Prof. Dr Dr Tanja Kneiske, Professor of Technology and Management of Integrated Energy Infrastructures at the Technical University of Berlin and Head of the Competence Centre for User-Centred AI Methods at Fraunhofer IEG
Municipal heating planning is currently evolving from a one-off planning task into a continuous, data-driven transformation process. At the same time, the demands are increasing: new regulatory frameworks, volatile energy prices, growing complexity of infrastructure, and the need for integrated solutions for electricity, heating and gas networks.
Artificial intelligence opens up entirely new possibilities in this area. Using a five-stage model, the presentation illustrates where we stand today and how heating planning will change in the coming years: from the use of static data, through AI-supported analyses, to intelligent AI agents that autonomously gather information using natural language, simulate scenarios and develop decision proposals.
Using real-world examples, the presentation demonstrates how AI can already analyse heating plans, identify suitable supply options and automatically compare different infrastructure concepts. Finally, it looks ahead to the next stage of development: dialogue-based, agent-driven planning systems that will support local authorities, municipal utilities and planning consultancies as digital assistants in the heating transition.
The presentation provides guidance, contextualises current developments and highlights specific opportunities for the planning and implementation of tomorrow’s heating supply.
