Municipal heat planning according to scheme F

03.03.2026

Source: E & M powernews

A research project aims to enable municipalities to systematically standardize heat planning. Scientists are developing a "geodata analysis tool" for this purpose.

A working basis for all local authorities: "We want to prove that the data and evaluation basis required for heat planning can be provided in a standardized way throughout Germany," says Sascha Koch, describing the goal. The Professor of Computer Science at Jade University has launched a research project that will enable local authorities to plan the heating transition more comparably and efficiently. "The typically very long lead time" for the provision of data is to be shortened, and those responsible should be able to "make decisions more quickly", explains Koch.

The model region is Lower Saxony. There, a representative cross-section of all municipality sizes is available across the entire federal state. This ensures that the results can be transferred to other federal states, he says. In addition to the Jade University of Applied Sciences, Bremen University of Applied Sciences, the OLEC energy cluster and the Lower Saxony State Office for Geoinformation and Land Surveying are involved in the project, which is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics with 1.8 million euros. By the end of 2027, the experts are aiming to "harmonize the data and methodological basis" for heat planning.

Evaluation of results with model municipalities

The "Lower Saxony Heat Planner", as the project is called, will be an interactive "geodata analysis tool". This tool is intended to enable municipalities to evaluate project results together with model municipalities, explains the Jade University of Applied Sciences. It is designed in such a way that "the decision-making authority expressly remains with the municipalities". It is primarily intended for smaller municipalities that do not have their own geodata analysis skills and corresponding tools.

Despite the requirements formulated in the Heat Planning Act, it is currently unlikely that heat plans will be developed nationwide to the same high quality and with a completely uniform methodology, the scientists write. This heterogeneity makes it considerably more difficult to compare, collaborate and update the heat plans. The Lower Saxony heat planner is intended to help here.

Author: Manfred Fischer