The aim of municipal heat planning is a fossil-free heat supply with the use of renewable energies and unavoidable waste heat from industry, commerce and the service sector.

At present, heat generation in Erlangen using fossil natural gas or oil is very high. The use of local renewable energies is intended to reduce dependence on energy imports. Local generation strengthens security of supply and the local or regional economy. Private and state investment in the local energy infrastructure and the development of local and regional services also creates jobs.

The use of renewable energies is cheaper in the long term, as fossil fuels are subject to increasing_{CO2 pricing}. Nature, on the other hand, does not send a bill.

Energy-efficient building refurbishment and the use of low-cost renewable energies should reduce energy costs for households and the public sector.
Municipal heat planning contributes not least to achieving the climate targets in Erlangen.

Citizens and other heat consumers receive important information on which types of heat supply will be possible in the future. They can take this information into account when deciding on a new heating system.

Heat planning is a strategic planning tool and is not legally binding. It does not create any rights or obligations. It also does not commit the planning municipality to building or operating certain energy infrastructures. When drawing up development plans, the results of heat planning are included as a consideration. For example, the energy use plan with a focus on the municipal heating plan (ENP) is taken into account as far as possible in the urban development design, in which, for example, corresponding road cross-sections or, if required, areas for heat or power generation plants are planned.
Further information can be found at https://erlangen.de/service/3770.

One of the tasks of heat planning is to identify the technical potential available in Erlangen for generating heat from renewable energies or unavoidable waste heat.

One option for utilizing this potential is to integrate it into local or district heating networks. Heat planning is carried out in close cooperation with the departments of the City of Erlangen and Erlanger Stadtwerke (ESTW).

The city area has been divided into suitability areas. Suitability areas for heating networks are areas in which supply via a local or district heating network may be possible in principle. However, there is no obligation to connect to a possible heating network and there is also no obligation to construct a heating network.

If such a heating network supply is not to be expected, the heat will probably be generated by the building owners' individual heating systems. The Building Energy Act lists a number of possible alternatives (e.g. heat pumps, direct electricity heating, solar thermal energy or biomass).

An important step in municipal heating planning is the creation of a heating plan. In Erlangen, the energy use plan with a focus on the municipal heating plan (ENP) also considers the electricity sector in addition to the heat supply.

In Erlangen, an energy utilization plan focusing on a municipal heating plan (ENP) was drawn up.

It shows what a fossil-free heat supply could look like in the years 2040 and 2030. It not only considers the heat supply, but also the electricity sector. The expansion of heat pumps and the charging infrastructure for e-mobility will increase the demand for electricity, as will local electricity generation, for example through photovoltaics. This means that the electricity grids will have to remain efficient in the future.

The ENP is a strategic planning instrument and has no direct legal effect.

Municipal heat planning provides the city with a basis for the maintenance and construction of energy networks for heat supply. This includes, for example, local and district heating networks as well as electricity grids. In addition, timeframes for necessary measures can be defined more precisely.

Citizens receive guidance and clarity as to which heating technologies may be possible in the future and whether a connection to a local or district heating network is possible in principle.

The economy and trades in our region benefit from municipal heating planning. Whether civil engineering companies for the construction of local and district heating pipes, heating engineers for the conversion of heating systems in residential buildings, specialist solar companies for the installation of photovoltaic systems or service providers: the heating transition will involve numerous trades from the region.

The energy utilization plan has no direct legal effect. A separate decision is required for designation as an area for the construction or expansion of heating networks in accordance with Section 71 of the Building Energy Act (GEG).

The municipal heat planning supports Erlangen on its way to a fossil-free heat supply. It is one of the flagship measures of the Climate Awakening Roadmap.

In areas with a sufficiently high heat demand, especially in areas with large heat consumers, heating networks offer an efficient way of supplying heat.

The availability of renewable energies as well as the technical and economic feasibility are prerequisites for the
prerequisites for the construction or expansion of local or district heating networks. Based on the results of the municipal heat planning, the feasibility is examined in subsequent feasibility studies.

If properties are located in a suitable area and a heating network is economically feasible, a heating network can be implemented. Construction depends on the connection rate. The energy utilization plan does not result in a connection obligation. Nor is there any entitlement to a heating network connection.

