Municipal heat planning: City Council adopts important step towards a climate-neutral future for Jena

Yesterday, Jena took an important step towards a climate-neutral heat supply: at its June meeting, the city council adopted the municipal heating plan for the entire city area. This strategic plan makes Jena one of the first cities in Thuringia to adopt such a strategy.

The aim of the heat planning is to identify reliable prospects for a climate-friendly, safe and affordable heat supply without fossil fuels such as oil or gas for all parts of the city. In doing so, the city is also creating an important basis for all those who are faced with investment decisions regarding their heating technology - whether private homeowners, housing companies or businesses.

Jena divided into 57 heating areas

As part of the planning process, the city was divided into 57 so-called heating supply areas. For each of these areas, the most suitable form of heating for the future was examined - be it a connection to an existing or planned heating network, a decentralized solution such as a heat pump or even open test results that require further investigation.

An interactive digital map now presents the results in a clear and address-specific manner. This makes it easy for citizens to find out which climate-friendly heating solution is recommended in their living environment. The map is available online.

Concrete measures for implementation

Yesterday's decision marks the start of implementation: A total of 26 measures are to help transform the heating supply step by step over the next few years. These include, among other things

• Detailed technical investigations in individual urban areas,
• expansion of existing or new heating networks and the electricity infrastructure,
• and targeted advisory services for property owners.

What exactly was decided?

The city council has adopted the final heating plan and instructed the administration to evaluate new developments every three years at the latest - for the first time in 2028 - in a statutory update and, if necessary, to update it ahead of schedule.

Important points from the resolution at a glance:

• Heat planning will be taken into account as a strategic basis for construction and infrastructure projects.
• There is no automatic obligation to connect to a heating network. Technically and financially reasonable transitional arrangements should give citizens planning security.
• Implementation will take place gradually within the framework of available human, economic and financial resources.
• Subsidies are to be used in a targeted manner.
• In future, the city administration will provide annual updates on the status of implementation.

Participation has improved the plan

• A total of three public events were held during the development process.

• Between February 10 and March 9, 2025, the draft heat planning was open to the public and citizens were able to submit comments. The numerous responses helped to further improve the plan. For example, the methodology for assessing the economic viability of different types of heat supply was described in detail and the profiles of the heat supply areas were expanded to include a final conclusion.

Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche emphasizes: "With municipal heat planning, we are setting the course for a sustainable, fair and plannable heat transition in Jena. The digital map helps everyone to better prepare for future changes. At the same time, we are focusing on transparency, participation and technical feasibility."

Climate department head Kathleen Lützendorf says: "The municipal heat planning that has now been adopted has two very significant advantages. Firstly, it increases planning and investment security for the citizens of Jena and the companies based here. Secondly, it now forms the most important strategic basis for the heating transition in Jena and will therefore make a significant contribution to climate protection in Jena."