IREES at the RIFS Conference: Insights from the KomDat district heating project

Sustainable heating networks require transparent decision-making processes

Over the past three days, researchers from various disciplines gathered at a conference organized by the RIFS Forschungsinstitut für Nachhaltigkeit | am GFZ under the motto “Tough Conversations in Tough Times.” The focus was on dealing with climate change and social and ecological crises, and the question of how political measures can be designed when resistance to sustainability policies is growing. Against this backdrop, it became clear how crucial sustainable decision-making processes are for transformative infrastructure measures.

In this context, our colleague Antonia Kranz presented the latest findings from the KomDat project. The presentation viewed digitalization in district heating not as purely technical modernization, but as a tool that can support joint decision-making and strengthen acceptance in order to have a lasting impact.

Key takeaways from the panel discussion:

🔎Efficiency potential is mainly limited by structural factors:

In addition to technological hurdles, the implementation of measures to leverage efficiency potential in district heating also faces challenges in terms of insufficient transparency, diverging incentive structures, and asymmetric information between suppliers, municipalities, and end users.

📊Digitalization requires binding responsibilities for data use and interpretation:
Data-based optimizations require institutionally regulated responsibilities, particularly with regard to the collection, exchange, and joint classification of operationally relevant data (e.g., load profiles, temperature levels, tariff effects).

🤝Transparent data processes are a prerequisite for legitimacy and implementation:
In order for data-based measures to be accepted and implemented, their conclusions must be transparent, especially where cost effects affect households that have no influence on infrastructure decisions themselves.

The discussions highlighted how much sustainable heat supply benefits from a combination of technical expertise, governance perspectives, and institutional cooperation.

Many thanks to the RIFS Potsdam team for the excellent organization of the conference, as well as to the other panelists (Eric Hartmann, Josef Kaiser, Pia Redenius & Sarah Velten and Lale Eckardt) and discussants for the stimulating transdisciplinary exchange!

IREES – Research for Future 🔎🌱🌡️