BreVERNE
Topic
BreVERNE: Sustainably integrating the realities of Bremen’s (heating) utility providers and residents
Project Description:
Municipal heat planning is a key strategic instrument for achieving climate-neutral heating and the goals of the Paris Agreement. In Bremen’s building stock, around 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalents are currently emitted each year. While the adoption of Bremen’s municipal heat plan marks an important milestone, its implementation raises questions concerning technical feasibility, economic viability and, in particular, social acceptance.
BreVERNE examines the heat transition as a complex socio-technical transformation in which households, property owners, energy suppliers and the city face interdependent challenges. The project investigates which factors shape the acceptance and adoption of different heating solutions across stakeholder groups and how techno-economic pathways can be integrated with the realities of local actors. Building on this, BreVERNE develops a low-threshold decision-support tool to make complex modelling results accessible for different user groups in municipal heat planning. Participatory research processes are used to examine how engagement influences stakeholders’ perceptions, attitudes and intentions to act. By combining techno-economic analyses, digital planning tools and participatory approaches in selected Bremen neighbourhoods, the project aims to identify synergies between efficiency, economic viability and social acceptance and develop practical decision-making support for the urban heat transition.
Funding:
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
Project duration:
01.09.2026 – 28.02.2029
Partner:
University of Bremen, Faculty 04 / Research Group Resilient Energy Systems; City University of Applied Sciences (HSB), Infrastructure planning of environmental and energy facilities: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Knies
Contact:
Cristina Oballe
Universität Bremen
FB 4 / FG Resiliente Energiesysteme
Konrad-Zuse-Straße 8a (Neos)
28359 Bremen
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