On 29 April 2026, the Energy Forum “Urban Planning in Times of Global Energy Crises – The Need for New Methods Using AI and Innovative Business Models” took place at the Garching campus as part of the TUM Sustainability Day. The event provided an overview of current debates on the urban energy transition and enabled open exchange between academia and practice.
The Geothermal Alliance Bavaria was represented twice by Professor Thomas Hamacher and Nora Medgyesi. Both contributed experience from research and implementation and helped to place the potential of deep geothermal energy within the context of the municipal heat transition. In terms of content, two key aspects from the thematic sessions stood out.
The first session made clear that a liberalised energy market significantly complicates the necessary structural transformation. The discussion showed that long‑term investments in heat infrastructure are difficult to plan under current market conditions and that reliable framework conditions play a central role.
The second session on the role of artificial intelligence took a sober view. The discussion made clear that AI is not a central driver but rather a supporting tool for the implementation of the heat transition. Digital solutions can improve processes and increase system efficiency, but they do not replace fundamental decisions on infrastructure, regulation and implementation.
The full report on the event by MEP can be found here.
In addition, the Geothermal Alliance Bavaria was represented with an information stand on the ground floor of the Mechanical Engineering building. Many thanks to the numerous visitors for the intensive and engaging discussions.
