Germany's climate policy emphasizes municipal heat planning, requiring local governments to create detailed heat plans that outline appropriate technologies and energy sources for their regions.

In January 2024, the German government launched the Wärmenwende initiative, which aims for all municipalities to achieve climate neutrality by 2045.

As part of this initiative, cities with populations over 100,000 must submit their heat plans by mid-2026, while smaller municipalities have until mid-2028 to comply.

Currently, nearly all cities in Germany with over 45,000 residents have either started or completed their heat planning, indicating significant progress in the energy transition.

However, the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW) warns that inconsistent legal regulations could hinder advancements in heat planning, highlighting the need for stable frameworks.

Some municipalities, particularly in Sachsen-Anhalt, have expressed frustration over the absence of state regulations, complicating their operations and data collection efforts.

These heat plans are designed to provide investment and planning security for property owners, businesses, and municipalities as they transition to renewable heating methods.

The heat planning law is linked to the controversial Heating Law, which mandates that existing buildings can only install heating systems that utilize at least 65% renewable energy once a heat plan is established.

Permissible heating solutions under the Heating Law include heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass, hydrogen heating, and hybrid systems that combine various technologies.

Kerstin Andreae, head of BDEW, has emphasized the necessity for reliable frameworks to sustain momentum in heat planning, ensuring continued investment security for all stakeholders.

Overall, 3,652 of Germany's 10,754 municipalities have initiated heat planning, with regions like North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland showing high engagement, while others like Thüringen and Sachsen lag behind.

All major cities in Germany are actively participating in the heat planning process, serving as models for smaller municipalities to follow.