The transformation of the energy system toward climate compatibility and sustainability – commonly referred to in Germany as the energy transition – is a fundamental process of change. A look at the heating sector illustrates the challenges ahead, as fundamental transformations are necessary in this area. Simply substituting the energy source while maintaining the established infrastructures and end-use devices is not enough here, since the technology chains across the entire sector are primarily focused on the fossil energy sources oil and gas.

The joint research project KOMM-WÄRME (“Municipal heating transition as a socio-technical system: Comprehensible visioning, well-founded analysis, successful communication and motivation”) makes an important contribution to the successful implementation of the municipal heating transition by addressing important socio-technical aspects through a combination of scientific analysis and participation and the inclusion of practical knowledge from the municipalities organized in clusters.

As a problem- and application-oriented research project, KOMM-WÄRME focuses on three central objectives that may support a successful municipal heating transition:

• “Envisioning municipal heating transition”: Together with municipalities participating in the project, exemplary customized visions for a sustainable municipal heating transition will be developed in a participatory manner. (Part VDW)
• “Analyzing instruments”: The aim is to develop packages of measures for the municipal heating transition that bundle coordinated individual measures into efficient and effective policy packages. (Part ITAS)
• “Empowering key actors”: This subproject aims to support climate protection managers in their role as multipliers for the municipal heating transition by providing them with material and know-how. (Part FfE)

The three-pronged research approach of KOMM-WÄRME – objectives, instruments, actors – is being developed in close cooperation with the municipal clusters. The results will be made available to other interested municipalities and the interested public.

ITAS’s work includes:

• Exploring and analyzing municipal measures and instruments for the heating transition. The aim is to use a comparative analysis approach to create an impact and intervention profile that shows the steering, regulatory, and impact effects of the measures.
• Developing effective municipal policy packages in close cooperation with the practice clusters involved in the project.

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