Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG

Transformation of heat supply systems and heat networks

© iStock.com/Teka77

The transformation of existing heat supply infrastructures requires individual concepts, consistent implementation of these concepts, and further development of operating and control strategies. Our comprehensive approach offers you support across the entire value chain.

At Fraunhofer IEG, we have extensive experience and our own methods and tools for cross-sector analysis and planning of integrated energy infrastructures. We consider infrastructures ranging from local to district heating networks. Our extensive geological expertise also enables us to include geothermal heat sources and heat storage facilities in our considerations.

Our services at a glance:

 


Transformation studies

 

Support for implementation projects​
 

Control concepts, monitoring, and operational optimization
 

Geostar
 

Further Education

Our offer in detail (german)

Your contact person

Alexander Heim

Head of Heat Supply Transformation Business Area

phone +49 234 33858-209

Send email

Range of services

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Transformation studies

Based on our comprehensive analysis, forecasting, and simulation expertise, we cover all necessary aspects and process steps for a complete transformation of your system. This enables us to offer you comprehensive studies from a single source. With the help of our own tools, we ensure an efficient and fast process.

Overview of services

  • Comprehensive analysis of the current situation
    • Building data, heating requirements, infrastructure, demographics, climate data
  •  Forecast of future heating requirements 
  •  Potential analysis and design of industrial waste heat and renewable heat sources
    • Near-surface and deep geothermal energy; mine water; solar thermal energy; environmental heat such as air, surface water, and wastewater
  •  Potential analysis and design of heat storage systems
    • Seasonal, medium-term, and short-term thermal storage
    • Sector coupling and system-oriented operation
    • Special focus on geological storage
  • Scenario analysis and system design
    • Technology selection
    • Component selection and design across the entire heat supply value chain
    • Ecology; acceptance; economic efficiency

© CHRISTIANE SCHLEIFENBAUM

Contact

Anja Hanßke

Heating Networks 4.0

phone +49 355 35540-148

Send email

How to work with us

There are various ways to collaborate with us at Fraunhofer IEG, depending entirely on your individual needs. Typical collaboration models with Fraunhofer IEG are as follows:

  • Contract research
  • Joint projects & consortia
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Licensing
  • Spin-offs
  • Further training
more info
Fahrplan für Tranformationsstudien
© Fraunhofer IEG
Roadmap for transformation studies

Reference Projects

D2 Grids

The aim of the “D2Grids” project is to establish a fifth-generation heating and cooling network at Mark 51°7, the former Opel site in Bochum. 

D2 Grids

MissEllyDemo

Implementation of a networked adaptive cooling supply system

MissEllyDemo

FernWP

District and process heating supplied by heat pumps as a replacement for coal combustion.

FernWP

Large heat pumps for municipalities and industry

Large heat pumps can tap into green heat sources for communities and industry.

large heat pumps (german press release)

ODH@Jülich

The ODH@Jülich (Open District Hub @ Jülich) project is developing scientifically sound, data-based methods for the development of a digital planning and simulation tool for energy supply in neighborhoods.

ODH@Jülich

Determination of relevant low-temperature sources and sinks

The focus here is on determining, defining, and describing the relevant low-temperature sources and the corresponding low-temperature sinks.

Identification of low-temperature sources

“Geothermal technologies in metropolitan areas. A contribution to the heat transition and climate protection”

Study (german)

Potential of large heat pumps in Brandenburg and Saxony

Large heat pumps in urban heating networks can replace coal and gas.

Study (german)

Roadmap “Near-surface geothermal energy”

Geothermal heat pumps for the energy transition – potential, obstacles, and recommendations for action

Roadmap (german)

Roadmap “Deep geothermal energy for Germany”

Recommendations for action by policymakers, industry, and academia for a successful heat transition.

Roadmap (german)

Support for implementation projects

The implementation of large-scale transformation projects requires professional planning and effective project management.

Overview of services

We support you in concept development, detailed planning, implementation support, and integration of:

  • Heating and cooling networks,
  • large heat pumps,
  • near-surface geothermal energy,
  • deep geothermal energy,
  • integration of mine water resources, and
  • heat storage.

We can also assist you in assuming building owner responsibilities and carrying out approval procedures.

Contact

Timm Eicker

Near-surface geothermal energy

phone +49 234 33858-184

Send email

How to work with us

There are various ways to collaborate with us at Fraunhofer IEG, depending entirely on your individual needs. Typical collaboration models with Fraunhofer IEG are as follows:

  • Contract research
  • Joint projects & consortia
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Licensing
  • Spin-offs
  • Further training
more info

Reference Projects

D2 Grids

The aim of the “D2Grids” project is to establish a fifth-generation heating and cooling network at Mark 51°7, the former Opel site in Bochum. 

D2 Grids

Heatstore

Development of an underground high-temperature heat storage system in combination with an hT heat pump.

Heatstore

WINZER

Heat storage in coal mines in the Ruhr region.

