Rhein-Hunsrück district: New heat plans for a green future!

Rhein-Hunsrück district: New heat plans for a green future!

On January 15, 2026, the Rhein-Hunsrück district took an important step towards converting its heat supply. The final report on the Municipal heat planning is now completed. The analysis shows that there is great potential for alternative heating solutions such as solar thermal energy, heat pumps and biomass. Innovative options such as near-surface geothermal energy, environmental heat from the Rhine and wastewater heat were also brought into focus.

Inter-municipal cooperation between the city of Boppard and the municipalities of Hunsrück-Mittelrhein, Simmern-Rheinböllen, Kastellaun and Kirchberg has proven to be successful. Together they have developed heat plans that produce synergy effects in data collection and planning. The industrial area in the neighboring municipality was also examined as a potential source of waste heat for Boppard.

The challenges of heat supply

The heat supply in the Rhein-Hunsrück district is currently heavily influenced by fossil energy sources such as oil and gas. These account for over 80 percent of heat consumption, which is not only environmentally concerning, but also leads to additional burdens for many households due to rising heating costs. For the future, the plan envisages a significant reduction in heat requirements, which is to be achieved through continuous energy-saving renovations. Currently, the share of renewable energies in heat provision still has a lot of room for improvement.

The goal of the Heat planning One thing is clear: the existing heating networks should be converted from fossil fuels to renewable energies. The aim is to create new, climate-friendly heating networks. A good example of the different ways of supplying heat are the planned heating networks in suitable areas and decentralized solutions such as heat pumps in other areas.

Legal basis and future measures

The federal government has with this Heat planning law, which comes into force on January 1, 2024, created the legal framework to advance nationwide heat planning in Germany. Municipalities with more than 100,000 residents must draw up a heat plan by June 30, 2026, while smaller municipalities have until 2028. The aim is to strengthen investment and planning security for operators of heating networks, while at the same time calling for a gradual switch to renewable energies. By 2030, existing heating networks should be powered by 30% renewable energy or waste heat.

In summary, the municipality shows that it wants to take on the challenge of shaping the heat supply for the future. Even if the heat plan is not binding, it offers clear direction and forms an essential part of the Rhein-Hunsrück district's climate protection concept.