CoSpatial Heat – Integrated heat and gas supply planning for the Gleisdorf region

The CoSpatial Heat project develops an integrated and spatially differentiated heat and gas supply planning concept for the pioneering city of Gleisdorf and its surrounding region. The aim is to provide robust decision-making foundations for transforming the regional energy system towards climate neutrality by 2030 and 2040 while strategically integrating the existing gas infrastructure into a future renewable energy landscape. The project combines geodata-based analyses, energy consumption data, energy audits and stakeholder knowledge.

For different application areas, technical alternatives to fossil-based energy supply are assessed, including heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass solutions, power-to-heat technologies and renewable gases. These options are analysed according to their required temperature levels (low, medium and high temperature) and spatial conditions. Based on these assessments, GIS-supported zoning plans are developed to identify future supply areas, expansion options and potential areas for the gradual phase-out of gas infrastructure.

The analysis builds on a comprehensive data foundation, including historical consumption data, information from the regional energy atlas, waste heat registers, sector-specific benchmarks and intensive stakeholder dialogue with municipalities, industry and network operators. Regulatory, economic and infrastructural framework conditions are also considered to develop realistic transformation pathways for the regional energy system.

The results of the project will provide the basis for strategic infrastructure planning in the region as well as for a subsequent research and demonstration project that will showcase the practical implementation of a decarbonised heat supply within a selected use-case district.