The Heating Plan outlines how the city of Mainz can heat its buildings in a climate-friendly way in the future. It includes goals, key areas, and concrete steps. The plan serves as a roadmap for the transition of the heating supply by 2035 or 2040.

The four parts of the heating plan have been finalized from a technical standpoint. Here, we present the most important findings.

The status analysis shows the current state of the heat supply. The following key findings were identified:

• High share of fossil fuels: 75% of final energy consumption is covered by natural gas; heating oil plays a minor role at 3%.
• Heating networks already in place: 20% of heat consumption is covered by local or district heating, which is increasingly being decarbonized.
• Renewable energy sources: Biomass and heat pumps are currently in use and together account for about 1% of the heat supply.
• Residential buildings account for the largest share of heat demand at 62%, followed by 28% for commerce and industry, and 11% for public buildings.

The potential analysis highlights the opportunities and strengths for the future of heat supply in the city of Mainz. To this end, various options were examined and compared.

The analysis also considered various technologies that, based on current knowledge, could be well-suited for heat supply in Mainz.

These technologies have particularly significant strengths:

The target scenario describes how Mainz’s heat supply could develop in the long term. Mainz, the state capital, aims to achieve climate-neutral heating by 2040 at the latest, and ideally as early as 2035. The “Mainz Approach” (Orientation 2035, City Council resolution) focuses in particular on the expansion of district heating networks, the use of renewable energy, and the modernization of buildings. The target year of 2040, enshrined in the Rhineland-Palatinate Climate Protection Act, provides for a longer time horizon.

Both scenarios show that Mainz is saving energy and emitting significantly less carbon dioxide (CO₂)—in a planned and targeted manner.

As part of the municipal heat planning process, a total of 89 priority areas and five focus areas were identified within the Mainz metropolitan area. 

The following maps show the heat supply areas within the city of Mainz: 

The heating transition is important for all neighborhoods and homes in Mainz. It is a shared responsibility. Many people and groups are helping with this effort.

The city’s heating plan explains how the heating supply can be improved in the future. It highlights the key points involved. The City of Mainz is working together with Mainzer Stadtwerke, tradespeople, housing companies, and residents to achieve this.

The following four points are important guidelines. However, they are not fixed rules:

• Good heating networks: Old heating networks can be modernized. This will improve their performance. Other neighborhoods can also be connected step by step.
• New energy sources: Heat from new energy sources can be utilized more extensively. It can be easily integrated into existing systems.
• Improving Buildings: Buildings and their systems can be modernized. This will reduce their heat consumption in the long run.
• Cooperation: Effective cooperation between the city, Mainz Public Utilities, and other partners is very important.

Further Developing the Heating Plan

The heating plan is a flexible plan. Its results are reviewed regularly. If necessary, the plan will be improved. We monitor how well everything is going. We adjust the plan when necessary. And we work together with everyone involved.

With the City Council’s resolution, the Municipal Heating Plan has become the strategic foundation for the heating transition in Mainz, the state capital. 

The focus now shifts to implementing the agreed-upon measures to achieve the goal of “climate neutrality” in Mainz by 2035, if possible. These measures include, among other things, in-depth studies in the identified focus areas, as well as the establishment of a permanent organization comprising representatives from the city administration, Mainz Public Utilities, and other relevant stakeholders to advance the heating transition in Mainz.

In accordance with legal requirements, an update to the municipal heating plan is scheduled every five years. Regular reporting on the progress of the measures to the public and political representatives is planned.