Online software helps Thuringian communities to initiate energy transition projects – Online software helps Thuringian communities to initiate energy system transformation projects

Published on: May 26, 2020 / Updated on: August 17, 2020 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

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Online software for the energy transition – @shutterstock | Robert Kneschke

TRAILstarter software is designed for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants – the online tool can be used free of charge at www.trail-energie.de – TRAILplus with additional options will be released at the end of June.

• TRAIL helps smaller Thuringian communities to determine their energy needs and initiate energy transition projects
• The TRAILstarter software is designed for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants
• The online tool can be used www.trail-energie.de
• TRAILplus with additional options will be released at the end of June

The Thuringian Energy Agency (ThEGA), together with partners from Thuringian science and industry, has released "TRAILstarter." The free online software is available at www.trail-energie.de and is primarily designed to help municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants optimize their energy supply and reduce energy costs. In rural areas, the potential for heat supply based on renewable energies such as solar thermal energy or biomass is often particularly high. "However, smaller municipalities, some of which rely on volunteer representatives, often lack the time, expertise, and budget to implement the energy-efficient renovation of public buildings or complex processes such as the development or expansion of the local heating network," says ThEGA Managing Director Professor Dieter Sell. "TRAILstarter is a practical planning tool for municipal administrations. It allows energy transition projects to be launched without the need for time-consuming data collection on the current situation or the involvement of external expertise." The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Energy and Nuclear Safety (TMUEN) funded the project.

This is how TRAILstarter helps smaller municipalities in Thuringia

TRAILstarter provides Thuringian municipalities with an overview of their electricity and heating needs. The results are available for all municipalities in Thuringia and are calculated using publicly accessible GIS data and existing databases. They serve as an initial guide for identifying key areas for action and efficient energy supply solutions. Users simply enter their municipality's name or select it on the map to immediately receive a variety of graphical representations and information. For example, a visualization of heating needs shows whether a district-wide heating solution is feasible for the municipality or in which part of the municipality a planned local heating network would be economically viable.

TRAILplus with additional features will be released soon

At the end of June, the more advanced version, TRAILplus, will also be available online at www.trail-energie.de . This version provides additional valuable information on funding opportunities, waste heat potential, and suggests concrete measures to save energy or increase energy efficiency. Topics such as optimizing street lighting and the use of renewable energies are now also included. An interactive assistant helps local authorities decide which measures to implement.

About TRAIL and the project partners

TRAIL stands for Energy Transformation in Rural Areas and is an online tool whose development was funded for two years by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of a collaborative research project. In addition to the Thuringian State Energy Agency (ThEGA), the Bauhaus University Weimar and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Systems Technology in Ilmenau are involved. Further project partners include JENA-GEOS®-Ingenieurbüro GmbH, ThINK – Thuringian Institute for Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, the digital agency igniti, and quaas-stadtplaner from Weimar.

About ThEGA

The Thuringian Energy and GreenTech Agency (ThEGA) is the state energy agency of the Free State of Thuringia. It serves as a center of expertise for renewable energies, energy and resource efficiency, sustainable mobility, municipal climate protection, and climate-neutral state-owned properties. ThEGA informs and advises Thuringian companies, municipalities, citizens, and policymakers. It contributes to the achievement of Thuringia's energy and climate policy goals and brings together partners from science, industry, and politics. ThEGA operates in a market- and supplier-neutral manner. More information: www.thega.de

Online software for the energy turnaround – @shutterstock | Robert Kneschke

TRAILstarter software is designed for communities with less than 10,000 inhabitants – Online tool available free of charge at www.trail-energie.de – TRAILplus with additional options to be released at the end of June.

• TRAIL helps smaller Thuringian communities to identify their energy needs and initiate energy system transformation projects
• TRAILstarter software is designed for communities with less than 10,000 inhabitants
• Online tool available free of charge at www.trail-energie.de
• TRAILplus with additional options to be released at the end of June

The State Energy Agency ThEGA has published “TRAILstarter” together with partners from the Thuringian science and industry. The free online software is available at www.trail-energie.de and is designed to help communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in particular to optimize their own energy supply and reduce energy costs. In rural areas, the potential for heat supply based on renewable energies such as solar thermal or biomass is often particularly high. “However, in smaller communities, some of which have voluntary representatives, there is often a lack of time, expertise and budget to implement the energetic renovation of public buildings or complex processes such as setting up or expanding the local heating network,” says ThEGA Managing Director Professor Dieter Sell. "TRAILstarter is a practical planning aid for municipal administrations. It allows energy system transformation projects to be started without the need for time-consuming data determination of the current status or the integration of external expertise. The Federal Ministry of Economics and the Thuringian Ministry of the Environment (TMUEN) funded the project.

How TRAILstarter helps smaller communities in Thuringia

TRAILstarter gives Thuringian municipalities an overview of their electricity and heat requirements. The results are available nationwide for all municipalities in Thuringia and are calculated on the basis of publicly available GIS data and existing databases. They serve as a first orientation to identify spatial priorities for action and efficient energy supply solutions. Users only need to enter their municipality name or select it on the map and immediately receive a variety of graphical representations and information. For example, a representation of the heat demand shows whether a cross-building neighborhood solution makes sense for the municipality or in which part of the municipality a planned local heating network is economically feasible.

TRAILplus with additional features to be released soon

At the end of June, the more advanced version TRAILplus will also be available online at www.trail-energie.de . This version also provides valuable information on subsidies, waste heat potential and suggests concrete measures to save energy or increase energy efficiency. Topics such as the optimization of street lighting and the use of renewable energies are now also included. An interactive assistant supports local administrations in deciding which measures to implement.

About TRAIL and the project partners

TRAIL stands for Energetic Transformation in Rural Areas and is an online tool, the development of which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy for two years as part of a joint research project. In addition to the state energy agency ThEGA, the Bauhaus University Weimar and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Systems Technology in Ilmenau are involved. Further project partners are JENA-GEOS®-Ingenieurbüro GmbH, ThINK – Thuringian Institute for Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, the digital agency igniti and quaas-stadtplaner from Weimar.

About ThEGA

The Thüringer Energie- und GreenTech-Agentur GmbH (ThEGA) is the state energy agency of the Free State of Thuringia. It is the competence center for renewable energies, energy and resource efficiency, sustainable mobility, municipal climate protection and climate-neutral state properties. The ThEGA informs and advises Thuringian companies, municipalities, citizens and politicians. It contributes to the success of Thuringia's energy and climate policy goals and brings together partners from science, business and politics. The ThEGA is market and provider neutral. More information: www.thega.de