13th PORT PC Congress ‘AI and heat pumps – the energy foundations of the future’

         

                     Date: 12 June 2025

                     Place: Airport Hotel Okęcie, ul. Komitetu Obrony Robotników 24, 02-148 Warsaw

On 12th of June 2025, the 13th Congress of the Polish Organisation of Heat Pump Technology Development will be held in Warsaw, entitled ‘AI and heat pumps – the energy foundations of the future’. We would like to invite you to participate in the 13th Congress of the Polish Organisation of Heat Pump Technology Development (PORT PC) entitled  ‘AI and heat pumps – the energy foundations of the future’, which will take place on 12th of June 2025 in Warsaw (Airport Hotel Okęcie, 24 Komitet Obrony Robotników Street, 02-148 Warsaw).

Under the motto “AI and heat pumps – the energy foundations of the future’, the 13th PORT PC Congress – the most important annual event of the heat pump industry in Poland – will take place in Warsaw on 12th of June. This year’s edition will focus on the role of artificial intelligence and heat pumps in the development of intelligent, low-carbon and efficient heating systems that fit into the energy model of the future. It is also a great opportunity to talk about the cost of energy used in buildings, as AI opens up completely new possibilities in this area.  

We will meet at a milestone time

The 13th PORT PC Congress ‘AI and heat pumps – the energy foundations of future’ is a unique event in the Association’s 14-year history, both in terms of the subject matter and the timing.

– The year 2025 is a time of extremely important legislative decisions in the European Union: the EPBD, RED III and EED directives are being implemented, investments related to the decarbonisation of the heating industry are gaining momentum, and the requirements arising from the EU taxonomy of sustainable financing and ESG criteria are becoming an everyday reality for companies in the construction and installation sector – emphasises President of PORT PC, Paweł Lachman. – This is accompanied by a very strong trend related to the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which – importantly for our industry – is starting to play one of the key roles in modern energy systems, but also in buildings themselves, both on the consumption and energy management side.

A natural beneficiary of the development of AI is heat pumps, which, according to analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA), will account for more than 60% of new heating installations in developed countries by 2030. Combined with AI, they can already create proactive systems that not only heat and cool buildings, but also learn, anticipate and communicate with the environment, increasing occupant comfort and optimising energy consumption and costs.

– It is in this broad context that we want to discuss the challenges, opportunities and possibilities of the industry at this year’s Congress. – says Lachman. – We are convinced that the event will not only be an excellent opportunity to assimilate the latest knowledge and engage in a wide-ranging dialogue, but will also serve as a strategic compass for the industry, charting optimal courses of action and development.  

New facilities for participants and greater functionality with AI

It is worth noting that this year’s Congress is entirely a bilingual event, offering simultaneous English translation. It is therefore becoming more open to the full participation of foreign visitors.

Another novelty, and a close reference to the artificial intelligence in motto, will be the possibility for participants and speakers to use a dedicated app, with a number of convenient functions. Using it, they will be able, among other things, to register for the event, make a quick payment, obtain an e-ticket, get in touch with other participants, arrange a meeting or ask questions during the session. The app will be available in the second half of May.

The Congress will also be an opportunity to officially launch the newest volume of PORT PC’s industry guidelines series: “Guidelines for the design, implementation and commissioning of heat pump installations”.

This is already volume 9, entitled ‘Thermal use of rock mass – Thermal Response Test (TRT)’. The new publication will be available on site for Congress participants, traditionally only in printed form. All nine workbooks can be purchased from the online shop at: www.portpc.pl.  

Welcome to the Congress!

We warmly invite installers, designers, auditors and energy certifiers, representatives of industry organisations, institutions related to the development of the heat pump market in Poland, representatives of local authorities and other representatives of the heating industry, and all those interested in the topic of efficient buildings of the future to participate in the 13th PORT PC Congress.


