Municipal heat planning

Municipal heat planning is a long-term, strategic process that is open to all technologies and aims to achieve a largely climate-neutral heat supply for the city. As a planning instrument, it coordinates the coverage of future heat requirements throughout the municipal area using locally available and sustainable heat sources.

The creation of a municipal heating plan is intended to show the city of Jena the way to a heating supply free of fossil fuels. The main objective is to designate heating network areas and areas for decentralized heat supply.

A map will later show in which areas of Jena which type of heat supply is recommended. The aim is to create planning and investment security for citizens, companies and the city itself. Property owners will thus be able to better plan which energy supply investment is the most economical for them and when. At the same time, heat planning should be ecologically, economically and socially compatible.

The city of Jena has commissioned Hamburg Institut Consulting GmbH to draw up the municipal heating plan. The core working group is supplemented by the City of Jena's Climate Team and Stadtwerke Jena Netze GmbH.

Representatives of the housing industry, companies, relevant associations and interest groups will be involved in the development of the heating plan at regular stakeholder meetings.

Two public information events are also planned.

The process for creating the municipal heating plan is roughly divided into the following work packages:

1. Inventory analysis - The current heat demand, the building stock and the energy infrastructure relevant to the heat supply are analyzed for the city of Jena and assumptions are made about the future development of heat demand.
2. Potential analysis - The potential for renewable energies available in the long term, for unavoidable waste heat and for central heat storage is estimated.
3. Target scenarios and development paths - Based on the future heat demand and the long-term potential available, sub-areas are identified that are suitable for heating network solutions. If a sub-area is not suitable for a heating network, it is indicated as an area for a decentralized heating solution. If no conclusive heat supply option can yet be determined for a sub-area based on the current data and knowledge situation, it is identified as a test area. The results of the target scenarios are made available to the public in various map views and planning documents.
4. Strategy and measures catalog - Based on the target scenarios, measures are derived for achieving a climate-neutral heat supply, which the city can implement itself or through agreements with third parties in the urban area. Possible measures include, for example, accelerated approval procedures for renewable energy plants, commissioning feasibility studies, promoting the expansion of renewable energies on roofs and open spaces, providing information and advice and developing neighborhood solutions.
5. Continuation strategy and controlling concept - The heating plan is to be reviewed regularly, at least every five years, on the basis of current information and findings and the progress made in implementing the strategies and measures identified is to be monitored.

Once completed, the municipal heating plan is submitted to the city council for approval. This is followed by the actual implementation of the municipal heating plan.

The development of municipal heating planning began in early January 2024 and should be completed in the second quarter of 2025.

In February 2025, the results of the municipal heating planning were submitted in a draft and presented at a public event on February 18, 2025. Representatives of the planning office, Stadtwerke Jena Netze GmbH and the city administration presented the draft and answered questions from citizens in an open Q&A session. The information event was recorded by Jena-TV and can be viewed on the Jena-TV website(link is external).

All citizens were invited to submit their comments on the planning by 09.03.2025 via an informal participation project. These comments are now being reviewed. The final plans will then be presented to the city's committees and submitted to the city council for approval.

The current draft of the municipal heating plan and the overview of the expected supply areas can be found under "Downloads".

Heat planning is strategic planning and the results of heat planning are not legally binding. The municipal heating plan therefore represents an important information basis for third parties in order to inform stakeholders in the heating transition and the population about the envisaged future of the heating supply at an early stage. However, there is no entitlement or obligation to a specific supply.

This is based on the Heat Planning and Decarbonization of Heating Networks Act ( Wärmeplanungsgesetz(link is external)). It was passed by the Bundestag on 20.12.2023 and came into force on 01.01.2024.

The Heat Planning Act is also closely interlinked with the Building Energy Act(link is external). Among other things, it stipulates that since 01.01.2024, only heating systems based on 65% renewable energy may be installed in new buildings within new development areas. For existing buildings, on the other hand, there are longer deadlines for replacing fossil heating systems. However, these requirements in the Building Energy Act only apply one month after the city council has passed a resolution on the designation of areas for the construction or expansion of heating networks or from 01.07.2026.

The preparation of the Jena municipal heating plan is funded by the National Climate Protection Initiative. With the National Climate Protection Initiative, the German government has been initiating and funding numerous projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions since 2008. Its programs and projects cover a wide range of climate protection activities: From the development of long-term strategies to concrete assistance and investment support measures. Diversity is a guarantee for good ideas. The National Climate Initiative helps to anchor climate protection on the ground. It benefits consumers as well as companies, local authorities and educational institutions. Further information is available here(link is external).

In 2025, ThEGA and the Thuringian consumer advice center will be offering "Feierabendtalks", a series of online events on saving electricity and heating costs.

You want to do something for climate protection and your own bank account by generating your own energy or using less energy. It helps to know where savings are particularly effective. In our online holiday evening talks, we show Thuringian tenants and homeowners how they can make clever use of energy at home. Source: ThEGA website(link is external)

For example, on 09.09.2025"New heating: Is the heat pump the best solution for your home?(link is external)" a one-hour evening talk will take place. On 30.09.2025, the topic will be"Where do I start? How to renovate your home in the right order and save costs(link is external)".

You can find other advice on renovating buildings, replacing heating systems or installing photovoltaic systems on the city of Jena's energy advice page.

On the"Questions and answers on municipal heat planning" page, we answer frequently asked questions about municipal heat planning in Jena. These relate to general questions about heat planning in Jena, the Building Energy Act (GEG), Jena district heating and decentralized heat supply.