The city of Dresden wants to make its heat supply climate-friendly, affordable and future-proof. To this end, a comprehensive heat transformation plan has been drawn up. It describes how district and local heating will be expanded step by step, renewable energies integrated and fossil fuels replaced. At the same time, it involves modernising the grids, investing in buildings and involving citizens and companies.
Major investments for a climate-friendly future
By 2045, several billion euros will have been invested by the city, industry and property owners in the modernisation of the heating supply in Dresden. This primarily concerns the expansion of the district heating network, new decentralised heating networks in city districts, the modernisation of the electricity grids for heat pumps and other electricity applications as well as the heating technology in the buildings themselves. Some of these investments can be supported by federal and state funding programmes.
Investitionen im Privateigentum und deren positive Folgen© Landeshauptstadt Dresden
Investitionen im Privateigentum und deren positive Folgen© Landeshauptstadt Dresden
The central measures
The focus is on the further expansion and decarbonisation of the existing district heating network. Today, a large proportion of the heat still comes from natural gas. In future, it will come from large heat pumps, heat storage systems, solar energy, geothermal energy and waste heat. Electrode boilers, which convert surplus green electricity directly into heat, and the conversion of power plants to hydrogen will also play a role. The district heating network, which already covers almost half of Dresden's heating requirements, will also be further densified and expanded into new urban areas.
In addition, new local heating networks are to be created in neighbourhoods that are not connected to the district heating network. These can use local renewable heat sources and thus supply particularly densely built-up neighbourhoods in a climate-friendly way.
The electricity grid is also being expanded so that heat pumps, photovoltaics and power-to-heat technologies can work reliably. At the same time, the gas grid is being adapted step by step so that it can be saved in future or switched to climate-neutral gases such as hydrogen.
Participation of business and citizens
The heat transition will only succeed if everyone gets involved. This is why companies in Dresden are being specifically involved, for example when it comes to utilising waste heat from production processes or securing skilled workers for the energy transition.
For citizens, there is a new information and advice service in the form of the Energy Guide. It explains options for changing heating systems, subsidy programmes and tips for saving energy in an easy-to-understand way. The aim is to support every household in switching to climate-friendly heating.
Management and control
The city of Dresden will closely support the implementation of the heating plan. A project group within the administration is responsible for coordination, while other working groups will focus on the economy, skilled labour and cooperation with neighbouring municipalities. Monitoring will also be introduced. It regularly checks whether the measures are working and whether the city is meeting the targets set. Data is collected, progress is publicised and adjustments are made where necessary.
In the long term, a digital climate protection platform is to be created that transparently presents active projects and their impact. This will enable all Dresden residents to see how their city is becoming climate-neutral step by step.