Jürgen Knies
Jade University of Applied Sciences Oldenburg
Currently Jürgen Knies is Research Associate at the Jade University of Applied Sciences in Oldenburg (Germany). He started as Landscape Ecologist (University of Oldenburg, Germany) and worked for 10 years in a spatial planning company with focus on energy issues (wind, solar). In 2006 he made his master degree at the University of Salzburg (Austria) in Applied Geoinformation. He worked for around 4 years at the Institute of Informatics and the Institute of Pipe Technology with focus on smart grid and spatial planning, developing the research field Energetic Neighborhood. Special issue: Heat recovery from waste water (EU-Project, supporting investors, workshops).
Introduction
The current climate protection goals will lead to unprecedented and profound changes to energy systems. The transition to a decarbonized heat supply system will be complex and the process will have deep impacts on the urban subsystems (technical, economic, social and planning subsystems) with different spatial extents. For decision making in this context, the level of individual buildings provides a perspective which is too narrow. On the other hand, a very broad view is also unhelpful for the local transition process. The study takes place in the cities of Oldenburg (ca. 160 000 inhabitants), Bramsche and Wallenhorst (ca. 53 000 inhabitants), all in Germany.
Methods
Depending on the heat density, different options of future heat supply systems and their degree of suitability (from single supply systems via island solutions to 4th generation district heating systems etc.) are mapped. This also involves an assessment with regard to future heat demand and reduction scenarios.
The linear heat density is estimated, and the suitability is calculated by fuzzy membership (Fig. 1) and mapped. Different parameters, like edge effect, the different structure of the settlements, the influence of the shaping etc., are evaluated in order to demonstrate the robustness and the limits of the approach.
Additionally, the possibilities of integrating industrial waste heat and solar energy are taken into account by spatial matching of demand and supply on a strategic level.
Results
The spatial conceptualization of the suitability areas leads to coherent areas for the subsequent planning level (Fig. 2). The mapping of the scenarios gives a first overview of possible developments in space and time (Fig 3).
The energy balances of excess heat and PV power on a strategic level shows in which areas the subsequent energy planning could modify the focus of the energy concept.
Discussion
At the subsequent planning level, the results can be used as guard rails to make the urban planning process more consistent and transparent. The limits of the approach are also its strengths: Detailed energy planning has to follow this first step. However the data-driven suitability areas are communication bridges between urban planners and energy planners.
