Leipzig launches major heat plan: On the way to climate neutrality!

Leipzig launches major heat plan: On the way to climate neutrality!

A comprehensive municipal heat plan is being developed in Leipzig, which should be available by June 30, 2026. Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) emphasizes that this plan will offer owners more planning security for future heating models. A central element of the plan is the expansion of the district heating network to support the decarbonization of Germany by 2045. The city's annual heat demand is 4.6 terawatt hours, about half of which is currently covered by natural gas.

28% of the heat requirement comes from district heating, which is also largely generated from natural gas and coal. A not insignificant proportion, namely one in ten buildings, is heated with heating oil. The city plans to expand the district heating network from 500 to 800 kilometers and connect 60% of the households in Leipzig, while around a third currently receive district heating. However, Jung warns that the cost of heat, particularly fossil fuels, will rise due to rising CO₂ prices.

Heat transition for climate goals

The heat transition is an important step in achieving the climate goals. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the operation of buildings in Germany causes around 35% of final energy consumption and 30% of CO₂ emissions. A sustainable and greenhouse gas-neutral heat supply is crucial to reducing these climate-damaging emissions. Measures to achieve climate goals must be designed continuously and with foresight, with the principle of “efficiency first” emphasizing the avoidance of unnecessary waste of heat.

The energetic renovation of buildings, including thermal insulation and optimized heating systems, plays a central role here. Innovative processes such as serial renovations and digitalization to better control heat consumption have the potential to significantly increase efficiency. The introduction of heat pumps is also seen as a promising step towards replacing fossil fuels.

Pilot project and funding

A pilot project in Südvorstadt-West is being financed with a budget of 100 million euros to test integrated planning. The conversion of the heating and urban area in Leipzig is estimated to cost a total of six billion euros, with annual costs of 300 million euros planned over a period of 20 years. The focus of the renovation will be on improving the quality of life. The first connections to the new district heating network are scheduled to be implemented as early as 2026.

In order to speed up the process, the establishment of a neighborhood company is proposed. As a result, it is expected that the district heating committee will be able to supply around 600 houses with district heating connections in the next five to six years. A crucial point remains social climate policy, which must also take into account measures for low-income households so that they can heat their homes appropriately.

Overall, the renovation is viewed as a generational task that should be completed by at least 2040. The federal government has also increased funding for district heating expansion in order to support municipalities in this essential process.

The goals set out in the National Climate Protection Act further drive the need for these measures to achieve a climate-neutral future by 2045. Municipal heat planning is a strategic instrument that can help municipalities make the transition to renewable energies.

For further information you can read the reporting from lvz.de and Consult umweltbundesamt.de.