This was the 2nd part of Inspire Event of Latvia organized by KeepWarm partner Zemgale Regional Energy Agency (ZREA) – physical study visits of Austrian partners to Latvia were replaced in virtual form by 3 video films transmission to twinning partners and following on-line discussion. The first part of ZREA Inspire Events - 4 online seminars took place in June 2020.

Realization of Twinning program, mutual study visits within Austrian Inspire Event started already early in January 2020, when delegation from Latvia visited Austrian partners in Graz – participated in the 6^th Central European Biomass Conference and KeepWarm workshop and visited several district heating systems (DHS), for example DHS Eibiswald, where delegates attended completely new biomass /solar boiler house.

Although the best and most effective way of learning and exploring is “to see and touch” things in reality, ZREA took challenge and prepared “virtual study visits” – during September, 2020 filming of 3 district heating systems were organized: KeepWarm pilot DHSs “Jekabpils Siltums”, Ltd. and “Auces komunālie pakalpojumi”, Ltd. (with DHS Lielauce and DHS Bene) and cooperating partner “Salaspils Siltums”, Ltd. Result of this process was shared with Twinning partners at the end of October, 2020. Each video contains general information about district heating system (DHS), their realized and planned activities in modernization of their district heating systems.

Finally, on 6/11/2020 – KeepWarm Twinnng partners: DHS Eibiswald & DHS Jekabpils, DHS Ligist & DHS Lielauce, DHS Bene (last both DHSs from Auce) met virtually. Virtual twinning meeting was hosted by ZREA it gathered 11 participants from Austria and Latvia. In the beginning of meeting KeepWarm project partners ZREA and Lk Steiermark introduced both delegations and reviewed ongoing cooperation among pilot district heating systems, ZREA shortly presented on video filming process. The most important part of the meeting was questions – answers part, where initially Latvian district heating systems provided their answers to Austrian partners followed by discussion on the process and options for modernization of district heating systems in both countries. In the end of meeting both parts admitted that cooperation between Latvian and Austrian district heating systems in the KeepWarm project was very valuable and useful.

Below you can see video films from Salaspils, Auce and Jekabpils on their district heating systems` modernization experience and plans.