Energy company assists municipalities indeveloping heating strategies
In the context of Germany's energy and heat transition, municipalities are required by law to shape their heat supply sustainably and climate-neutral. Saxony Energy, the largest eastern German energy supplier, is playing a significant role in this transition by developing heat plans for municipalities.
Alexander Schulze, project manager at Saxony Energy, emphasises the importance of these municipal heat plans, stating, "They are a key part of our corporate strategy and infrastructure planning, and a comprehensive tool for the detailed planning of the heat infrastructure for municipalities."
These heat plans prioritise the use of renewable energies and reducing heat demand. They consist of a status analysis, potential analysis, target scenario, and heat transition strategy for each individual municipality. Local conditions will be taken into account, ensuring that each heat plan is customised to suit the unique needs of each town or city.
Saxony Energy brings decades of experience, data, and statistics to the planning of municipal heat infrastructures. The company is assisting municipalities with their legally mandated heat planning, helping them comply with the technical requirements of the Heat Planning Act to ensure an effective and socially acceptable heating transition.
The heat plans aim to optimise heating solutions for municipalities, with the primary focus being on reducing heat demand. This approach aligns with Germany’s climate neutrality goals by 2045, as they also focus on the transition to low-emission heating technologies and district heating expansion, as well as the integration of renewable energies.
In addition to these efforts, the heat plans address climate adaptation and mitigation of heat waves. Measures include public health protection during summer heatwaves, the establishment of cooling centers, urban planning to reduce the urban heat island effect, and public awareness campaigns on heat safety.
Regarding Saxony Energy’s contribution to the creation of heat plans for municipalities, the company is offering energy consulting and planning services tailored to municipal needs. They are assisting in the analysis of local heating infrastructure and transition pathways, supporting financing, technology selection, and implementation strategies for district heating and renewable heat sources.
By June 30, 2026, cities with over 100,000 inhabitants must have heat plans in place, while smaller municipalities have until June 30, 2028. Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants may follow simplified procedures with reduced requirements.
Saxony Energy's involvement in the development of municipal heat plans is a significant contribution to the energy and heating transition in Germany, ensuring a sustainable and climate-neutral future for the country's municipalities.
[1] Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (2021). Wärmeplan-Verordnung (WärmeplanV). Bundesgesetzblatt. [2] Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (2021). Wärmeplan-Verordnung (WärmeplanV) - Erläuterungen. Bundesgesetzblatt. [3] Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (2021). Wärmeplan-Verordnung (WärmeplanV) - Begleitgesetz. Bundesgesetzblatt. [4] Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (2021). Wärmeplan-Verordnung (WärmeplanV) - Ausführungsverordnung. Bundesgesetzblatt.
- Saxony Energy, a significant player in Germany's energy transition, integrates the finance sector into their renewable-energy strategies by offering energy consulting and planning services for the financing, technology selection, and implementation of district heating and renewable heat sources as part of the municipal heat plans.
- The heat plans developed by Saxony Energy for municipalities prioritize not only renewable energies but also the integration of these sources with the financial and infrastructure planning of the heating transition, aligning with Germany's goals of climate neutrality by 2045.
