Wärmewende im Saarland – Status quo, Potenziale und Handlungsfelder
The study “Wärmewende im Saarland – Status quo, Potenziale und Handlungsfelder” provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Saarland’s building stock and its heating demands, as well as the possibilities and limitations of greenhouse gas-neutral technologies for heat supply in Saarland. Small-scale results determined with the help of geodata analyses are made available to municipalities in Saarland as guidance and support for municipal heat planning (KWP).
Motivation
The heat transition poses particular challenges for Saarland: the initial situation is characterized by a predominantly older building stock, a high proportion of fossil fuel heating systems, and regional differences in building structure. At the same time, the state offers a variety of renewable heat sources such as waste heat from commercial and industrial processes, rivers, and geothermal energy. Given the climate protection targets for 2045 and the legal requirements for KWP, there is a great need for a scientific, spatially differentiated analysis. The Saarland Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digital Affairs, and Energy (MWIDE) wants to provide municipalities with sound guidance based on a uniform database.
Project Objectives
The aim of the project is to develop as comprehensive a picture as possible of the current and future heat supply in Saarland. The study covers three key points: Firstly, the status quo of heat supply is to be surveyed and evaluated consistently across the state. Secondly, relevant renewable heat sources are to be systematically analyzed in order to identify regional potential for centralized and decentralized heat supply. Third, this information will be used to derive strategic area types (clusters) and fields of action that will provide municipalities with guidance for the municipal heat transition. The study thus serves as a uniform state-wide basis and provides comprehensive, small-scale results to support municipalities.
Methodology
Various data sources are evaluated and compiled for the analysis of the status quo. Data on the building stock is provided, among other things, by the results of the 2022 census survey. The determination of heat demand is based, for example, on the FfE single-building model HOUSE. The data is supplemented by spatial information on the gas network and heating network infrastructure. A projection of heat demand up to 2045 is modeled, taking into account renovation, demographics, and climate change.
For different scenarios, heat network potential areas are determined using the FfE heat network potential model HeatGrid. Geodata-based models and analyses are also used for most renewable heat generation potentials. The project analyzes potential for:
Decentralized air source heat pumps (taking into account legal noise protection requirements based on FfE’s “Wärmepumpen-Ampel”)
- Commercial and industrial waste heat
- River water
- Wastewater/sewage treatment plants
- Biogenic fuels
- Deep geothermal energy
- Near-surface geothermal energy
- Solar thermal energy (on roofs and open spaces)
- Hydrogen
The potential for central heat generation is compared with the heat demand in potential heat network areas.
The potential analysis is followed by clustering of the areas based on the information previously determined. The aim is to divide the Saarland into areas and derive fields of action for the various clusters with similar conditions.
Results
The key finding of the study is the uniform data basis for the status quo and potential both at the state level and on a smaller scale at the municipal or district level. In addition, the classification of regions enables the identification of areas with similar conditions for the municipal heat transition. The study concludes with fields of action and recommendations for measures based on the data previously determined.
Project Partners
The study, commissioned by the Saarland Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digital Affairs, and Energy (MWIDE), is being conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies (IREES).
Further Information