Sustainable Cooling for Big Science: Future-Proof Solutions Beyond PFAS

Name: Sustainable Cooling for Big Science: Future-Proof Solutions Beyond PFAS
Start: 2026-09-03T09:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-03T18:00:00+02:00
Location: GSI / Zoom

Donnerstag 03.09.2026, 09:00 → 18:00 Europe/Berlin

KBW lecture hall (GSI / Zoom)

KBW lecture hall

GSI / Zoom

Hybrid (selected sessions will be streamed online)

Fredrik Strengbohm (Assemblin), Jörgen Rogstam (EKAnalysis), Martina Bauer (GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH(GSI)), Simone Schwarz (GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH(GSI))

Beschreibung

Upcoming EU regulations on PFAS and F-gases are driving the need for sustainable and future-proof cooling solutions at large-scale research infrastructures. This workshop brings together experts from research facilities and industry to exchange practical experiences, discuss regulatory developments, and explore technical strategies for the transition towards PFAS-free cooling systems.

The workshop is organised by GSI/FAIR, EKAnalys and Assemblin within the framework of a joint pre-study on sustainable cooling technologies, supported by Vinnova and Big Science Sweden.

Participants will gain insights into:

European PFAS and F-gas regulations
Lessons learned from CERN and their application to GSI/FAIR
Technical approaches towards future-proof cooling systems
Experiences that can be transferred to other Big Science facilities

On-site highlights
Participants attending in person will have the opportunity to join two exclusive guided visits:

Morning (optional): Guided FAIR construction site tour
Afternoon: Technical visit to selected GSI/FAIR cooling installations

Please note that the guided tours are available only for on-site participants and cannot be streamed.

Hybrid participation
Selected presentation sessions will be available online for registered remote participants. Interactive discussions and the technical site visits are reserved for participants attending the workshop in Darmstadt.

Registration is open until 27.08.2026.

Contact

m.bauer@gsi.de

s.schwarz@gsi.de

Anmeldung

Participants

- 09:15 → 11:45
  
  Optional: FAIR Construction Site Tour (on-site participants only) 2h 30m
- 12:00 → 13:00
  
  Arrival & Lunch 1 h
- 13:00 → 13:20
  
  Welcome & Workshop Opening (hybrid)
  
  • Welcome from GSI/FAIR, EKA and Assemblin
  • Objectives & expected outcomes
- 13:20 → 14:10
  
  Case Study: From CERN Experience to GSI/FAIR Implementation (hybrid)
  
  • Regulatory drivers: EU PFAS and F-Gas regulations
  • CERN as reference: PFAS substitution strategies & lessons learned
  • GSI/FAIR as core case: system landscape, challenges & initial findings
  • Methodological approach: risk assessment, system analysis & roadmap
  • Key takeaways for Big Science facilities
- 14:10 → 14:40
  
  Coffee Break 30m
- 14:40 → 15:10
  
  Preparing the Site Visit: Systems & Key Questions (hybrid)
  
  • Overview of selected GSI/FAIR cooling installations
  • Key technical challenges and constraints
  • Focus points for participants during the visit
- 15:10 → 16:40
  
  Guided Site Visit at GSI/FAIR Installations (one-site participants only)
  
  • Visit of selected cooling systems and infrastructure
  • On-site explanations by technical experts
  • Discussion of operational challenges
- 16:40 → 17:10
  
  From Practice to Solutions (hybrid)
  
  • Key observations from the site visit
  • Practical solutions and technical approaches
  • Implications for future-proof cooling systems
- 17:10 → 17:40
  
  Interactive Discussion (hybrid)
  
  • Key observations from the site visit
  • Practical solutions and technical approaches
  • Implications for future-proof cooling systems
- 17:40 → 17:50
  
  Closing (hybrid)
  
  • Key takeaways
  • Next steps & outlook