[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":654},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-index:en":3},[4],{"id":5,"title":6,"author":7,"body":8,"cardImage":625,"category":626,"date":627,"description":628,"draft":629,"excerpt":625,"extension":630,"footerCta":631,"hero":637,"locale":644,"meta":645,"navigation":646,"path":647,"seo":648,"slug":651,"stem":652,"__hash__":653},"blog\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning.md","Migrating From Comsof Heat District Energy Planning","Planeto Team",{"type":9,"value":10,"toc":609},"minimark",[11,20,27,34,49,54,82,89,93,96,101,131,136,163,169,173,188,193,204,209,232,237,268,273,292,296,306,329,333,347,373,377,391,410,414,528,530,544,548,551,577,581,587,593,599,605],[12,13,14,15,19],"p",{},"If you design district heating and cooling (DHC) networks, ",[16,17,18],"strong",{},"Comsof Heat"," was\nprobably part of your toolkit for years. It automated the GIS-based mapping,\npipe routing, feasibility testing and thermo-hydraulic simulation that manual\nmethods could never match at scale.",[12,21,22,23],{},"Active development and new features have stalled, and planners are asking the obvious question:\n",[24,25,26],"em",{},"how long will my projects keep running, and what do I migrate to?",[12,28,29,30,33],{},"This guide walks through what actually matters in a\nComsof Heat replacement, compare the alternatives planners genuinely evaluate —\n",[16,31,32],{},"THERMOS, Hotmaps, ENEKA and Planeto"," — and show why most teams making a\ndetailed-design migration are landing on Planeto.",[35,36,37],"blockquote",{},[12,38,39,42,43,48],{},[16,40,41],{},"Already convinced?"," See the full feature-by-feature breakdown on our\n",[44,45,47],"a",{"href":46},"\u002Fcompare\u002Fplaneto-vs-comsof-heat\u002F","Comsof Heat alternative comparison"," page.",[50,51,53],"h2",{"id":52},"the-problem-with-comsof-heat-today","The problem with Comsof Heat today",[55,56,57,64,70,76],"ul",{},[58,59,60,63],"li",{},[16,61,62],{},"No more updates."," Bug fixes, new features and compatibility patches dry up.\nEach OS update becomes a risk that your install simply stops working.",[58,65,66,69],{},[16,67,68],{},"Support uncertainty."," As the product might wound down, the depth of support\nyou can rely on for live projects shrinks.",[58,71,72,75],{},[16,73,74],{},"Trapped data."," Years of network designs, cost models and GIS layers sit in\na format tied to a tool with a relative future. Migration only gets harder the longer\nyou wait.",[58,77,78,81],{},[16,79,80],{},"Projects in flight."," Tenders and designs still have to ship. You need a\nreplacement that reads your existing work, not a year-long rebuild.",[12,83,84,85,88],{},"The good news: the ",[24,86,87],{},"methodology"," of district energy planning hasn't changed. You\nneed a tool that speaks the same engineering language, imports your data, and\nlets your team keep moving.",[50,90,92],{"id":91},"what-to-look-for-in-a-comsof-heat-alternative","What to look for in a Comsof Heat alternative",[12,94,95],{},"Not every \"energy planning tool\" is built for the rigour of detailed network\ndesign. Many are strategic screening tools that stop at a heat-demand map. As you\nevaluate alternatives, weigh them against the capabilities that made Comsof Heat\nuseful in the first place — and the modern features that legacy desktop software\nnever offered.",[12,97,98],{},[16,99,100],{},"Must-haves to match Comsof Heat:",[102,103,104,110,116,122],"ol",{},[58,105,106,109],{},[16,107,108],{},"GIS-based automated network design"," — connect buildings, generate transport\nand distribution layouts automatically, not by hand.",[58,111,112,115],{},[16,113,114],{},"Pipe sizing & thermo-hydraulic simulation"," — sizing against pressure,\nvelocity and temperature constraints. Without this, it's a feasibility toy,\nnot a design tool.",[58,117,118,121],{},[16,119,120],{},"Deployment cost models & bill of materials"," — granular CAPEX\u002FOPEX (trench,\nequipment, service connections) and a procurement-ready BoM.",[58,123,124,127,128],{},[16,125,126],{},"Data migration"," — it must import your GIS files and existing designs. Ask\nevery vendor directly: ",[24,129,130],{},"how does my Comsof Heat data get in?",[12,132,133],{},[16,134,135],{},"Differentiators worth migrating for:",[102,137,139,145,151,157],{"start":138},5,[58,140,141,144],{},[16,142,143],{},"Cloud \u002F SaaS"," — no installation, no version management, continuous updates.",[58,146,147,150],{},[16,148,149],{},"5th generation (5G) DHC"," — native loop and meshed topologies for anergy\nrings and low-temperature networks.",[58,152,153,156],{},[16,154,155],{},"Real-time collaboration"," — your team and clients on the same live data.",[58,158,159,162],{},[16,160,161],{},"AI-assisted workflows"," — feasibility and design accelerated by an\nintegrated assistant.",[164,165],"article-image",{"alt":166,"caption":167,"src":168},"Thermo-hydraulic network simulation showing pipe sizing and pressure across a district heating network","Pipe sizing and thermo-hydraulic simulation are non-negotiable in a true Comsof Heat replacement — not every alternative offers them.","\u002Fimg\u002Fproduct\u002Fhydraulic-simulation.png",[50,170,172],{"id":171},"top-comsof-heat-alternatives-compared","Top Comsof Heat alternatives compared",[12,174,175,176,179,180,183,184,187],{},"A key thing to understand up front: most tools marketed for \"heat planning\" are\n",[16,177,178],{},"strategic \u002F pre-feasibility"," tools. They're excellent for mapping demand and\nscreening where a network ",[24,181,182],{},"could"," go — but they don't carry a project through to\na buildable, costed design. Only a few are genuine ",[16,185,186],{},"detailed-design","\nreplacements for Comsof Heat. We've flagged which is which.",[189,190,192],"h3",{"id":191},"_1-planeto-the-detailed-design-replacement","1. Planeto — the detailed-design replacement",[12,194,195,203],{},[44,196,200],{"href":197,"rel":198},"https:\u002F\u002Ftessa.planeto-energy.ch",[199],"nofollow",[16,201,202],{},"Planeto"," (TESSA) is a cloud-based DHC\ndesign platform built by the same community of district energy experts who know\nexactly what Comsof Heat did well. It's the closest like-for-like replacement\nfor detailed network design — and it goes further.",[12,205,206],{},[16,207,208],{},"Comsof Heat workflows Planeto matches:",[55,210,211,214,217,220,223,226,229],{},[58,212,213],{},"GIS-based automated distribution network design",[58,215,216],{},"Pipe sizing with pressure, velocity and service-connection constraints",[58,218,219],{},"Full deployment cost models (trenching to equipment) with CAPEX\u002FOPEX",[58,221,222],{},"Bill of materials, ready for procurement",[58,224,225],{},"Heat delivery units, demand configuration and simultaneity factors",[58,227,228],{},"2-layer transport\u002Fdistribution and multi-source networks",[58,230,231],{},"GIS file import and cloud-based calculations",[12,233,234],{},[16,235,236],{},"What Comsof Heat users gain on top:",[55,238,239,245,251,256,262],{},[58,240,241,244],{},[16,242,243],{},"Cloud SaaS"," — no install, no IT overhead, always up to date.",[58,246,247,250],{},[16,248,249],{},"Native 5G loop & meshed networks"," — anergy rings and multi-injection-point\nsystems Comsof Heat was never built for.",[58,252,253,255],{},[16,254,155],{}," — share scenarios with colleagues and clients\ninstead of emailing project files.",[58,257,258,261],{},[16,259,260],{},"AI-assisted feasibility & design"," — accelerate the repetitive work.",[58,263,264,267],{},[16,265,266],{},"Migration support"," — the Planeto team audits and transfers your existing\nComsof Heat projects, GIS files and cost models.",[164,269],{"alt":270,"caption":271,"src":272},"5th generation district heating loop network with meshed topology in Planeto","Low-temperature network and geothermal boreholes loop and mesh configurations — detailed design Comsof Heat couldn't do, and the strategic tools below don't attempt.","\u002Fimg\u002Fsolutions\u002Fnetwork-design-hydraulic-simulation\u002Fhydraulic-simulation-geothermal-5g.jpg",[12,274,275,278,279,282,285,286,288,291],{},[16,276,277],{},"Best for:"," teams replacing Comsof Heat for real, buildable network design.",[280,281],"br",{},[16,283,284],{},"Pricing:"," commercial SaaS (free trial to start). ",[280,287],{},[16,289,290],{},"Limitation:"," a commercial tool, not free\u002Fopen-source like the strategic options below.",[189,293,295],{"id":294},"_2-thermos-free-strategic-network-optimisation","2. THERMOS — free strategic network optimisation",[12,297,298,305],{},[44,299,302],{"href":300,"rel":301},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thermos-project.eu\u002F",[199],[16,303,304],{},"THERMOS"," is