WINZER

PUSH-IT

Storing excess heat underground: a sustainable solution for Europe's energy future.

PUSH-IT

VESTA CONTRAST

Seismic exploration for the evaluation of high-temperature storage facilities

Vesta Contrast

Control concepts, monitoring, and operational optimization

A suitably designed control concept and effective monitoring are crucial for the efficient use of renewable energies in district heating supply. This is because the operational optimizations derived from monitoring offer the potential for significant cost reductions and enable the long-term, economical, and resource-saving operation of your systems.

Overview of services

  • Design of control and monitoring concepts for the efficient use of renewable energies
  • Dynamic simulation and operational optimization of energy systems and components with a focus on heat and hydrogen systems
  • Validation of design optimization in virtual operation
  • Development and testing of energy management systems in virtual operation with in-house DySONiC software
  • Individually tailored operational management concepts
  • (cost minimization, self-sufficiency maximization, etc.)
  • Dynamic modeling of customer systems and networks
  • (geothermal storage, heat pumps, district heating networks, etc.)
  • Digital twin as a forecasting or assistance system
  • Development of intelligent control algorithms and AI-based operating strategies

Contact

Anton Plietzsch

Energy management and control

phone +49 355 35540-185

Send email

How to work with us

There are various ways to collaborate with us at Fraunhofer IEG, depending entirely on your individual needs. Typical collaboration models with Fraunhofer IEG are as follows:

  • Contract research
  • Joint projects & consortia
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Licensing
  • Spin-offs
  • Further training
more info
DySONIC - Beispielhafte Vorlauftemperaturverteilung
© Fraunhofer IEG
Example flow temperature distribution

Reference Project

DySONiC

DySONiC is a tool for the dynamic simulation and optimization of district heating networks and enables the virtual validation of control and energy management strategies.

DySONiC (german)

GeoStar

The GeoStar concept developed by Fraunhofer IEG shows how existing residential and commercial buildings can also use their subsoil for climate-neutral heating and cooling. Using the inclined drilling technology of mobile drilling rigs, such as Fraunhofer IEG's Bo.Rex, boreholes arranged in a star pattern are drilled at an angle of approximately 10° to a depth of several hundred meters to reach geothermal probes. Since this technology allows a large volume of soil to be tapped and used even under buildings with minimal surface space requirements, the limited space between existing buildings is sufficient to tap geothermal energy for efficient and sustainable heating and cooling. Once the drilling work has been completed and the connection to the building or distribution network has been established, the geothermal system is almost invisible. Since cooling and heating technology can be combined and smart operation allows for maximum efficiency of use, GeoStar is a success factor for the heat transition in established inner-city residential and commercial areas.

Overview of services

  • All aspects of planning and implementation of GeoStar, even in densely built-up areas with limited space
  • Technical integration into your heating and cooling systems
  • Use of smart operational management for maximum efficiency of cooling and heating technology 

Contact

Timm Eicker

Near-surface geothermal energy

phone +49 234 33858-184

Send email

How to work with us

There are various ways to collaborate with us at Fraunhofer IEG, depending entirely on your individual needs. Typical collaboration models with Fraunhofer IEG are as follows:

  • Contract research
  • Joint projects & consortia
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Licensing
  • Spin-offs
  • Further training
more info
© Fraunhofer IEG
The GeoStar horizontal drilling technique taps into the subsoil beneath existing buildings and makes it possible to retrofit neighborhoods with geothermal probes.

Reference Project

Angled drilling technology brings geothermal energy to existing buildings

The 12 geothermal probes arranged in a star pattern heat and cool the main lecture hall at Bochum University of Applied Sciences.

GeoStar 2.0 (german)

We'll get you ready for the municipal and industrial heat transition!

Further Education

We offer extensive training opportunities.

At a time when sustainability and efficiency are paramount, we offer customized training courses that help your company future-proof its heating systems. Our experts provide you with valuable knowledge and practical approaches. If you are interested, we would be happy to provide you with further information. Get in touch with us!

Publications

The scientists at Fraunhofer IEG publish the results of their research and development work in national and international journals.

You also create guidelines, roadmaps, and white papers as central sources of information for politics, business, and the public.

Our highlight projects

Get a brief overview of our projects

District and process heat supply using heat pumps - FernWP
Networked adaptive cooling supply system - MissEllyDEMO
Large heat pumps for municipalities and industry - Agora heat pump (german press release)
Grid-connected low-temperature heating and cooling solutions - D2 Grids
Cross-sector energy supply in the neighborhood - ODH@Jülich
Determination of relevant low-temperature sources and sinks in NRW
Underground high-temperature heat storage - Heatstore
Underground heat storage - PUSH-IT
Heat storage in coal mines - WINZER
Study - Geothermal technologies in metropolitan areas (german)
Study – Potential for large heat pumps in Brandenburg and Saxony (german)
Roadmap for near-surface geothermal energy in Germany (german)
Roadmap for deep geothermal energy in Germany (german)