Transforming traditional methods to digital control: switching from manual heat network management to digital solutions.
In an effort to address the challenges of converting existing heat networks to more sustainable solutions, a new project, TrafoWaermeNetz, is being developed. This initiative aims to streamline the integration of heat pumps into existing heat networks, with a focus on smaller and medium-sized supply companies.
The heart of the TrafoWaermeNetz project is a digital planning tool that simulates heat distribution in networks and suggests suitable technologies, including hybrid systems. This tool operates using Excel, making it user-friendly and open for further applications. It's based on freely accessible software and initial data from OpenStreetMap, allowing network structures to be created based on georeferenced data.
One of the key advantages of this tool is its ability to provide a systematic and standardized approach to the conversion process, which is currently an individual challenge due to the lack of standardized procedures. Administrative hurdles are also a problem in the conversion process, and the tool aims to address this by providing operators with a better understanding of their networks' potential and the technical and economic feasibility of conversion.
A demonstrator of the tool is already available, capable of simulating the heat demand of one or more buildings. The results from the tool are comparable to established programs like IDA ICE, providing confidence in its accuracy. With comprehensive implementation, up to 10 million tons of CO2 per year could be saved, making a significant impact on the fight against climate change.
Mathias Lanezki of Drees & Sommer, one of the project partners, highlights the importance of this initiative. Smaller and medium-sized heat suppliers often lack the technical and planning know-how to convert their heat networks efficiently in terms of time and cost. The tool is designed to address this lack of knowledge.
The TrafoWaermeNetz project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and is led by Prof. Dr. Madjid Madjidi of the Munich University of Applied Sciences. The project partners include Drees & Sommer, Fraunhofer ISE, Munich University of Applied Sciences, municipal utilities, and energy companies.
By the end of 2026, the digital tool is expected to be fully operational, enabling smaller supply companies to efficiently and climate-friendly convert their networks without relying on external consulting. No comprehensive programming knowledge is required for network operators to use the tool, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
This project is a significant step towards a more sustainable future, facilitating the technical and economic feasibility of heat pump integration into municipal heating grids and larger district heating systems. It's an example of how digital tools can support the transition to low-carbon energy, enabling more accurate and scalable heat system modeling that accommodates renewable energies and sector coupling. The potential benefits are far-reaching, from promoting optimized infrastructure use and expansion to driving informed investment and operational decisions by utilities and planners.
- The TrafoWaermeNetz project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics, is developing a digital planning tool focused on environmental-science and data-and-cloud-computing, designed to help smaller and medium-sized supply companies implement science-based solutions for climate-change mitigation, specifically in the integration of heat pumps into existing heat networks.
- By leveraging technology and open-source software like Excel and OpenStreetMap, the tool offers a user-friendly platform for network operators to model and simulate heat distribution in networks, providing operators with a better understanding of their networks' potential and the technical and economic feasibility of converting to sustainable solutions.
- With its comprehensive implementation, the TrafoWaermeNetz digital tool could lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions by saving up to 10 million tons of CO2 per year, highlighting its potential to drive the transition towards a more sustainable energy landscape that prioritizes renewable energies and sector coupling.
