Heating system - Study: Additional Billions-Investment needed for District Heating
Planed expansion of heating networks in Germany is likely to be significantly more expensive than previously assumed. Prognos AG currently forecasts an investment volume of 43.5 billion Euros for the period up to 2030, as reported in Frankfurt. This is a increase of around 10.6 billion Euros compared to the original study from 2020. The commissioners of the investigation are the Heating Association AGFW and the Association of Municipal Utilities (VKU).
German municipalities are currently working on heating plans for their areas. Based on this, it will be decided whether private households will be connected to heating networks or if they will have to provide for emissions-free heating systems, for example with heat pumps.
Political guidelines call for at least half of the heating network offer to come from renewable energies and unavoidable waste by 2030. Medium-term, at least 100,000 buildings are to be connected to the network per year. By 2045, around 3.6 million residential buildings with 14 million dwelling units are to be heated and supplied with hot water via heating networks.
The higher investment requirements are also leading the associations to demand a higher funding requirement. This is expected to rise from annually 3 billion Euros to 3.4 billion Euros in the mid-2030s. In reality, the federal funding for efficient heating networks is currently approved at 3.5 billion Euros for the period up to the end of 2028. This falls far short of what is needed for the heating networks to make their contribution to climate goals.
Communication AGF and VKU
- The study by Prognos AG on the expansion of heating networks in Germany reveals an increased investment volume of 43.5 billion Euros, primarily driven by the associations Communication AGF and the Association of Municipal Utilities (VKU).
- The Main River in Frankfurt, known as a significant location, is where the prospective costs of heating network expansion were discussed between the Heating Association AGFW and the association VKU.
- In an effort to meet Germany's climate goals, the suggested plan includes connecting at least half of the heating network offer to renewable energies and unavoidable waste by 2030, under the support of organizations such as the Association of Municipal Companies.
- By 2045, the Far-heat energy supply via heating networks is expected to reach around 3.6 million residential buildings and 14 million dwelling units across Germany, supported by organizations like the Association of Municipal Utilities (VKU).
