Future of heat supply: Experts clarify in Kassel!

Future of heat supply: Experts clarify in Kassel!

The University of Kassel is starting an exciting lecture series at UNI:Lokal on May 7, 2025, which aims to promote exchange between science and the public. The events take place at Wilhelmsstraße 21 and are accessible free of charge. Department professors will present various current topics in a variety of short lectures.

It starts with Prof. Dr. Clemens Hoffmann from electrical engineering and computer science, who will talk about the “heat supply of the future”. This is particularly relevant in the context of the current discussions about energy needs in Germany. Loud infinite-much-energy.de The supply of space heating and hot water already accounted for around 49.6% of the total final energy demand in Germany in 2017. The high proportion results from both deficiencies in building insulation and the use of outdated heating systems.

Thematic diversity of the lecture series

Further lectures will follow on May 14th by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Petersen, who is dedicated to cryptography and secret messages, and on May 22nd Prof. Dr. Miriam Athmann will give a talk about promoting biodiversity, in keeping with Biodiversity Day. A lecture by Dr.-Ing. is scheduled for June 11th. Philipp Otter, who is dealing with climate-resilient water supply in Kassel. On June 18th Dr. Maxi Nebel with the topic “Intimate communication with artificial intelligence and data protection”.

These lectures not only address scientific questions, but also reflect current social challenges, such as the climate crisis and the need for a sustainable energy supply. In Germany, the aim is to significantly increase the share of renewable energies in the heating sector by 2045 in order to achieve the desired greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045, as in BEE heat paper explained. The use of renewable energies in the heating sector is currently only 16.5%.

Challenges of heat supply

The high consumption of fossil fuels in heat supply represents one of the biggest challenges. According to bee-ev.de Currently 50% of heat comes from fossil gas, 20% from oil and around 10% from coal. Given the war in Ukraine and dependence on natural gas, the need to shift to renewable technologies has increased. Less than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany come from heat supply, which underlines the urgency of reduction measures.

In order to get closer to the goal of climate-neutral heat supply, the use of heat pumps must double to 38% by 2045. These technologies enable the efficient conversion of renewable electricity into heat. The expansion of solar thermal energy and the use of geothermal energy should also be significantly increased. The BEE study predicts that 97% of heat supply could come from renewable energy by 2045, requiring an ambitious transformation of the energy system.

The UNI:Lokal at the University of Kassel not only offers a platform for exciting topics, but also contributes to the necessary discussion about the future of energy supply and climate protection in Germany. Further information and details about the events can be found on the University of Kassel website, which is managed by Kathrin Meckbach and Sebastian Mense from the Communications and Marketing Department.