13th PORT PC Congress Programme*

The congress will be moderated in Polish, with PL-EN-PL simultaneous interpretation.

9:00-10:00   Registration & networking coffee

10:00-11:30 Opening Session 1  – New challenges and opportunities for the heat pump’s market in Poland

During this session, we will consider how to achieve affordable heat pump heat prices for households and businesses, talk about dynamic tariffs and flexible heat pump cooperation with the electricity grid, as well as the assumptions of the National Energy and Climate Plan and technological innovations in 2025

Moderator: Małgorzata Smuczyńska – Vice-President of Management Board | PORT PC

Welcoming and PORT PC 2025 Award presentation – Paweł Lachman – President of Management Board | PORT PC

Opening speech of the 13th PORT PC Congress – Prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Galos – Undersecretary of State, Chief Geologist of the Country | Ministry of Climate and Environment

  • Heat price with HP for affordable energy to people and business  – Philippe Dumas – Secretary General | European Geothermal Energy Council
  • Flexibility in power grids and dynamic tariffs for heat pumps – Grzegorz Onichimowski – President of Management Board | Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A.
  • Heat pump market in Poland and Europe – what challenges do we face in 2025? – Paweł Lachman – President of the Management Board | PORT PC
  • Is it possible to achieve ambitious heat pump targets? – Marek Miara, PhD – Business Developer Heat Pumps | Fraunhofer ISE

11:30-12:00 Networking break

12:00-13:30 Session 2 – Challenges of the heat pump industry – energy prices and flexibility

The session will be conducted in the form of a debate, in which we will try to answer, among other things, questions about changes in energy prices and the benefits of new business models in heat billing.

Moderator: Grzegorz Burek – Editor in Chief | GLOBENERGIA

  • Introduction to the debate – Will energy prices rise? – Bartłomiej Derski – Lawyer, economist and journalist | Wysokie Napięcie
  • Introduction to the debate – Would flexibility help? – Monika Morawiecka – Senior Advisor | Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)

Panel discussion/debate

Panelists:

  • Monika Morawiecka – Senior Advisor | Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
  • Bartłomiej Derski – Lawyer, economist and journalist | Wysokie Napięcie
  • Paweł Lachman – President of the Management Board | PORT PC
  • Marek Miara – Business Developer Heat Pumps | Fraunhofer ISE
  • Grzegorz Onichimowski – President of Management Board | Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A.

13:30-14:30  Lunch break         

Simultaneous sessions

14:30-15:30 Session 3 A – Ground source heat pumps (simultaneous)

The session will focus on the GeoBOOST project to support the development of the ground source heat pump market, presenting the results of recent studies, monitoring and reporting standards for ground source heat pump investments in Europe, business models and financing for ground source heat pump investments, and the necessary regulatory support – harmonisation and simplification of regulations, licensing and permitting.

Moderator: Jakub Koczorowski – Vice-President of Management Board | PORT PC

  • MOOC – Access to qualified knowledge for geothermal heat pumps– Borja Badenes Badenes, Hossein Javadi | Universitat Politècnica de València
  • Catalogue of existing and promising technical solutions for GHP – Henk J.L. Witte | Groenholland
  • Integration of GHPs into energy action and spatial urban planning – Javiera Paz Chocobar Villegas | Technical University of Munich
  • Measuring the Affordability of Heating and Cooling Systems: A New Composite Indicator – Marlon Brancher | GeoSphere Austria
  • Geothermal heat pump market development in Finnland – Johnny Lönnroth | Rototec Group

14:30-15:30 Session 3 B – District heating and industry – projects and results (simultaneous)

During this session, the opportunities for the use of heat pump technology in district heating and CHP plants of the future, as well as more widely in industrial applications, which have been gaining significantly in importance recently, will be looked at.

