Municipal heating planning (MHP) is intended to provide guidance to building owners and energy suppliers on which heating supply technologies will be technically suitable, legally compliant and economically viable in which urban areas in the future. MHP indicates, for example, where heat pumps or other decentralised supply options should be used and where the supply of renewable energy sources via district heating networks is appropriate. But what should be done if no reliable conclusion can be drawn?

The focus of the project is the ‘assessment area’ category in municipal heat planning, which features in almost all existing heat plans. Study areas are characterised by complex structural and technical conditions, which is why conventional heat planning methods cannot provide clear conclusions about future heat supply or because specific implementation barriers exist. This leads to uncertainties in technical, economic, organisational or temporal terms.

A central element of the project is a communication and negotiation process aimed at participation and active involvement, which the City of Leipzig will carry out in two test areas in collaboration with Difu and the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Supported by in-depth technical and social science analyses, a dialogue-based approach will be used to seek viable supply solutions with a high likelihood of implementation, in collaboration with energy suppliers, building owners and property management companies, whilst taking tenants’ interests into account.