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Implementing heat infrastructure planning robustly (W-rob)

A transdisciplinary project for a socially robust heat transition

Latest News
Previous Communications
Project
Network
Results

Welcome!

The decarbonization of our heating supply presents us as a society with a major challenge. Cities and municipalities currently have an important key role to play in this task: they must coordinate the conversion of the heat supply and thus create planning security for all stakeholders.

The “Implementing heat infrastructure planning robustly – W-rob” project supports municipal stakeholders in overcoming the biggest challenges currently facing heat infrastructure planning in the best possible way – through a socially robust implementation of heat infrastructure planning. This means:

  1. the planning is carried out in a methodically comprehensible, transparent and legally compliant manner (process design)
  2. the results are accepted and not regarded as unfair (content/results)
  3. Private actors that are not directly regulated also participate in the implementation of locally prioritized measures in a trusting and timely manner (activation for implementation).

Latest News

Z

11.07.2025

Workshop on mediation strategies in the heating transition. Düsseldorf, 6 November 2025

– How can social aspects be included in implementation and planning?
– How can more acceptance for a heat transition be created?
– Which target groups do we want to reach and how?

Findings from research and practice will be presented and discussed. In addition, there will be space for joint exchange and brainstorming in interactive formats.

The workshop is aimed at all stakeholders in the municipal heating transition.

More information
Z

04.07.2025

KWW-Conference 2025 in Halle (Saale)

On June 26, at the major Conference of the Centre for Competence in Heating Transition (KWW) in Halle (Saale), the W-Rob core team was represented. As part of a “heat transition sprint” presentation, we were able to present our project, our current work steps and key topics to an interested specialist audience. The KWW conference also gave us the great opportunity to follow many exciting presentations on topics relating to the transformation of the heat supply. These were very diverse, ranging from social aspects of the heating transition to questions about geothermal energy. The personal exchange with the many committed people from other cities and organizations was very enriching – the concentrated expertise at this conference was simply impressive. We were able to use this day to take away good ideas, deepen existing contacts and expand our network. A big thank you to the organizers for the successful event and the inspiring atmosphere! Dialogue.changes.perspectives.

Previous Communications
Häuser, Bäume und Felder im Smog gehüllt

Project

The “Implementing heat infrastructure planning robustly – W-rob” project supports municipal stakeholders in overcoming the biggest challenges currently facing heat infrastructure planning in the best possible way – through a socially robust implementation of heat infrastructure planning.

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Network

The core team of W-rob includes:

  • apl. Prof. Dr. Philipp Späth (Freiburg University)
  • Prof. Dr. Cathrin Zengerling (Freiburg University)
  • Prof. Dr. Sören Becker (Marburg University)
  • Hannah Stroebel (NELA e.V. Next Economy Lab)

Contractors are:

  • Baumann Rechtsanwälte
  • Stadtwerke Konstanz GmbH
  • Umwelt- und Energieagentur Kreis Karlsruhe
  • GEF Ingenieur AG

Practice Partners are:

  • 10 municipalities in Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia
  • 4 energy agencies: KWW, KEA-BW, UEA Kreis Karlsruhe, EA-Regio Freiburg
  • BadenovaWÄRMEPLUS
More about the network

Results

The project produces the following results:

  • Specifically formulated, practical recommendations for action for those responsible for planning, grid operators and civil society groups for the robust design of the process, content and implementation of heat infrastructure planning.
  • Policy recommendations: Regulatory options that facilitate decarbonization.
  • Communication of further research needs.
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