Unless there are already concrete plans to connect the property to a heating network, the heat pump is usually the first choice for detached and semi-detached houses. It can therefore be ordered and installed.

We are of course available to answer your questions at any time. Please feel free to contact the staff of the Office for Environmental Protection and Energy Issues. You can reach us by email at waermewende@stadt.erlangen.de.

Heating types and energy sources are permitted if they meet the requirements of the Building Energy Act (GEG).

This means that citizens can - depending on availability - use heating systems in their homes, such as

• Connection to a local or district heating network ,
• Heat pumps (using environmental heat, for example from the air or ground),
• solar thermal energy,
• direct electricity heating,
• Gas condensing boiler heating with verifiably renewable gases,
• Biomass heating (e.g. heating with wood pellets or wood chips),
• Hybrid heating (e.g. heat pump in combination with a gas condensing boiler).

You can see which types of heating are suitable in your residential area using the energy utilization plan.

Yes, the energy use plan with a focus on the municipal heating plan presents the available technical potential for renewable energies and unavoidable waste heat. Building owners can decide which of the potentials they would like to use, depending on the economic feasibility.

You can use the energy utilization plan to see whether a local or district heating network is possible in your residential area. Which heating network solution is implemented depends on its economic feasibility. This is examined in feasibility studies. The more buildings that are connected to a heating network, the cheaper it is to build and operate the network and therefore also the bill for the heat. Conversely, a lower connection rate means less economical operation.

Here are a few examples: If your street is not in a suitable area for a heating network, then it makes less sense to stick with oil or gas heating. On the other hand, if an old building can be connected to a local or district heating network in the future, you don't need to rush to switch to a heat pump.

Energy-efficient building renovations save you money and are good for the climate. The cost of refurbishment and the specific measures planned are individual in each case. Our energy consultants offer free and independent advice on the energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings and funding opportunities.
You can find more information at www.erlangen.de/aktuelles/energieberatung.

You can operate a photovoltaic system on the roof, a plug-in PV device on the balcony or a solar thermal system.
Further information is available at www.erlangen.de/aktuelles/solarpotenzialkataster.

Would you like to renovate your home, replace the heating or use photovoltaics? Get free and independent advice from our energy consultants. Also on funding opportunities.
You can find more information at www.erlangen.de/aktuelles/energieberatung and www.estw.de/ebz.

The decision on the future type of heating is made by the building owners. The following questions are important:

• What energy sources are available?
• What infrastructure is already in place (e.g. local or district heating network)?
• What consumption needs to be covered (for residential or commercial areas)?

Municipal heat planning shows which technical potential for renewable energies is available and which types of heat supply are basically possible in your residential area in the future.

Heat pumps and other climate-friendly technologies are currently subsidized regardless of whether they are installed in areas with or without a heating network.

However, the connection to a heating network is financially supported via the Federal Subsidy for Efficient Buildings (BEG).

Anyone who installs a heat pump does not take any risks with the subsequent construction of a heating network. An existing heat pump does not have to be removed when a heating network is built at a later date.

In addition, unless there are already concrete plans to connect the property to a heating network, the heat pump is usually the first choice for detached and semi-detached houses. It can therefore be ordered and installed.

It is still possible to use an existing oil or gas heating system as long as it still works or can be repaired. However, the current operating ban on 30-year-old boilers must be observed, from which (however) low-temperature and condensing boilers, among others, are excluded.
The existing combustion heating system may be operated with fossil fuels such as oil and gas until December 31, 2044 at the latest.

Our energy consultants offer free and independent advice on funding opportunities. You can find more information at www.erlangen.de/aktuelles/energieberatung.

District heating means that the heat required for a house is not generated in the building, but centrally and can be used for many connected buildings. A heating network transports hot water from a central heat generation plant via underground, insulated pipes and house transfer stations to the individual households. The technology is extremely low-maintenance and saves space in the house.

Local heating is similar to district heating. The heat required for a house is not generated in the building, but for several buildings in a district. As with the district heating network, the local heating network distributes hot water from the production plant to the individual households.
If 2 to 16 buildings are supplied with heat and hot water in a local heating network, this is referred to as a building network. If there are more than 16 buildings or 100 residential units, it is a heating network.

