The so called “Gesetz für die Wärmeplanung und zur Dekarbonisierung der Wärmenetze” (Wärmeplanungsgesetz – WPG) requires German municipalities to develop heat plans. By 2045 at the latest, their heat supply must be climate-neutral – in some federal states, including Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, even by 2040. To support them in this challenge, EWE NETZ offers a comprehensive solution package for municipalities in its network areas in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Energy Services for Municipalities
Heat Planning for Municipalities by EWE NETZEWE NETZ supports municipalities in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with a comprehensive solution package for heat planning. This ensures that all legal requirements and the needs of municipalities are taken into account. This way, cities and municipalities can reliably fulfill their obligation to develop heat plans.
Municipal Heat Transition
The above-mentioned law on municipal heat planning, passed at the end of 2023, aims to put Germany's heat supply on a climate-friendly basis. As part of the heat transition, federal states are required to introduce municipal heat planning. Some states, such as Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and Schleswig-Holstein, are already implementing this. Many cities and municipalities that do not yet have specific requirements from their federal state are also developing heat plans.
Municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants must have a heat plan in place by June 30, 2026. Municipalities with fewer inhabitants have time until June 30, 2028. For smaller municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, there are simplified procedures with reduced requirements.
Solution Concept in Four Steps
With its many years of experience, EWE NETZ supports municipalities in the heat transition within the framework of municipal heat planning with a comprehensive solution concept. This ensures that all legal requirements and the needs of municipalities are taken into account. The systematic process includes four steps:
- Inventory Analysis: EWE NETZ systematically and professionally collects data to determine the total heat demand and the resulting CO2 emissions. Additionally, an overview of building, supply, and heating structures is created.
- Potential Analysis: Based on the inventory analysis, the potential for reducing heat demand through improved building energy efficiency is identified. Furthermore, possibilities for renewable energy sources, waste heat, and combined heat and power generation for heat supply are explored.
- Target Scenario Development: The analyses serve as the basis for illustrating the development of heat demand until 2030 and describing the CO2-neutral target scenario by 2040 or 2045. The overarching goal is to ensure that the planned supply structure meets demand in a climate-neutral way.
- Heat Transition Strategy: At the end of the project, the transformation path for future heat supply is developed – including a comprehensive catalogue of measures. At least five of the identified measures must be implemented within the next five years.
Multiple Benefits for Municipalities
- Holistic service package for municipal heat planning – everything from a single source
- Independent and technology-neutral development of a heat plan within the framework of legal requirements
- Tailor-made software for individual potential analysis and action planning
- Support in obtaining and integrating relevant network and municipal data sets
- Extensive structural and consumption data available to EWE NETZ as an energy network operator enable precise heat planning
