VG Konz on the way to municipal heat planning
How can residents and businesses in the Konz municipality heat more efficiently and climate-friendly in the future – even without oil and gas? This question is at the heart of municipal heating planning. To answer it, Verbandsgemeindewerke Konz AöR is currently investigating various factors on behalf of the municipality.
At the last meeting before the summer break, the AöR presented the municipal council with an interim report. The focus was on the results of the inventory and potential analysis: Where is heating being used and how? How many buildings have been renovated to improve energy efficiency? And where could more climate-friendly heating methods possibly be used?
The current status
The twelve municipalities of the Konz collective municipality are home to 34,700 people. Annual heat demand is approximately 450 GWh, of which approximately 78% is used by private households. While this energy volume is high, it is typical for a medium-sized collective municipality—and demonstrates the importance of a well-coordinated heat transition for the region.
Currently, heat supply is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels: Heating oil is by far the most widely used energy source in the Konz district at 42%, followed by natural gas (16%). The share of renewable energies in heat supply is currently very low at only around 7%.
The energy efficiency of many buildings can also be significantly improved: 90% of buildings have been only partially renovated or not renovated at all. Energy-efficient renovations therefore offer significant savings potential of up to 73% of heating requirements.
Where does the potential lie?
The second step examined where and how renewable energies could be used more extensively in the future. The analysis clearly shows that the Konz municipality has numerous natural resources to transform its heat supply in a climate-friendly way.
Rivers such as the Saar and Moselle, as well as the wastewater treatment plant effluent, offer great potential. This potential can be used to implement heating networks based on these energy sources in individual neighborhoods. In addition, roof areas for photovoltaics and solar thermal systems have been identified, which are particularly suitable for individual solutions outside of potential areas for heating networks.
What happens next?
As the municipal heat planning process continues, the Verbandsgemeindewerke Konz AöR is now examining which sub-regions and towns are particularly well-suited for potential heat networks. Target scenarios for 2035 and 2045 will then be developed for these focus areas – including concrete strategies for the heat transition.
Economic efficiency also plays a key role: A climate-friendly heat supply must not only be ecologically sound, but also affordable for citizens in the long term. The goal is to reconcile security of supply, climate protection, and cost stability.
Once further studies on municipal heat planning are available, the Konz municipal administration will invite residents to an information evening to present the results. The date will be announced.
Current information on the topic can also be found at www.konz.de/waermeplanung