Moderator: Adolf Mirowski – Member of Management Board| PORT PC

  • Input speach – Adolf Mirowski – Member of Management Board| PORT PC
  • Heat plant of the future – Kamil Kwiatkowski – Director of Research Projects | Euros Energy Sp. z o.o.
  • Combined heat and power plant of the future – Adolf Mirowski – Member of Management Board | PORT PC
  • Industry – heat recovery, high-temperature heat pump – Michał Rogowski – President of Management Board | inTERMO Sp. z o.o., Termo-Serwis Sp. z o.o.

15:30-16:00 Networking break

16:00-16:55 Session 4 – Heat pumps in a world of artificial intelligence

The summarising session, in the form of a wide-ranging debate, firmly rooted in Polish realities; we will refer, among other things, to the development of the heat pump market in Poland in the age of AI, as well as to the need to define a Polish low-emission building standard (based on NF40), which will allow buildings to be digitised more quickly and their energy potential to be exploited.

Moderator: Grzegorz Burek – Editor in Chief | GLOBENERGIA

  • Introduction to the debate  – Marek Miara – Business Developer Heat Pumps | Fraunhofer ISE
  • Introduction to the debate  – Petros Psyllos – Programmer, electronics engineer, innovator, entrepreneur | Cybernetics Company

Panel discussion/debate: Prospects for the heat pump market in Poland – Heat pumps in a world of artificial intelligence

Panelists:

  • Małgorzata Smuczyńska – Vice-President of the Management Board | PORT PC
  • Paweł Lachman – President of the Management Board | PORT PC
  • Marek Miara – Business Developer Heat Pumps | Fraunhofer ISE
  • Petros Psyllos – Programmer, electronics engineer, innovator, entrepreneur | Cybernetics Company

  • Tomasz Rodziewicz – Head of the Office of Innovation and New Technologies (Tauron Dystrybucja)

17:00 Wrap-up and closing of the Congress

After the Congress, participants who have chosen the option of attending ‘the Congress with dinner’ are invited to an evening banquet at the same hotel at 19:00.


* The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the programme.


Speakers

Paweł Lachman
President of Management Board | PORT PC          

Since January 2011, he has been the President of the Management Board of the Polish Organization of Heat Pump Technology Development PORT PC, an association representing the heat pump industry in Poland. Since 2020, he has also been the coordinator of the POBE Industry Agreement for Energy Efficiency, which currently includes 13 organizations involved in energy efficiency in construction.
He has over 25 years of experience in conducting training courses for installers and designers in the renewable energy and heating technology industry (heat pumps, hybrid heat pump systems, solar thermal collectors, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, hydraulic central heating and hot water systems). In 2011-2012, he conducted courses for certified RES installers in the field of heat pumps “Instal+RES” (Krakow University of Technology). Since 2014, he has been conducting courses for installers as part of the European training and certification system “Eucert” (EHPA and PORT PC). He is the coordinator and member of the team of authors of the PORT PC industry guidelines for heat pumps (parts 1-8). He is the author of over 60 industry articles on renewable energy sources and heating technology.
He is a graduate of the Krakow University of Technology, majoring in environmental engineering.

 

Krzysztof Galos
Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment
Chief Geologist of the Country
A graduate of the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics, and Environmental Protection at the Stanisław Staszic University of Science and Technology in Krakow, habilitated doctor of Earth sciences in the field of geology, professor of exact and natural sciences since 2020. In 2017-2024, he was the director of the Institute of Mineral Resources and Energy Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
He has over thirty years of experience in the field of economic, deposit and mining geology, mineral resource management, mining economics, raw material policy and energy policy. Author and co-author of over 270 scientific publications and over 100 expert opinions for the Ministry of the Environment, other ministries, and business entities in the field of geology and mining.

 

Philippe Dumas
Secretary General | European Geothermal Energy Council

Professionally involved in geothermal energy and the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) for 25 years. Initially, from 2000 to 2007, as an employee of a European engineering company and delegate in Brussels (Belgium). Since 2008, he has been the Secretary General of EGEC.
EGEC is a European industry association founded in May 1998 and based in Brussels. It brings together more than 230 companies and organizations from 30 European countries operating in the geothermal industry in Europe.