The energy use plan with a focus on the municipal heating plan (ENP) does not result in any obligation to connect to a heating network or to build or expand the infrastructure for a heating network.

In Erlangen, a district heating network and several local heating networks already exist in large parts of the city. Information on this can be found in the energy utilization plan. In many cases, ESTW is investigating the economic feasibility of heating networks in the suitability areas. ESTW will be happy to inform you about plans for the construction and expansion of existing heating networks. You can contact ESTW by email at waermewende@estw.de.

We are of course available to answer any questions you may have at any time. Please feel free to contact the staff at the Office for Environmental Protection and Energy Issues. You can reach us by email at waermewende@stadt.erlangen.de.

There are generous transitional periods in the Building Energy Act. This means that the use of fossil fuels can continue to be possible until these periods expire if a connection to a grid-connected heat supply is not yet immediately possible. To this end, a contract for connection to the heating network must be in place within 10 years at the latest.

The existing radiators and pipes in your building can usually continue to be used. The heating water is supplied to the building via the house transfer station. This saves space and costs for the operation and maintenance of the existing heating system. The contractual conditions for district heating supplies have been regulated by law since 1980. Tenants are protected by the Heat Supply Ordinance, which must be observed by landlords. The federal and state antitrust authorities monitor pricing.

Connection to a local or district heating network is voluntary and can be requested from Erlanger Stadtwerke (ESTW) at any time. However, there is no obligation for the supplier to connect the building to the heating network.

During a limited transitional period, up to 100% fossil fuels can still be used for heating with natural gas or oil if the requirements of the transitional regulations in accordance with the Building Energy Act (GEG) are met. Used heating systems can also be used here, for example.

The costs for local and district heating depend on the respective heating network. Information on the tariffs can be obtained from the respective heating supply companies. Tariff information on the district heating network can be obtained from Erlanger Stadtwerke (ESTW) under ESTW - Erlanger Stadtwerke AG - Netzanschluss.

In terms of the initial investment, connecting to a heating network is generally much cheaper than installing a new heating system.

The connection to a heating network can be subsidized via the Federal Subsidy for Efficient Buildings (BEG).
Further information can be found at BAFA - Federal Subsidy for Efficient Buildings (BEG).

The energy utilization plan with a focus on the municipal heating plan shows the technical potential of renewable energies in a residential area, for example near-surface geothermal energy.

If heat pumps are a viable option in a residential area, it is advisable for building owners to first seek energy advice.
During the consultation, the energy status of the building is discussed on the basis of documents relating to the building. This includes, in particular, the insulation of the walls, windows and roof as well as the existing heating system. It can also be discussed whether a heat pump could be a practical and efficient solution for the individual building or whether choosing a different heating technology would be more beneficial. The energy advisor will also provide information about the possible cost framework and federal funding opportunities.

The energy advisors of the city and Erlanger Stadtwerke (ESTW) offer free and independent initial advice, including on funding opportunities.

Further information can be found at www.erlangen.de/aktuelles/energieberatung and www.estw.de/ebz

The purchase costs depend on various factors, such as the type of heat pump, your own heating requirements and local conditions.

An existing heat pump does not have to be dismantled or removed if a heating network is installed in the residential area.

The conversion of the gas network to regenerative gases such as hydrogen depends on the quantities available in the future and on the price. Neither of these can be reliably estimated today.

Areas such as air traffic or industry with process heat requirements have fewer alternatives to the use of regenerative gases than is the case for heating buildings or providing hot water. This will influence the price. According to current estimates, renewable gases will not play a role in detached and semi-detached houses.

The alternative to hydrogen or other renewable gases is connection to a heating network or decentralized heat supply to a building, e.g. with a heat pump.

According to the current legal situation, Erlanger Stadtwerke (ESTW) can operate the natural gas network until the end of 2044 at the latest. Due to general conditions such as_{CO2 pricing} and a declining number of gas connections, the use of natural gas will become increasingly unattractive for customers. As the number of customers decreases, the gas network in purely residential areas will have to be gradually decommissioned in the long term.

As part of the gas network transformation plan, ESTW is examining the extent to which it is technically and economically feasible to supply larger customers, such as those from industry and commerce, as well as heating centers for local heating supply, with hydrogen.