The efficient integration of renewable energy sources in the supply of heat and electricity to buildings is an important component of the national energy concept for an environmentally friendly, reliable and affordable energy supply. In the context of energy supply for neighbourhoods, it is unclear which supply strategy should be pursued depending on the type of neighbourhood with regard to defined target figures (e.g. renewable coverage, greenhouse potential, net present value). Up to now, renewable energy technologies for electricity generation have primarily been subsidised. In the building sector in particular, however, a heat transition is also required in addition to this electricity transition, as the energy required for heating/cooling and domestic hot water in residential buildings currently accounts for around two thirds of total energy requirements. This heating transition is currently being pursued at building level through the requirements of the Energy Saving Act and the Energy Saving Ordinance in combination with the Renewable Energies Heat Act. However, if the requirements for individual buildings are tightened further, the savings with regard to the above indicators will become increasingly smaller. In addition, the regulatory control mechanisms mentioned do not provide the necessary impetus for the energy modernisation of existing buildings. For these reasons, too, the coalition agreement of the governing parties for the 19th legislative period and the 7th Energy Research Programme of the Federal Government provide for a stronger focus on the balancing of CO2 emissions and savings at neighbourhood level in future and the realisation of further emission and cost reduction potential.

The research project is being carried out in a joint co-operation with the “Institut Wohnen und Umwelt (IWU)”.

For the energy transition to succeed, suitable heat and power generation technologies must be identified, tailored to the optimum insulation standard and seasonal energy requirements. In addition to energy and ecological indicators, the long-term integration of renewable energies also requires suitable economic indicators to evaluate viable business models. This evaluation makes it possible, for example, to develop targeted political funding instruments and to accelerate the adaptation of technologies and business models that are considered optimal. At the same time, an economic evaluation of different energy supply concepts reduces the investment risks for economic players and helps to remove barriers. The aim of the research project is therefore to investigate various energy supply concepts for different types of neighbourhoods and to evaluate the energy, ecological and economic impact of the supply variants investigated.