Focus on climate goals: Hahnbach plans sustainable heat supply by 2045!

Focus on climate goals: Hahnbach plans sustainable heat supply by 2045!

On November 18, 2025, an important meeting took place in Hahnbach under the chairmanship of Mayor Bernhard Lindner and his counterparts Georg Götz and Evi Höllerer. There were numerous topics on the agenda, with the first item relating to the results of the municipal heat planning. This planning aims to achieve the required climate neutrality measures by 2045 and is expected to be completed by June 2026. Dr. Dana Walker from the Institute for Energy Technology in Amberg presented the results and reported high demand for a connection to the planned heating network.

The costs incurred for the connection depend largely on the number of connections and the distance to the energy supplier. Various energy sources such as wood, biogas, groundwater heat pumps, geothermal energy, river water, wind power, heat pumps and hydrogen are taken into account in heat planning. A price comparison with fossil heat carriers is also carried out. In order to inform citizens about opportunities and progress, information events will be organized for citizens' cooperatives and private investors.

Renewable energies and community heat supply

An important aspect of municipal heat planning is the requirement that at least 65% of the energy must come from renewable sources or unavoidable waste heat. In Hahnbach, the analysis shows good opportunities for a communal heat supply in the town center and in the Frohnbergsiedlung. For other towns, decentralized heating solutions are necessary due to the low potential there. This approach is in line with the goal of the German climate strategy, as noted by the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), which emphasizes the need for systematic heat planning to decarbonize the heat sector.

The planned heat planning law, which is due to come into force at the beginning of 2024, will support the basis for comprehensive heat planning. This is particularly true for communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, which are now also being included in the transformation of the energy supply. The success of this planning depends heavily on the acceptance and cooperation between the states, municipalities and citizens. It is also emphasized that communication should be open in order to closely involve citizens and give them the opportunity to have a say.

Development and green planning as well as school projects

Another item on the agenda at the meeting in Hahnbach was the discussion of 17 statements on the development and green planning issue in the east industrial area. The objections and additions were carefully weighted and incorporated into the planning. The land-use planning is based on the 2025 master plan of the Amberg economic area, where the focus is on space saving, multi-storey design and sustainability. A pedestrian and cycle path connection to the bus stop on the B 14 is also planned to improve accessibility.

An important project also concerns the expansion of the Max Prechtl all-day school, for which high funding has been approved. The renovation includes a barrier-free cafeteria, group rooms, toilets and a technical room and is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026. Completion is planned for the 2027/2028 school year.

In addition, the election leaders for the local elections on March 8, 2026 were named: Lisa Lederer and Sabine Wilde. Other topics included the approval of the collection of basic contributions for the village renewal in Mimbach-Mausdorf as well as a discussion on the poster regulations for the upcoming elections.

The meeting included a total of 25 agenda items and was concluded successfully. The citizens of Hahnbach can look forward to further important developments in municipal heat planning that will not only promote the well-being of the environment, but also improve their quality of life.