heat programmes in Poland, including the transition from coal-based heating, the role of renewable energy, and technological innovations such heat pumps and district heating. The panelists will discuss challenges, opportunities, and future goals for the city.

 

Moderator: Thomas Nowak, VP Public affairs and government relations, Qvantum

Input speech: Grzegorz Grzybczyk, Climate Officer, Department of Environment, Climate, Krakow City

 

Panel discussion:

• Paweł Lachman, President, PORT PC
• Grzegorz Grzybczyk, Climate Officer, Department of Environment, Climate, Krakow City
• Wojciech Nowak, Director of Energy Center, AGH University of Krakow
• Maciej Riemer, Director Climate and Ecology, City of Lodz, Poland

Format: Panel discussion
12:30 - 14:00 1:30min

Networking lunch

 

📍AGH University of Krakow, University Restaurant Krakus 

14:00 - 15:30 1:30min

Session 2: Keeping up with the neighbours: how cities inspire each other in the decarbonisation race

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater


This session will examine the role of
the region in shaping green energy policies, sharing best practices for heating and cooling decarbonisation, and collaborating on regional projects to foster sustainable energy solutions. Neighbouring programmes aiming at renovating the building stocks and implementing renewable energy and efficiency measures such the Greening Savings Programme (CZ), Greenery for Households (SK) and Warmth of Home (HU) will be presented, with a focus on challenges in meeting EU climate targets for heating and cooling, and opportunities for joint projects that can enhance energy security and fuel the green energy transition.

 

Moderator: Morgan Henley, EU Heating Sector Decarbonisation Campaigner, CEE Bankwatch Network

Input speech: Ciaran Cuffe, Co-Chair, European Green Party, Former MEP & Rapporteur on EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

 

Panel discussion:

  • Karol Galek, Member of Slovak Parliament
  • Ciaran Cuffe, co-Chair, European Green Party
  • Adam Grochala, Expert, Fala Renowacji & Sales Manager, Grundfos
  • Waltraud Schmid, Head of Energy, Urban Innovation Vienna
Format: Panel discussion
15:30 - 16:00 0:30min

Networking break

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

16:00 - 17:30 1:30min

Session 3: From laws in Brussels to local muscles: how the EU supports cities


📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

 

This session will focus on how the EU can support cities like Kraków, as well as regional and European urban areas, in their decarbonisation efforts. Panelists will discuss EU funding, policies, and technical expertise that can help cities reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and meet climate goals. The conversation will highlight local initiatives in Kraków and explore broader strategies for urban climate action across Europe. 

 

Moderator: Sarah Azau, Communications and events director, EHPA

Input speech: Waltraud Schmid, Head of Energy, Urban Innovation Vienna, “Harnessing EU Support for Accelerating Urban Decarbonisation: Lessons from Vienna”

 

Panel discussion:

• Małgorzata Smuczyńska, Vice-President, PORT PC
• Pawel Wrobel, Director, Polish Electricity Association Brussels (PKEE)
• Pawel Madejski, Associate Professor, AGH University of Krakow
• Waltraud Schmid, Head of Energy, Urban Innovation Vienna

Format: Panel discussion
17:30 - 18:30 1h

Session 4: From theory to practice: how to decarbonise a city?

 

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

 

This session will explore practical steps, challenges, and opportunities in decarbonising urban areas, focusing on the role of city leaders, national policy, and industry in advancing climate action. In Poland, the shift to heat pumps is key to reducing carbon emissions, creating jobs in the green energy sector, and offering reskilling opportunities. The session will discuss how to accelerate decarbonisation through policy, energy system transformations, and the integration of heat pump technologies, boosting local economies and job growth in Poland.

 

Moderator: Adrian Hiel, Head of Media and Campaigns, Energy Cities

Input speech: Marek Miara, Heat Pump Coordinator, Fraunhofer ISE: “Heat Pumps in Multi-Family Buildings for cities: Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water”

 

Panel discussion:

  • Laura de Rosa, Renewable Energy and Democracy, Greenpeace Central
  • Bernard Swoczyna, Senior Climate and Energy policy analyst, Reform Institute Poland
  • Marek Tobiacelli, Senior Expert, KAPE, REDI4Heat
  • Nishant Karve, Environmental Research Engineer, Daikin, SKILLSAFE EU
  • Marek Miara, Heat Pumps Coordinator, Fraunhofer ISE
Format: Panel discussion
18:15 - 18:30 0:15min

Wrap-up

 

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater 

 

Speech: Paul Kenny, Director, European Heat Pump Association, EHPA

20:00 - 23:00 3h

Gala dinner

 

📍Krakow Historical City Hall

 

Opening speech

• Maria Wojtacha, Director of the Department of Municipal Affairs, City of Krakow

Time Duration Sessions
09:00 - 11:00 2h

World Café: Dragons’ den of decarbonisation: which pitch works best for your city?

With table rotations every 15-20 minutes, industry representatives will pitch on existing tools/best practices for local, national, regional and EU players to design and roll out their strategy (technologies, planning and decision-making tools, business models, start-up ideas).

 

📍AGH University of Krakow, University Restaurant Krakus 

 

Moderator: Paul Kenny, Director General, European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)

Presenters:

  • Teodora-Emilia Motoasca, Research and Innovation Manager, Daikin Europe
  • Piotr Gęśla, Deputy Division Manager, Mitsubishi Electric
  • Mariusz Luchowski, Country Manager Poland, Panasonic
  • Sergio Maria Capanelli, Group Solution Marketing Manager HVAC Residential, Carel
  • Emanuele Mazzola, Sales Engineer, Turboden
  • Piotr Kubera, CEO, Qvantum Poland
  • Wojciech Zmigrodzki, Head of Business Development Heat Pumps in Eastern Europe, Danfoss
  • Pal Kiss, Managing Director, Thermowatt & Head of the Hungarian Association of Heat Pumps MAHŐSZ
  • Mariusz Skwarczynski, National Research Center, NCBR
  • Leopoldo Micó, Head of KEYMARK Secretariat, European Heat Pump Association
Format: Roundtable
11:00 - 11:30 0:30min

Networking break

 

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

11:30 - 12:30 1h

Session 5: Show me the money! How to finance the urban energy transition?

This session will explore the complexities of financing the energy transition in urban areas, with a particular focus on the critical need for collaboration between public institutions, the private sector, and sector-specific stakeholders. While EU policies and financial instruments have made important strides, additional efforts are required to ensure that energy solutions for cities are scalable, sustainable, and integrated.

 

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

 

Moderator: Agnieszka Szymczyk, Senior Banker, Green Financial Systems, Climate Strategy and Delivery, European Bank for Reconstruction and Develoment

Speech: Kristina Lygnerud, Professor, Efficient Energy Systems, Lund Research University, Sweden

 

Panel discussion:

  • Magdalena Chawula; People, Cities, Regions Programme Director, Forum Energii
  • Kristina Lygnerud, Professor, Efficient Energy Systems, Lund Research University, Sweden
  • Jonathan Volt, Project Officer at European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
  • Leopoldo Micò, Head of heat pump KEYMARK Secretariat, EHPA
Format: Panel discussion
12:30 - 12:35 0:5min

Wrap-up

📍AGH University of Krakow, U2 Amphitheater

Speech: Paul Kenny, Director, European Heat Pump Association, EHPA

13:00 - 15:00 2h

Networking lunch in the Old Town

 

📍Wesele Restaurant, Krakow main square 15 minutes’ walk 

15:00 - 17:00 2h

Site visit

 

📍National archives in Krakow

Visit of an innovative ground-source heat pump installation at the National Archives of Krakow

Guided tour by Jakub Koczorowski, Vice-President, Polish organisation of heat pump technology development (PORT PC)

17:00 - 19:00 2h

Cultural visit

Guided city tour offered by the City of Krakow