Final Transnational Conference of the Danube GeoHeCo Project successfully held in Novi Sad

The Final Transnational Conference of the Danube GeoHeCo Project was successfully held in Novi Sad, on 20th of May 2026., gathering representatives of European institutions, regional authorities, research organisations, universities, energy agencies, and geothermal experts from across the Danube Region.

The conference served as a platform for presenting the project’s key achievements, exchanging knowledge and experiences, and discussing future pathways for the deployment of shallow geothermal energy systems for sustainable heating and cooling solutions in Europe.

The event was opened by Mr. Aleksandar Dunđerski, from Regional Development Agency Backa, and Mr. Milivoj Suvajdžin from the Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport.

The conference programme featured a series of expert presentations addressing the strategic, policy, technological, and investment dimensions of shallow geothermal energy deployment.

Ms. Danijela Vrtarić presented the overall project overview, highlighting the strategic context and policy relevance of the initiative, while Mr. Horst Schindler reflected on the significance of the project within the Interreg Danube Region Programme framework.

Participants also had the opportunity to gain insights into the current European geothermal policy framework through a presentation delivered by Ms. Marianna Jakab from the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy – DG ENER.

Current developments and future perspectives of the European heat pump market were presented by Ms. Milagros Garcia Salciarini from the European Heat Pump Association AISBL.

A strong focus was placed on stakeholder engagement, digital innovation, and practical implementation of shallow geothermal solutions. Mr. Kristjan Šadl discussed the mobilisation of local and regional communities for geothermal investments, while Mr. György Márton presented key insights from the Danube GeoHeCo Transnational Action Plan.

The conference also showcased the project’s digital solutions and pilot investments. Mr. Artem Daminov and Mr. Luka Perković presented the digital platform, virtual marketplace, and IT decision support tools developed within the project.

Furthermore, Mr. Tomislav Kurevija introduced pilot investment case studies demonstrating the practical application and benefits of shallow geothermal energy systems across the Danube Region. The event concluded with the panel discussion “Future Pathways for Shallow Geothermal Energy in the Danube Region”.

Panel participants included:

• Mr. Djordjije Popović from the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP Serbia

•   Mr. Mitja Janža from the Geological Survey of Slovenia

• Mr. Luka Boban from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb

• Ms. Konstanze Zschoke from the European Geothermal Energy Council

Panel participants emphasised that shallow geothermal energy already represents a technologically mature solution with strong potential for decarbonising heating and cooling systems. At the same time, it was highlighted that further progress depends on stronger cross-sector cooperation and supportive regulatory and investment conditions.

The Final Transnational Conference confirmed the growing importance of shallow geothermal energy as a sustainable and innovative solution for accelerating the energy transition and strengthening renewable energy deployment across the Danube Region and Europe.

We would also like to express sincere gratitude to all participants, speakers and panelists, for their valuable contributions, active discussions, and continued support throughout the conference.

Their expertise, engagement, and exchange of knowledge significantly contributed to the success of the event and to strengthening cooperation for the future development of shallow geothermal energy solutions in the Danube Region and beyond.