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NeutralPath

Dresden as a Lighthouse City on the Path to the Climate-Neutrality

What is NeutralPath?

The Smart City initiative NeutralPath by the city of Dresden demonstrates Positive Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) with the main focus on the building sector. The pilot sites of Dresden are located in the districts of Leuben and Pillnitz-Hosterwitz/Loschwitz.

The EU funds the project through the Horizon Europe programme, under the call “EU Mission: 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities,” providing approximately 19.6 million euros from 2023 to 2027.

Project Goals

The goal of the project is to develop and demonstrate PCEDs. Five cities are forming the innovation hub on urban heat and energy transition: Zaragoza and Dresden are acting as Lighthouse cities to demonstrate feasible PCED approaches while being in close exchange with the three “follower cities” of Ghent (Belgium), Istanbul (Turkey), and Vantaa (Finland). The main focus is on the building sector, particularly targeting decarbonising of the heat supply, expanding the use of renewable energy sources, and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings (the "heat transition"). In the course of the project, EV-mobility and sector coupling are topics that will be implemented as integrated topics.

By showcasing practical and affordable solutions on future-proof energy and heat supply, and supporting cities in effectively reducing CO2 emissions and establishing eco-friendly innovation hubs, we are making a significant contribution to the development of a modern and sustainable city.

At the same time, the city administration and local housing sector will develop pathways to replicate, scale, and embed PCEDs in the local urban development, ensuring that NeutralPath enables Dresden’s achievement of long-term goals such as optimal and economically viable climate protection in housing, energy supply, and urban mobility.

Planned Measures of the Project

Demonstration of a PCED in Dresden
Installation of photovoltaic systems and heat pumps to increase local energy production and optimise consumption
Establishment of a low-temperature heat network to enable the integration of renewable energy in Leuben
Energy-efficient renovation and modernisation of existing residential buildings, including innovative building insulation solutions in Pillnitz-Hosterwitz
Monitoring and performance oversight of the installed systems
Integrated Building an agency network to expand PCEDs across Dresden

Project Sites and Actions

Dresden’s PCED concept combines two pilot locations in Leuben and Loschwitz into one energy balance. These locations are particularly suitable due to their special potential, and Dresden intends to replicate and expand them. The thematic city map shows the specific locations on Jessener Straße and Pillnitzer Landstraße / Van-Gogh-Straße:

Site A – Jessener Straße (District of Leuben)

Aerial view of the buildings in Jessener Straße

Jessener Straße is located in Leuben, a district in eastern Dresden, near the Großer Garten. The street is characterised by residential complexes built in the 1970s. The nearby, relatively green surroundings include, among others, a supermarket, a kindergarten, and a primary school. The high-rise buildings on Jessener Straße are connected to the district heating network of SachsenEnergie, which is currently mainly powered by fossil fuels. Vonovia, SachsenEnergie, and the Chair of Building Energy Technology and Heat Supply from the Institute for Energy Technology at TU Dresden are collaborating to establish a solution package for a district connected to the district heating network. This package includes the use of solar energy, efficiency improvements in the heating network, and electromobility.

Site B – Pillnitzer Landstraße / Van-Gogh-Straße / Weberweg (District of Hosterwitz/Pillnitz)

View at Pillnitzer Landstraße / Van Gogh Straße

This location consists of a quiet residential area on Pillnitzer Landstraße and features a loose building structure with two-storey, partially renovated multi-family houses from the 1950s and 1960s. The district is not connected to the district heating network. The surrounding area has a good structural condition. With ample buildable green space, the site offers excellent conditions for piloting a PCED without district heating. In collaboration with the Institute for Building Climatology at TU Dresden, SachsenEnergie, and EASD, WiD is developing and piloting a cold local heating network on-site. Through a combination of solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, heat pumps, and thermal activation of the building envelope, the goal is to ensure an almost CO2-neutral heat supply for the district and achieve a positive energy balance throughout the year. The measures have the potential to serve as a model for sustainable building and living in other similar locations in Dresden and beyond.

Successful Predecessors and Parallel Initiatives

The NeutralPath project builds on the recently concluded EU project MAtchUP. Since 2017, the cities of Dresden, Valencia (Spain), and Antalya (Turkey) have been working closely with partners from industry and academia on topics such as energy efficiency, digitalisation, renewable energy, multimodal mobility, and EV-mobility. The topics include initiatives like the Johannstadt Future House, the large-scale energy storage at Fetscherplatz, and the Central Building Control Centre.

Dresden is also actively involved in several other European initiatives, such as the EU Covenant of Mayors (since 2016), the EU Green City Accord (since 2022), and the EU Cities Mission for Climate Protection “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” (since 2022).

Project Partners

EA Systems Dresden

EA Systems Dresden GmbH, associated with the City of Dresden in this project, offers state-of-the-art solutions for the sustainable planning of future energy supply. It acts as a link between various stakeholders and develops comprehensive calculation and evaluation frameworks for complex energy systems.

City of Dresden

Coordinated by the Smart City staff of the Office for Economic Development, the City of Dresden facilitates interaction between core project partners, international partners, and local stakeholders.

SachsenEnergie SE

SachsenEnergie contributes technical expertise in energy accounting, building energy systems, and climate modelling for both project sites. It conducts research and supports the development and evaluation of the measures.

Dresden University of Technology (TUD)

TU Dresden integrates research expertise and technical knowledge into the design of the energy system, data- and simulation-based variant analysis of building energy systems, and energy accounting for both sites. The Chair of Building Energy Systems and Heat Supply (Institute of Power Engineering, TU Dresden) is responsible for the experimental design and implementation at Site A, and the Institute of Building Climatology is in charge of Site B. TU Dresden leads the research process and supports the development and evaluation of the measures.

Vonovia SE

Vonovia manages the residential buildings at Site A, providing energy data and supporting pilot installations. Vonovia is actively engaged in implementing energy-efficient measures and innovative energy solutions.

WiD (Wohnen in Dresden)

Wohnen in Dresden GmbH & Co.KG (WiD) is dedicated to the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Dresden. WiD focuses on essential planning points, ensuring that the project goals at Location B are successfully achieved even within the current financial framework. WiD is the owner and responsible for the renovation and construction measures at Site B.