a free, open-source,\nweb-based tool from an EU Horizon 2020 project (led by the Centre for Sustainable\nEnergy). It does address-level heat and cold demand modelling and optimises which\nbuildings to connect and how to route a network — fast, and available almost\nanywhere in the world, with 1,400+ users and 3,000+ projects.",[12,307,308,310,311,313,315,316,318,320,321,324,325,328],{},[16,309,277],{}," early-stage screening, scenario comparison and academic \u002F pre-\nfeasibility studies. ",[280,312],{},[16,314,284],{}," free, open-source. ",[280,317],{},[16,319,290],{}," it's a\nstrategic optimisation tool — it does ",[16,322,323],{},"not"," deliver detailed thermo-hydraulic\ndesign, granular bill-of-materials, or the engineering depth needed for a final,\nbuildable design. Useful ",[24,326,327],{},"before"," Comsof Heat's job, not a replacement for it.",[189,330,332],{"id":331},"_3-hotmaps-open-source-heat-mapping-master-planning","3. Hotmaps — open-source heat mapping & master planning",[12,334,335,342,343,346],{},[44,336,339],{"href":337,"rel":338},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotmaps-project.eu\u002F",[199],[16,340,341],{},"Hotmaps"," is an open-source toolbox (Horizon\n2020, Fraunhofer ISI and partners) that ships ",[16,344,345],{},"default heating and cooling data\nfor the whole EU",". It excels at demand-density mapping and strategic heat supply\nanalysis from building to region scale.",[12,348,349,351,352,354,315,356,358,360,361,364,365,368,369,372],{},[16,350,277],{}," municipal and regional master planning, policy work and identifying\npriority areas. ",[280,353],{},[16,355,284],{},[280,357],{},[16,359,290],{}," Hotmaps is a\nmapping and strategic-planning toolbox — there's ",[16,362,363],{},"no automated pipe routing,\nhydraulic sizing or bill of materials",". It tells you ",[24,366,367],{},"where"," a network makes\nsense, not ",[24,370,371],{},"how"," to engineer it.",[189,374,376],{"id":375},"_4-enekaenergieplanung-municipal-heat-planning-dach","4. ENEKA.Energieplanung — municipal heat planning (DACH)",[12,378,379,386,387,390],{},[44,380,383],{"href":381,"rel":382},"https:\u002F\u002Feneka.de\u002F",[199],[16,384,385],{},"ENEKA.Energieplanung"," is a web-based GIS platform focused\non ",[16,388,389],{},"kommunale Wärmeplanung"," (municipal heat planning), used in ~300 German\nmunicipalities. It models energy demand, renewables potential, costs, emissions\nand scenarios, with strong stakeholder-reporting features tuned to German\nregulatory heat-planning requirements.",[12,392,393,395,396,398,400,401,403,405,406,409],{},[16,394,277],{}," municipalities and utilities producing regulatory heat plans,\nprimarily in Germany\u002FDACH. ",[280,397],{},[16,399,284],{}," commercial. ",[280,402],{},[16,404,290],{}," it's a\nstrategic and transformation-planning tool for ",[24,407,408],{},"regional"," heat strategy — not a\ndetailed DHC network-design or thermo-hydraulic engineering tool, and its focus\nis the German regulatory context.",[50,411,413],{"id":412},"comsof-heat-alternatives-at-a-glance","Comsof Heat alternatives: at a glance",[415,416,417,444],"table",{},[418,419,420],"thead",{},[421,422,423,427,430,433,436,438,441],"tr",{},[424,425,426],"th",{},"Tool",[424,428,429],{},"Type",[424,431,432],{},"Detailed network design & sizing",[424,434,435],{},"Bill of materials",[424,437,143],{},[424,439,440],{},"Pricing",[424,442,443],{},"Best for",[445,446,447,470,490,508],"tbody",{},[421,448,449,454,457,460,462,464,467],{},[450,451,452],"td",{},[16,453,202],{},[450,455,456],{},"Detailed design",[450,458,459],{},"✅ Yes",[450,461,459],{},[450,463,459],{},[450,465,466],{},"Commercial (free trial)",[450,468,469],{},"A true Comsof Heat replacement",[421,471,472,474,477,480,482,484,487],{},[450,473,304],{},[450,475,476],{},"Strategic optimisation",[450,478,479],{},"❌ No",[450,481,479],{},[450,483,459],{},[450,485,486],{},"Free \u002F open-source",[450,488,489],{},"Early screening & feasibility",[421,491,492,494,497,499,501,503,505],{},[450,493,341],{},[450,495,496],{},"Strategic mapping",[450,498,479],{},[450,500,479],{},[450,502,459],{},[450,504,486],{},[450,506,507],{},"Regional master planning",[421,509,510,513,516,518,520,522,525],{},[450,511,512],{},"ENEKA",[450,514,515],{},"Municipal heat planning",[450,517,479],{},[450,519,479],{},[450,521,459],{},[450,523,524],{},"Commercial",[450,526,527],{},"German