Hessisch Oldendorf, 16 January 2026
The phase-out of fossil fuels and the foreseeable decommissioning of municipal gas networks pose a significant cost trap for those who delay their decision - a risk that has often been underestimated to date.Municipal heat planning: decisions with implications through to 2045
Local authorities are currently working intensively on their heat plans. For cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, the deadline under Germany's Heat Planning Act is already approaching in mid-2026. Various supply scenarios are being developed as part of this planning. Alongside district heating and decentralised heat pumps, integrated local heat network solutions are becoming increasingly important - particularly those based on sector coupling.This involves intelligently linking the electricity, heating and generation sectors, for example through:
- Photovoltaic systems for low-cost electricity generation
- Biogas plants as a controllable renewable energy source
- (Large-scale) heat pumps for the efficient conversion of electricity into heat
- Local heat networks for distributing the heat generated within the local area
Some local authorities are also already considering decommissioning gas networks serving end users by 2035 at the latest. Municipal heat planning therefore forms the basis for far-reaching infrastructure decisions and serves the EU's overarching goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2045 at the latest.
The real cost trap: rising gas network charges
The greatest financial risk lies not in the gas price itself, but in network charges. Gas networks incur high fixed operating costs. These are shared among all connected customers. However, as the number of users falls – for example, as people switch to heat pumps, district heating or sector-coupled local heat network solutions - the remaining customers have to bear an ever-greater share of these costs.A brief expert report by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials reaches an alarming conclusion: gas network charges per unit of energy for households and small businesses could rise to around 22 euro cents per kilowatt-hour by 2045. By comparison, network charges for a gas connection currently stand at around 2.33 euro cents/kWh - representing an almost tenfold increase.
Why acting early reduces costs - and why delaying becomes expensive
Contrary to a widespread assumption, these cost increases are not caused by an early transition, but by decommissioning gas networks too late.If network operators start dismantling their networks too late, fixed operating costs cannot be reduced quickly enough. The result: the financial burden is shared among fewer and fewer remaining customers.
According to the Fraunhofer report, early, planned decommissioning can reduce the long-term total costs of gas networks by around 20 per cent. At the same time, implementing sector-coupled local and district heating schemes early offers significant economic benefits for local authorities and property owners.
Sector coupling as the key: combining electricity and heat cost-effectively
A particularly future-proof approach to municipal heating lies in sector coupling. The aim is to convert locally generated renewable electricity into heat as efficiently as possible and use it flexibly.In practice, this means: photovoltaic systems generate very low-cost electricity during the day, large-scale heat pumps use this electricity to generate heat highly efficiently, biogas plants supply controllable energy and process heat, particularly during periods of low wind and sunlight, and thermal storage systems and local heat networks allow generation and consumption to be separated in time and location. This integration opens up new economic prospects, particularly for existing biogas plants whose support under Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) is coming to an end. By integrating them into sector-coupled heat networks, they can continue to operate profitably and serve as a stabilising factor in the energy system.
Archea New Energy: sector coupling backed by experience
Archea New Energy has more than 20 years of experience in planning, building and operating biogas plants with connected local heat networks. Today, we apply this in-depth practical expertise specifically to sector-coupled heating and energy schemes. We combine photovoltaic systems, biogas, large-scale heat pumps, storage systems, and local and district heat networks into economically viable integrated systems - from municipal heat planning through to turnkey implementation and subsequent operation.Our clear recommendation: plan now, switch now
For property owners and local authorities alike, the message is clear: those who plan now reduce costs in the long term - those who wait will pay significantly more later. Use the municipal heat planning phase to invest in sector-coupled, renewable and economically stable solutions.Do not wait until the final deadline. Shape your heating arrangements now.