The main objective of EGEC is to support the development of the geothermal energy market and to work towards improving business conditions in Europe.
Author and co-author of several significant publications, such as market reports, political-financial and socio-economic documents, research and innovation agendas, and roadmaps. Participant in numerous conferences and active expert in many (over 30) EU-funded projects on energy and climate, with a focus on geothermal energy.

 

Grzegorz Onichimowski
President of Management Board | PSE S.A.
A graduate of the Faculty of Technical Physics and Applied Mathematics at the Warsaw University of Technology and postgraduate studies in business management at the Warsaw School of Economics.
Entrepreneur and manager with over 30 years of experience in the energy and IT sectors. Co-founder and long-time president (2002-2012) of the board of the Polish Power Exchange. Consultant to many companies in the energy sector in Poland, Europe, and the US. In 2015-2019, he developed the energy market of the Persian Gulf countries as the director of a project financed by six GCC countries in the regional transmission system operator – GCCIA.
He has worked for, among others, NFOŚiGW, Columbus, and NODES – the European flexibility platform. Expert at the Civic Institute and co-creator of the Civic Coalition’s energy program. Lecturer at Collegium Civitas and other universities.

 

Marek Miara
Coordinator Heat Pumps, Division Heat and Buildings
Fraunhofer ISE Institute
A long-time employee of the Fraunhofer ISE Institute, headquartered in Freiburg, Germany. He currently coordinates all activities related to heat pumps at the Institute.
He studied at the Wrocław University of Technology and the University of Kassel, and in 2014 he obtained his doctorate in the field of heat pump efficiency assessment.
He has participated in numerous German and international scientific and research projects.
He leads the international project “Heat Pumps in Multi-Family Buildings” (Annex 62) as part of the IEA Heat Pump Technologies Program.
He is a member of a number of VDI (Verband Deutscher Ingenieure) guideline committees, vice-president of the board of the German “Society for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology” DKV e.V., a member of the board of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), and an active member of the Polish Organization of Heat Pump Technology Development PORT PC.
He is the author of numerous scientific publications on heat pumps and energy-efficient construction. He is a speaker and organizer of numerous conferences.

 


 

Monika Morawiecka
Senior Advisor at Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
Formerly CEO of PGE Baltica and Head of PGE Group Strategy

Since 2022, she has worked with the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), an independent non-governmental organization committed to accelerating the energy transition towards a sustainable, secure and cost-effective future. Previously, she was with the PGE Group for 15 years. Since 2010, in her role as Director of the Strategy Department, she was responsible for the strategy of the entire Group, and was responsible for analyzing PGE’s external and internal environment and proposing the Group’s long-term development plans for both conventional and renewable energy. In February 2019, she became President of the Board of PGE Baltica, a PGE Capital Group company coordinating the construction of three offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea. From 2013 to 2018, she was also a member of the Governing Board of the Polish Electricity Committee, a leading organization in the energy sector in Poland. Prior to 2006, she worked at consulting firms, among others, implementing various projects in the electricity, gas and district heating sectors. She is a graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics, majoring in Finance and Banking, and holds an international Master of International Management diploma awarded by CEMS – The Global Alliance in Management Education.


 

Tomasz Rodziewicz
Head of Innovation and New Technologies Office
Tauron Dystrybucja

Manager and expert responsible for innovation, research and development in the energy sector. He has overseen many projects on Smart Grid, energy storage systems, electromobility, microgrids, distribution grid cooperation with RES and grid flexibility. Projects were implemented with local and international partners. Co-author of the Smart Grid Infrastructure concept, as well as the TAURON Dystrybucja Strategic Research Agenda. Member of national and international teams cooperating within the EU OSD Entity, Polish Electricity Transmission and Distribution Society, Polish Electricity Committee and various scientific communities.

