The heat transition represents a key challenge for cities like Berlin on their path to climate neutrality by 2045. City-wide heat planning in accordance with the Heat Planning Act (WPG) forms the strategic foundation for this. The goal is to create the basis for a climate-friendly, socially acceptable, and economically viable heat supply. A particular focus is on identifying suitable heat supply areas and evaluating district heating and decentralized supply solutions, such as heat pumps.

A significant proportion of Berlin’s population lives in social conservation areas, where special urban development regulations are in place to protect the residential population. However, current approval practices in these areas often lead to rejections of the transition to sustainable heat solutions – particularly when replacing existing gas-fired central heating systems with district heating. This creates obstacles to densification and the expansion of climate-friendly heat networks. Against this background, it is necessary to develop new strategies that reconcile technical feasibility, economic viability for tenants and owners, and licensing requirements.

This work assignment is understood as the development of a practice-oriented implementation strategy for a sustainable heat supply in social conservation areas. The focus is on integrating the results of heat planning into the building permit process for heating system changes. The goal is to identify obstacles in the current process, realistically assess the economic impacts, and develop viable solutions to simplify and standardize administrative processes.

The core of the project is the exemplary study of a suitable Berlin neighborhood as well as the analysis of buildings where heating system changes have been applied for and eventually rejected. These case studies will be used to identify typical hurdles and to formulate derivable measures for adapting the permit process. Furthermore, an economic evaluation of typical conversion options will be conducted, taking into account the perspectives of both tenants and owners. The results will result in practical recommendations, including an assessment scheme and a guideline to support districts, as well as a proposed formulation for revising the implementing regulations. Expert exchange with relevant stakeholders such as districts, the housing industry, and district heating operators forms the backbone of the participatory process.