Zwickau starts with citizen participation in the future of heat supply!

Zwickau starts with citizen participation in the future of heat supply!

In Zwickau it's all about heat planning! On June 23rd, the first public information event on municipal heat planning took place in the Ubineum, which was attended by around 35 interested citizens. The aim of the event was to provide information about the goals, background and initial results of the strategic planning for future heat supply. The city of Zwickau made it clear that municipal heat planning is a legally non-binding but essential planning instrument that will be mandatory for larger municipalities from 2024 and for all cities in the long term. This was emphasized, among others, by the city administration and the Association and Consumer Center Saxony e.V..

The Institute for Sustainable Energy Supply (INEV) GmbH from Rosenheim presented the first results of the inventory and potential analysis. Not only were existing heat supply structures and current heat requirements examined, but possible heat sources such as waste heat, environmental heat, solar thermal energy and geothermal energy were also taken into account. The plans are an important step towards a sustainable, efficient and, above all, greenhouse gas-neutral heat supply by 2045. It is important to explore various supply options and set the course for a climate-friendly future.

Need for discussion and participation

After the informative lectures, there was enough space for those present to ask questions and make suggestions. Mayor Silvia Queck pointed out the strategic importance of heat planning for Zwickau, especially with regard to security of supply and the city's critical infrastructure. The feedback from the event will be incorporated into further planning, which shows that the city administration attaches great importance to the opinions of its citizens.

Another highlight of the event was the specialist lecture by the Consumer Center Saxony e.V., which dealt with topics such as changing the heating system, legal requirements according to the Building Energy Act (GEG), renovation measures and funding options for switching to climate-friendly heating technologies. Information about this is available on the website of the Office for the Environment and Urban Planning.

An important step into the future

The city of Zwickau has been working intensively on its municipal heat plan since late summer 2024. This should be available by the end of 2025 and the coordination will be carried out by the Environment and Climate Department in the Office for the Environment and Urban Planning. INEV GmbH, which also successfully held the first event, was commissioned to create it. Further information events are already being planned, the next one is scheduled to take place in autumn 2025.

But why is this all so important? An established, decarbonized heat supply is an essential building block for a climate-neutral future and contributes to the sustainable and economic development of cities and communities. The entire process of municipal heat planning (KWP) shows several steps: from recording the current status to developing feasible scenarios to step-by-step implementation and measuring success with the involvement of the population. It is important that citizens are actively involved in progress, because this not only increases acceptance, but also strengthens the quality of life locally.

With a clear focus on the challenges of energy supply, Zwickau is working towards a sustainable and climate-friendly network that balances both the needs of residents and the requirements of climate protection. If you would like to find out more about the current status of heat planning, you can find all the necessary information on the website of the Office for the Environment and Urban Planning.