 

 

 

Małgorzata Smuczyńska
Vice-President of Management Board | PORT PC
Member of Management Board | EHPA
PhD in of Environmental protection – water and wastewater treatment technology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Department of Environmental Protection and Fisheries. Board Member of European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), Founder Member and Vice-President of Management Board of the Polish Organization of Heat Pump Technology Development PORT PC, a member of the Association of Energy Auditors. The author of two patent applications for implementation of projects on how to remove phosphorus compounds from wastewater. The author of the doctoral thesis “The influence of active alginate filter bed on the efficiency of removal of phosphorus from wastewater”. Co-author of the “Energy Plan for the Podlaskie Province” and “Guidelines for the design, implementation, and acceptance of heat pump installations. Part 1” PORT PC, as well as a series of domestic and foreign press publications on renewable energy sources, mainly heat pump technology.

Environmental protection, sustainable development, and renewable energy sources are not only her professional passion, but also her mission in everyday life, which she pursues as the owner of a ground source heat pump working in conjunction with photovoltaics and a heat recovery ventilation system. In her professional life, she has represented the heat pump industry in the PORT PC association for 11 years. She also has extensive experience gained in management positions, including the last 16 years as Business Unit Manager and Brand Manager at NIBE-BIAWAR Sp. z o.o., part of the NIBE AB group in Sweden, which manufactures and distributes heat pumps in Poland. In May 2023, she took up the position of Regional Sales Director – Eastern Region and Managing Director of ESBE in Poland, a European manufacturer of heating, cooling, and hot water solutions.

 

 

Jakub Koczorowski
Vice-President of Management Board | PORT PC
A graduate of the Poznań University of Economics in International Relations and the Warsaw School of Economics in Postgraduate Studies at the Management Academy. He has been associated with REHAU since the beginning of his professional career. Initially as an intern in the Finance and Accounting department, later as a sales and marketing specialist in the Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering and Heating and Installation Technology industries. Since 2008, he has also served as Renewable Energy Sources Product Group Manager. In 2017, he took up the position of Sales Manager in the Heating, Installation and Geothermal Systems industry.
In October 2018, he joined Vaillant as Sales Development Manager for Heat Pumps and Renewable Energy Sources for Eastern Europe. Speaker at numerous conferences related to renewable energy sources. Promoter of energy-efficient and passive construction. Vice-President of Management Board of the Polish Organization of Heat Pump Technology Development PORT PC. Since 2015, he has been the head of the lower heat sources committee.

 

Adolf Mirowski

President of Board | Instytut Certyfikacji Emisji Budynków Sp. z o.o.
Member of Management Board | PORT PC  

A graduate of the AGH University of Science and Technology, where he completed his studies in 1996 at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics with a PhD in technical sciences.
He made his first professional contact in the heating technology industry in 1991, as part of the activities of Energo-Term
in Krakow. Between 1996 and 2012, he was employed by Viessmann Sp. z o.o., initially as the manager of the Krakow office, and later responsible for nationwide training. In the following years, he was involved in the implementation of new technologies, including combined heat and power generation and renewable energy. Since 2012, he has been running his own business providing consulting and expert services in the field of heating and heat engineering.
Founding member and board member of the Polish Organization for the Development of Heat Pump Technology (PORT PC).
Since 2011, he has been an expert in the Swiss Contribution program.
Creator and owner of the portal for designers, architects, and installers www.schematy.info.
Founder of the Institute for Building Emissions Certification (ICEB), where he developed his own method for assessing the heating of buildings and vehicles in terms of air pollutant emissions.
On this basis, the world’s first PreQurs series certificates and NO SMOG series emission marks are issued.

Borja Badenes
Assistant Professor
Universitat Politècnica de València

Prof. dr Borja Badenes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at the Universitat Politècnica de València and a researcher at the ITACA Institute for Information and Communication Technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and specialises in shallow geothermal energy systems, renewable cooling technologies, and the integration of sustainable energy solutions in urban environments.

