Municipal heat planning
All cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants are legally obliged to implement a municipal heating plan by mid-2026. This forms the basis for a future-proof and climate-friendly heat supply. Aachen complied with this mandate by adopting the Aachen heating plan in July 2025.
What does this mean for Aachen?
The city of Aachen has set itself the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Heating and hot water are responsible for a large proportion of unwanted greenhouse gas emissions in the city. The climate-friendly conversion of the heating supply is therefore an important lever on the way to climate neutrality. It also increases independence from the supply of natural gas or oil from other countries.
The municipal heat planning provides guidelines for the conversion to a climate-neutral, secure and economical heat supply in Aachen. This includes: central supply options such as district heating or the use of waste heat and geothermal energy. Decentralized supply solutions are also being examined. The city council adopted the Aachen heating plan on 09.07.2025.
The "Environment and Climate Protection" expert committee prepared the basis for the Council's decision. Citizens were informed at the same time. As part of a participatory process, they had the opportunity to make contributions that were incorporated into correction processes and the formation of political opinion
Recording of the first information event for citizens
The results of the heat planning with a focus on the individual districts in the city can be found in the presentations from the respective information event:
What does the Aachen heating plan do?
The municipal heat planning shows ways in which a climate-neutral heat supply for the whole of Aachen could look. It provides a basis. The specific measures that can be derived from this for individual buildings depend on this:
- whether it is possible in principle to connect to a heating network. For up-to-date information on specific connection options, please contact STAWAG.
- what owners want. The offers for a climate-friendly heat supply that are developed on the basis of the heat plan for Aachen are recommendations. They are not legally binding unless local politicians decide otherwise.
Please note: The German Building Energy Act (GEG), on the other hand, is legally binding and Aachen's heating planning indirectly contributes to this. Since the GEG came into force on 01.01.2024, new heating systems in new construction areas must initially be powered by at least 65% renewable energy. From 01.07.2026, this requirement will then apply to new heating systems in all buildings in Aachen.
What does this mean for my property?
As soon as the heat supply to your property is due for renewal, the heating plan provides guidance on your options. Based on facts and figures, you can make a more targeted decision as to which investment makes the most sense and is the most economical for you at what point in time. However, it is highly recommended that laypeople seek advice from independent experts. Firstly, the topic is complex and explanations are helpful when in doubt. And secondly, it is good to find out about the current funding options that are available for your property.
Complex questions? Helpful answers: Altbau plus and the consumer advice center know the options for heat supply in Aachen and will be happy to advise you or put you in touch with the relevant contact person. Make an appointment!
Local heating networks: City of Aachen offers free advice
It will not be possible to obtain district heating in all urban areas. In such cases, it may make sense to share the supply with others via local heating networks.
The city has commissioned heatbeat nrw GmbH to advise interested citizens and neighborhoods. In addition to the calculation and economic and ecological comparison of different supply options, the consultation also includes possible implementation and operator models.
Interested parties can find out more at or contact waermeplanung@mail.aachen.de.
Aachen heating plan: What information does it provide?
Municipal heat planning mainly provides the following information:
(1) Status quo analysis: What is the current state of heat supply in Aachen? (Facts and figures on: Current heat demand, existing networks, building stock and condition, etc.).
This map from the inventory analysis shows, for example, how heating is predominantly used in Aachen today:
This shows how Aachen is supplied with heat today. It can be seen that gas dominates: In all areas of the city, there are building blocks that are primarily supplied with gas - they are colored yellow. (It is quite possible that other heating systems are used there in isolated cases. These individual cases are not shown in the rough view. You can also see the individual cases in the zoom. Try it out!) Green stands for supply through heating networks.
In rural areas, there are small plots where heating is preferably provided by oil or liquid gas (blue or light blue). In some places, direct electricity heating systems also predominate (red). And there are also areas where heating is mainly provided by heat pumps - these are predominantly new-build areas (pink).
Please note: The illustration refers to building blocks, not to individual houses or even individual households. This is not possible for data protection reasons.
Further maps from the inventory analysis on municipal heat planning in Aachen can be viewed in the City of Aachen geodata portal under the "Environment" tab.
(2) Potential analysis: What opportunities for a climate-neutral heat supply can be exploited or developed in which urban area? (Facts and figures on: District or local heating, renewable energies, waste heat or combined heat and power generation, climate-friendly refurbishment of old buildings, etc.) The following map highlights one of several options for heat generation in Aachen: decentralized geothermal energy.
The geothermal probes option is considered here, as this provides the most on average (highest extraction capacity per area). The potential is determined for each developed parcel of land on which a heated building is located and the proportion of coverage is shown at building block level. The darker the red, the more suitable.
Further maps from the potential analysis for municipal heat planning in Aachen can be found in the City of Aachen geodata portal under the "Environment" tab.
(3) Target scenarios and concrete examples of effective measures: How can the available potential be combined with the existing stock to create a heat supply that meets demand? (Calculations of target scenarios, guidelines for urban development and urban planning, recommendations for concrete measures and prioritization as well as corresponding timetables, etc.).
Note: The target scenarios and measures are initially exemplary discussion proposals for policymakers and have therefore not yet been translated into a map. This will only happen once the political decision has been made and it is therefore clear which target scenario applies and which measures will actually be implemented.
Who developed the heat planning for Aachen?
With the support of the City of Aachen's specialist administration, STAWAG and Regionetz, external experts drew up the template, which serves as a basis for political decisions. Other local energy service providers, housing cooperatives, companies, industrial companies, commercial facilities, institutions and others were consulted as required.
The following experts were involved: EEB ENERKO Energiewirtschaftliche Beratung GmbH (Aldenhoven/Berlin), B E T Büro für Energiewirtschaft und technische Planung GmbH (Aachen), GERTEC GmbH - Ingenieurgesellschaft (Essen), Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Informationstechnik FIT (Aachen), Institut für Elektrische Anlagen und Netze, Digitalisierung und Energiewirtschaft IAEW an der RWTH Aachen.
Department VII with Department 36 (Climate and Environment) of the City of Aachen, supported by Department 61 (Urban Development and Planning), is responsible.
Do you still have questions? Answers to frequently asked questions