Additional training modules online took place earlier this month.
Hotmaps online training took place on google platform earlier this month. 89 participants attended. They were guided by a group of trainers to set up different scenarios for a selected region in five steps:
1. Mapping of heat demand and resource potentials
2. Calculation of decentral heat supply costs
3. Calculation of district heating supply costs
4. Calculation of district heating distribution costs
5. Setting up of consistent scenarios for the region
The online training was offered in English and German. Different formats were used to make the training more engaging but also to allow for more flexibility:
- introductory videos, pre-recorded and sent to the participants in advance, to familiarise themselves with the toolbox;
- live plenary webinars, also recorded and made available right after, during which the trainers introduced the the exercises and the results;
- smaller support sessions, with each participants assigned to a group coordinated by one trainer. This sessions were not mandatoy but were used to provided guidance if needed.
- support documents and the Hotmaps wiki, available online
The training materials will soon be available in the wiki.
Most participants appreciated the overall user friendliness of the toolbox and identified the default dataset as one of the strongest feature, together with the data visualisation tool and its modular approach. They intend to use Hotmaps further, mainly in the area of heat planning, but also to develop Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans and for the analysis of district heating & cooling projects.
Despite the challenges related to the last minute change of concept, we have now around 122 people trained on the Hotmaps toolbox. They came from more than 60 organisations and local authorities in 27 different countries!
