Competence Centre for the Municipal Heat Transition (KWW)
Expertise, networking and support for stakeholders in the municipal heating transition
Goal: to give local authorities in Germany the support they need to implement the heating transition
Topics: Municipal governments, Heating transition, Transforming the economy
Runtime: since 2021
Our task: 10,700 local heating transitions
Germany has set itself the target of achieving climate neutrality by 2045. Around 60 per cent of final energy consumption is accounted for by heating. The transformation of the heating sector is therefore essential. Local heating transitions must be implemented at varying speeds across more than 10,700 local authorities, each with their own specific circumstances. This requires consideration not only of energy sources but also of energy infrastructure. The challenge is to achieve a fair and sustainable heating transition by 2045. Local authorities play a key role in this. On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), KWW offers support services to local authorities to this end.
Our approach: guidelines for local heating planning
The process of the heating transition is fragmented and complex. Local authorities therefore need clear guidelines and support services. The strategic tool for this is Municipal Heating Planning (MHP). To ensure that strategic goals lead to concrete changes, measures must be planned, coordinated and implemented at local authority level.
The KWW is the central point of contact for questions relating to KWP. It helps local authorities move from planning to implementation. To this end, the KWW offers, among other things, telephone consultation hours, events, lectures, a wealth of information and tools on its website, regular social media posts, its own YouTube channel, a regular newsletter and the annual KWW Conference.
Our milestones
- 18 June 2026: 4th Major KWW Conference 2026 “City. Countryside. Heat.”
- 1 April 2026: Relocation to expanded office premises
- 31 December 2025: Project completion and extension until 2030
- 8 October 2025: Publication of the first KWW communication guides
- 18 July 2025: Completion of the KWW evaluation
- 26 June 2025: 3rd Major KWW Conference “Dialogue. Change. Perspectives.”
- 26 March 2025: Launch of the KWW Heat Transition Atlas
- 19 September 2024: 2nd major KWW conference “Municipal Heat Planning: Inform. Network. Simulate.”
- 1 August 2024: Publication of the guide and technical catalogue on heat planning in accordance with the WPG
- 1 July 2024: Establishment of the Aggregation Expert Working Group (FAGA) under the leadership of KWW
- 1 July 2024: Stakeholder dialogue on heating planning organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB) with Housing Minister Klara Geywitz and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Dr Robert Habeck; KWW publishes the heating planning guide with accompanying documents and takes over further work on the topics from the consortium
- 25 April 2024: Launch of the first KWW regional dialogue
- 6 March 2024: Launch of the KWW tools: Model Specification, Data Compass and Service Provider Directory
- 20 September 2023: 1st major KWW conference in Halle (Saale) ‘Shaping the heating transition together’ with over 500 participants in person and online
- 3 January 2023: Evaluation of the 1st KWW municipal survey for the BMWK
- 9 November 2022: KWW network meeting of the state energy agencies
- 28 September 2022: Inaugural meeting of the KWW Advisory Board
- 17 April 2022: Grand opening of the KWW in Halle (Saale)
- February 2022: The energy crisis triggers a surge in enquiries regarding advisory services for the heating transition
- December 2021: The KWW receives its first enquiries regarding support services
- November 2021: The first two staff members join the team in Halle, alongside the set-up team from Berlin
- October 2021: dena is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) to establish the Competence Centre for the Municipal Heat Transition (KWW)