Dr Badenes has played a significant role in several European research initiatives, notably the Horizon 2020 projects GEOCOND and GEO4CIVHIC. These projects have focused on advancing borehole heat exchanger technologies and promoting the adoption of geothermal solutions in the retrofitting of civil and historical buildings. As part of the GEO4CIVHIC project, he contributed to the establishment of a European Centre of Excellence in Shallow Geothermal Energy at UPV, aimed at fostering innovation and education in this field

His scholarly contributions encompass over 50 publications, including peer-reviewed articles and conference papers, addressing topics such as the thermal performance of advanced materials in borehole heat exchangers, the application of phase change materials in geothermal systems, and the development of hybrid renewable energy solutions.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Badenes is actively involved in disseminating knowledge on sustainable energy practices. He has participated in regional initiatives, such as the “Energía y Cambio Climático” workshops, where he has presented on the dissemination of shallow geothermal systems. His work continues to contribute to the advancement of sustainable energy systems and their integration into urban energy planning.

 

Hossein Javadi
Engineer and Researcher
ITACA, Universitat Politècnica de València

Dr Hossein Javadi is a Senior Mechanical Engineer and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (ITACA), located within the Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain. He holds a Ph.D. in Design, Manufacture, and Management of Industrial Projects from UPV, where his research has focused on the thermo-fluid dynamics of borehole heat exchangers with advanced materials for thermal energy storage applications.

Dr Javadi has contributed significantly to several EU-funded Horizon and LIFE projects—including GEOCOND, GEO4CIVHIC, ECHO, COOLING DOWN, and GEOBOOST—aimed at developing next-generation ground heat exchangers and promoting low-carbon energy solutions to enhance climate resilience across various industries and building types.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Javadi is actively involved in educational innovation through the development of modular training materials and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of geothermal professionals and students across Europe.

With more than 20 scientific publications and congress contributions in high-impact factor indexed journals and internationally recognized conferences, he maintains a strong presence in the academic and professional energy community. His research interests include Renewable Energy, Shallow Geothermal Energy (SGE), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Heat Transfer, Heat Exchangers, Thermal Energy Storage (TES), Thermal Response Test (TRT), Nanofluids, Phase Change Materials (PCM), and Numerical Simulation.

 

Johnny Lönnroth
Principal Analyst | Rototec Group

Dr Johnny Lönnroth is Principal Analyst of Rototec Group and leads its consulting unit in Sweden. He plays a central role in the company’s expansion into new markets, in mergers and acquisitions, and in technological innovation. Before joining Rototec, Dr Lönnroth worked in management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group, and prior to that made a career in nuclear fusion research at the Joint European Torus in the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in physics.

Growing from a strong base in the Nordic countries, Rototec Group has become a global leader in geothermal drilling, specialising in the delivery of shallow geothermal (also known as geoenergy) systems for ground source heating and cooling. In addition to this, the company offers geoenergy consulting services. With operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and the USA, Rototec operates a total of 66 modern drilling units. The energy wells drilled by Rototec reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 310 000 tonnes per year.

 

 


Registration for the 13th PORT PC Congress

Personal participation on site at the 13th Congress.

The Congress is open to those who have registered via the registration form. Cost of participation is 200 EUR net per attendee.

Link to registration form: https://forms.gle/9eUAAka74oNEW2kv7

A proforma will be issued for the invoice details provided and sent to your e-mail address. Payment is kindly requested.

Congress venue:

Airport Hotel Okęcie, 24 Komitet Obrony Robotników Street, 02-148 Warsaw

Using the password PORTPC, attendees can register for our reservation to receive a -15% discount off the day’s price.

Reception and Room Booking Department of Hotel:

tel.:+48 22 456 80 25/26/27 e-mail: rezerwacja@airporthotel.pl.

Map: