HeriTACE was proudly represented at the 4th International Sustainable Energy Conference (ISEC 2026) in Graz, Austria, where Prof. Dr. Lieve Helsen (KU Leuven) delivered one of the conference's plenary keynote addresses and contributed to high-level discussions on the future of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in sustainable heating and cooling.
The second day of the conference opened with an inspiring plenary session featuring internationally recognised experts addressing the social, technological and data-driven dimensions of the energy transition. In her keynote, 'Physics-Based Intelligence for Decarbonization of the Built Environment – Reinventing System Integration in the Age of Data,' Prof. Helsen highlighted how physics-based models and digital intelligence complement data-driven approaches to accelerate the decarbonisation of buildings and energy systems. Her message underscored that while AI and data analytics are transforming the energy sector, physics-based intelligence remains indispensable for creating reliable, resilient and efficient integrated energy solutions.
Prof. Helsen also served as moderator for the conference's second day, guiding discussions that brought together researchers, industry leaders and policymakers from across Europe.
In addition, HeriTACE expertise was showcased during the special session 'Digitalisation and AI as Enablers for Renewable Heating and Cooling Technologies,' co-organised by the RHC-ETIP. KU Leuven researcher Lucas Verleyen presented how physics-based Model Predictive Control (MPC) acts as a powerful system integrator, enabling affordable, sustainable and resilient heating and cooling solutions. The session concluded with a panel discussion featuring Prof. Helsen, who joined fellow experts in exploring the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation for the energy transition.
The discussions highlighted several key messages that closely align with the ambitions of HeriTACE:
The strong presence of HeriTACE at ISEC 2026 reflects the project's commitment to combining cutting-edge research with practical, scalable solutions that support the sustainable transformation of Europe's built environment. By bringing together physics-based intelligence, digital technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration, HeriTACE continues to contribute to a more resilient and climate-neutral future.