ACR GIS-bEPS – Development of distributed GIS-based Spatial Energy Planning Services

The question of how we can efficiently and cost-effectively heat our homes and supply commercial and industrial sites with low-carbon process heat in the future without the use of fossil fuels cannot be answered exclusively at the level of the individual building or industrial site. Further it cannot be separated from the necessary transformation of the entire energy system including electricity and mobility. Designing a future low-carbon energy system is an interdisciplinary task that requires an integrated approach, the involvement of various stakeholders, and strategic planning that takes into account the spatial dimension of energy demand, energy supply, and energy infrastructure. In this context, the cross-linking and provision of (spatial) data and digital planning tools enables a multitude of possibilities for highly specialized digital services in the energy sector.

In this context, the intention of the research project is to cross-link the expertise of the three research institutes AEE INTEC, GET and IBS in the fields of spatial energy planning, district heating planning and resilient energy infrastructure planning by means of geoinformation technologies.

The project deals with the development of a common vision for target group-oriented digital planning services in the energy sector as well as the specification of necessary requirements, the conceptual design, application development and prototype implementation of corresponding GIS-based services with a focus on open-source technologies. The project further aims to build up expertise and develop human resources in the fields of digitization and GIS application development.