We have already supported these customers with the transformation
District heating - a central element for the heat transition in urban areas
The supply of district or local heating offers great potential to provide densely populated, urban areas with sustainable heat. At the same time, the centralized supply enables large waste heat and environmental potentials to be tapped and distributed efficiently to buildings with high heat demand. Local and district heating are therefore central elements in shaping the municipal heat transition.
The Municipal heat planning or the establishment of the transformation plan often results in a great need for network expansion. Even in smaller municipalities, it is not uncommon for 1-2 km of district heating to be laid per year to enable climate-neutral supply in the target year 2045. This poses major challenges for all involved, both in terms of costs and capacities for planning and implementing the infrastructure measure.
The greater challenge is usually the high investment requirement. Therefore, it is crucial to plan the network expansion path efficiently. Of central importance is the development of the best producer portfolio and its expansion depending on ongoing investments, growing consumer structure, and the existing funding landscape. We have extensive experience both in setting up feasibility studies for new local and district heating as well as in transformation planning for existing district heating networks.
Our feasibility studies and transformation plans are compliant with the Federal Funding for Efficient Heating Networks (BEW) and, depending on the need, go significantly beyond the BEW’s requirement profile. One of our core competencies is energy system modeling for holistic optimization of the network and producer structure. We draw on diverse experience from similar projects with network lengths from 10 km – 400 km.
An energy system model for your heating network creates planning security
We develop an energy system model for your district or local heating to optimize the network topology and producer structure. Our engineers analyze and optimize the producer portfolio using the energy system model in terms of investment costs and operational costs to derive the best heat generation.
Central elements are the establishment of the target producer park including no-regret technologies, setting up a dispatch order, and optimizing the interaction between production technologies and storage in the annual load profile.
Thus, energy system modeling creates planning security in the early phase and supports the decision-making process through system optimization, independently and data-driven. Below you will find two reference projects in which an energy system model was used as a digital twin for district heating.
Our services
Feasibility studies and transformation plans (BEW)
A transformation plan or feasibility study from a single source – depending on your needs, from funding acquisition and preparation of a guideline price offer through the target and actual analysis, to economic feasibility calculation and the finished concept.
Potential analysis for renewable energies or waste heat utilization
Quantification and localization as well as assessment of the technical and economic usability of renewables (including deep geothermal energy, lake and river thermal energy, and solar thermal energy) as well as unavoidable waste heat.
Portfolio optimization through energy system modeling
Development of an energy system model for analyzing and optimizing various producer and storage portfolios in terms of security of supply, CapEx, OpEx, heat generation costs, space requirements, or other indicators.
Support of implementation (HOAI service phases 1-8)
We accompany you all the way, from funding acquisition through concept development, approval and design planning to awarding and construction supervision.
We support you!
Do you need help with acquiring funding, consultation during the process, or are you planning to develop your transformation plan or feasibility study soon? We are happy to support you!
Do you need help with acquiring funding, consultation during the process, or are you planning to develop your transformation plan or feasibility study soon? We are happy to support you!
Questions and Answers (FAQ) about Transformation Plans for District Heating and Feasibility Studies
What is a Transformation Plan for District Heating?
A Transformation Plan for District Heating is a strategic concept that describes how an existing district heating network will be gradually redesigned to become climate-neutral. The goal is to make heat supply in cities and municipalities future-proof with regard to climate protection and the legal requirements of the Heat Planning Act (WPG) and the Building Energy Act (GEG).
Similarly, a feasibility study focuses on developing concepts for new, prospectively climate-neutral heat networks.
Both a transformation plan and a feasibility study are funded under the Federal Funding for Efficient Heat Networks (BEW, Germany). There might be similar subsides in your region too.
Contents of a Transformation Plan (Feasibility Study)
According to the Federal Funding for Efficient Heat Networks, certain requirements are set for a transformation plan (feasibility study):
Description of the existing heat network
Analysis of existing heat generation
Energy and greenhouse gas balance
Target image of the network for 2045
Transformation path
Action plan
Economic viability assessment
Implementation schedule
Why Should a Transformation Plan Be Created?
The transformation plan provides a solid basis for restructuring district and local heating from fossil fuels to renewables and unavoidable waste heat. The transformation is essential to meet the required share of renewable energies in the coming years as per the Heat Planning Act (WPG). This is a crucial prerequisite for heat networks to also comply with the specifications of the Building Energy Act (GEG).
At the same time, the transformation involves high investment needs. Funding helps to make the restructuring economically viable. This is where the Federal Funding for Efficient Heat Networks (BEW) comes into play. The BEW is modular and sequential. With the help of the transformation plan (Module 1, LP 1-4), one gains access to investment and operating cost funding according to Modules 2-4.
What Milestones Apply to Heat Networks?
By 2030, heat networks must be supplied with at least 30% renewable energy and unavoidable waste heat. By 2040, 80% of the supply must come from renewable energies and waste heat. By 2045, the heat supply via local and district heating should be entirely from waste heat and renewables.
Is the Creation of the Transformation Plan Funded?
Yes, the preparation of a transformation plan or a feasibility study is funded according to BEW Module 1, provided that the heat network serves more than 16 buildings or 100 residential units.
The maximum funding amount is 2 million €. The funding rate is 50% of the eligible costs.
Further Information
Further information on the technical requirements and funding for transformation plans and feasibility studies can be found here.