regulatory heat plans",[280,529],{},[12,531,532,535,536,539,540,543],{},[16,533,534],{},"The takeaway:"," THERMOS, Hotmaps and ENEKA are valuable — but as ",[24,537,538],{},"strategic","\ntools that sit upstream of where Comsof Heat worked. If you need to replace the\ndetailed engineering Comsof Heat actually did, ",[16,541,542],{},"Planeto is the only like-for-\nlike option"," in this list, and it adds cloud, low-temperature network design and collaboration on top.",[50,545,547],{"id":546},"migrating-without-losing-momentum","Migrating without losing momentum",[12,549,550],{},"A tool change doesn't have to mean a standstill. The smoothest Comsof Heat\nmigrations follow four steps:",[102,552,553,559,565,571],{},[58,554,555,558],{},[16,556,557],{},"Get a demo"," — see the platform run against your own projects.",[58,560,561,564],{},[16,562,563],{},"Data audit"," — review your existing Comsof Heat files and GIS data together.",[58,566,567,570],{},[16,568,569],{},"Migration"," — the Planeto team transfers your designs, GIS and cost models.",[58,572,573,576],{},[16,574,575],{},"Onboarding"," — your team is productive from day one.",[50,578,580],{"id":579},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently asked questions",[12,582,583,586],{},[16,584,585],{},"Is Comsof Heat being discontinued?","\nActive development of Comsof Heat remains unsure. Planners should probably not count on future updates or long-term support and\nshould start to think about a software migration.",[12,588,589,592],{},[16,590,591],{},"What is the best alternative to Comsof Heat?","\nFor detailed, buildable network design, Planeto is the closest like-for-like\nreplacement. For free strategic screening, THERMOS and Hotmaps are strong\nopen-source options.",[12,594,595,598],{},[16,596,597],{},"Are there free alternatives to Comsof Heat?","\nYes — THERMOS and Hotmaps are free and open-source, but they're strategic\nplanning tools, not detailed design tools.",[12,600,601,604],{},[16,602,603],{},"Can I migrate my Comsof Heat data?","\nYes. Planeto imports GIS files and offers a hands-on migration service for your\nexisting projects and cost models.",[606,607],"footer-cta-banner",{"heading":608},"Ready to migrate from Comsof Heat?",{"title":610,"searchDepth":611,"depth":611,"links":612},"",2,[613,614,615,622,623,624],{"id":52,"depth":611,"text":53},{"id":91,"depth":611,"text":92},{"id":171,"depth":611,"text":172,"children":616},[617,619,620,621],{"id":191,"depth":618,"text":192},3,{"id":294,"depth":618,"text":295},{"id":331,"depth":618,"text":332},{"id":375,"depth":618,"text":376},{"id":412,"depth":611,"text":413},{"id":546,"depth":611,"text":547},{"id":579,"depth":611,"text":580},null,"District Energy Planning","2026-06-22","If you design district heating and cooling (DHC) networks, Comsof Heat was\nprobably part of your toolkit for years. It automated the GIS-based mapping,\npipe routing, feasibility testing and thermo-hydraulic simulation that manual\nmethods could never match at scale.",false,"md",{"heading":608,"primary":632,"secondary":634},{"label":633,"to":197},"Start for free",{"label":635,"to":636},"Get a migration demo","\u002Fproduct-demo\u002F?ref=blog-comsof-migration",{"heading":638,"subhead":639,"image":640},"Migrating from Comsof Heat: Why District Energy Planners Are Choosing Planeto","Looking for a Comsof alternative?  We compare the alternatives planners actually evaluate — THERMOS, Hotmaps, ENEKA and Planeto — so you can choose a replacement that matches Comsof Heat's engineering depth and migrate your data without starting over.",{"src":641,"alt":642,"width":643,"height":643},"\u002Fimg\u002Fblog\u002Fcomsof-heat-hero.png","Planeto district energy planning interface",600,"en",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning",{"title":649,"description":650,"ogImage":641},"Migrating from Comsof Heat: Alternatives Compared (2026) | Planeto","Looking for a Comsof alternative? District energy planners need a clear migration path. Compare real alternatives — THERMOS, Hotmaps, ENEKA and Planeto — on detailed network design, data migration and cost, and explain why most planners are choosing Planeto.","migrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning","en\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning","yHZWyKNwMQhRTzDYjKC0yCuYeFPXN_GrV3avCwhz2J8",1785843507104]