Future-iQ: Accelerating the energy transition in the neighborhood

New energy supply concepts are being implemented and tested in two residential quarters of LEG Immobilien SE – with the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions quickly and in a socially responsible manner. The focus is on integrated neighborhood solutions, development paths on the way to climate neutrality, and exploiting the potential for sector coupling. Core technological components are the optimal integration of renewable energies, the flexible use of power-to-heat technologies, geothermal energy and Heat Networks 4.0 in existing buildings, as well as electromobility and new tenant electricity concepts.

In addition, as part of "Future-iQ", the project partners are developing a basis for activating CO2-saving behavior and are using participatory methods to increase the acceptance and social compatibility of the targeted measures.

The project partners aim to transfer the concepts developed to other neighborhoods. In other words, on the basis of the experience gained, approaches for improved processes and structures to accelerate the implementation of the energy transition on site are to be developed and recommendations for action derived. This should lay the foundation for a rapid transfer of know-how between research and practice.

Greenhouse gas neutral by 2045 - that's what the German government's climate protection goals say. In order to reduce CO₂ emissions at the neighborhood level, a climate-neutral supply of energy and heat to apartments is required. Corresponding solutions are to be developed in the "Future-iQ" project. The advantage of the neighborhood solution: Compared to solutions for individual buildings, they can achieve cost advantages of 31 to 45 percent through the efficient use of renewable energies or waste heat on site – according to the German Energy Agency (dena). In addition, neighborhood concepts can open up flexibility options for the energy system, enabling the economic integration of renewable energies and avoiding high costs in the distribution network and in the provision of electricity. This is made possible by integral approaches that take into account energy supply as well as building refurbishment and mobility.

In a first step, the project partners are working on integral neighborhood concepts to accelerate the energy transition on the way to climate neutrality. Obstacles and success factors for implementation are also being considered. In parallel, incentive systems are being developed to activate and engage tenants. On the basis of the results, a model-based optimization of technology design and modes of operation for the implementation quarters will be carried out with special consideration of sector coupling as well as scenario analyses. This is followed by the implementation in the selected residential quarters and its evaluation.

Fraunhofer UMSICHT focuses on the model-based optimization of integral concepts – including the consideration of future scenarios –, the potentials of sector coupling in the quarters and accelerated implementation.

• EnergyServicePlus, subsidiary of LEG Immobilien SE
• Information Systems Division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT