Start of the new research project Wärme-ZIEL

Start of the new research project Wärme-ZIEL

On November 1, 2025, the project “Implementing the local heating transition: Future initiatives for the energy transition in Lüneburg (Wärme-ZIEL)” was launched at DIW Berlin. Over the next two years, the project will explore practical strategies to support the transition toward a climate-neutral heat supply in the Lüneburg region. Its goal is to accelerate the implementation of municipal heat plans, gather feedback from local stakeholders, and develop recommendations and strategies that can be applied in other municipalities.

The DIW Berlin team focuses on numerical modeling of various decarbonization options—such as large heat pumps and industrial waste heat—and their effects on electricity grids. In addition, the team analyzes the future of regional gas distribution networks and estimates potential cost scenarios for future network charges.

The project is carried out in close cooperation with the ECOLOG Institute, the City of Lüneburg, and the municipalities of Gellersen and Dahlenburg. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the 8th Energy Research Program.