Fresh from a high-impact E-world in Essen, the market signal is clear: energy transition has moved past potential, it is now a matter of commercial security.
In this edition, we dive into the shift from fossil dependency to Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS), exploring how decoupling production from volatile gas markets is becoming a primary strategic advantage. We also share expert insights on the global "infrastructure moment" and look ahead to our upcoming showcases at the CEPI Forum and Hannover Messe.
The energy landscape in Europe has shifted: natural gas, once the reliable baseline for industrial heat, has evolved into a significant financial and operational liability. Between volatile pricing, rising CO2 taxes, and the increasing difficulty of financing fossil-based systems, the cost of inaction is growing daily.
Tim de Haas, Chief Commercial Officer at Kyoto Group, explains, waiting for competitors to act is no longer the "safe" route. Early adopters of Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS) are securing a long-term strategic advantage by decoupling their production from volatile markets without the burden of upfront CapEx."
"Companies don't make their own water; they buy it. Why shouldn't they buy the heat they need for production?" - Tim de Haas
By shifting from technology ownership to a service agreement, industrial players can preserve liquidity while Heatcube captures low (or even negative) electricity prices, turning energy market volatility into a competitive edge.
Learn more about the benefits of HaaS
The conversation around the energy transition is maturing, moving beyond broad goals toward the specific operational realities of industrial sites. Leaders in energy policy and infrastructure are increasingly highlighting that while the technology exists, the next hurdle is smarter integration and market-driven flexibility.
During recent industry dialogues, experts from across the value chain shared critical insights on this shift:
"Imports of cost-effective power can effectively reduce electricity market prices, whereas power exports can be considered as a demand element for a system, applying upward pressure to market prices." — Aurora Energy Research
This perspective was echoed by broader analysis noting that we are entering an "infrastructure moment" where roughly $23 trillion in investment is needed for the global energy sector by 2040. For industry, this means moving toward automated, multi-service flexibility that can respond to the grid in real-time while ensuring production never stops.
Get more expert insights on thermal energy
We had some highly productive days at E-world energy & water in Essen this month. As Europe’s energy sector gathered to showcase pioneering technologies, it was clear that the conversation has shifted toward flexibility and supply security.
Our team engaged with decision-makers from across the DACH and Northern European regions, demonstrating how Heatcube enables industry to utilize intermittent renewable energy as a stable heat source.
Lars Martinussen, Commercial Director Northern Europe at Kyoto Group, reflects on E-world 2026: "E-world 2026 delivered high energy and high relevance. It was a pleasure to engage with competent industrial companies demonstrating real commitment and tangible progress towards decarbonising process heat. The exhibition was well organised and created a productive setting for focused, solution-oriented dialogue."
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand!
Missed us there? You can still book a meeting with our experts
The momentum doesn't stop in Essen. We are already preparing for two major events this spring:
CEPI Energy Efficiency Solutions Forum (April 15, Brussels): We’ll be joining the European pulp and paper industry to discuss the leap "From Innovation to Implementation". For a sector where heat represents a massive portion of energy use, Heatcube offers a proven path to deep decarbonization.
Hannover Messe (April 20–24): Industry’s biggest stage is shifting its focus to "Think Tech Forward". We will be there demonstrating how thermal storage can turn global competitive pressures, like rising energy costs, into a unique opportunity for sustainable transformation.
What happens when one of the world’s most steam-intensive industries meets the grid of the future? In the next edition, we’re diving into the high-pressure world of tyre manufacturing.
The tyre industry is at a critical crossroads. The sector faces mounting pressure to address a massive waste problem; nearly 3 billion new tyres are produced annually, while 800 million become waste.
Beyond waste, the "curing" process remains a primary decarbonization bottleneck. This energy-intensive stage typically relies on high-temperature steam traditionally generated by gas boilers. Next month, we’ll explore how the industry needs to shift from these legacy systems toward electrification and thermal energy storage to meet 2030 sustainability targets.
Stay tuned!