[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":653},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog:\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"cardImage":624,"category":625,"date":626,"description":627,"draft":628,"excerpt":624,"extension":629,"footerCta":630,"hero":636,"locale":643,"meta":644,"navigation":645,"path":646,"seo":647,"slug":650,"stem":651,"__hash__":652},"blog\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning.md","Migrating From Comsof Heat District Energy Planning","Planeto Team",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":608},"minimark",[10,19,26,33,48,53,81,88,92,95,100,130,135,162,168,172,187,192,203,208,231,236,267,272,291,295,305,328,332,346,372,376,390,409,413,527,529,543,547,550,576,580,586,592,598,604],[11,12,13,14,18],"p",{},"If you design district heating and cooling (DHC) networks, ",[15,16,17],"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.",[11,20,21,22],{},"Active development and new features have stalled, and planners are asking the obvious question:\n",[23,24,25],"em",{},"how long will my projects keep running, and what do I migrate to?",[11,27,28,29,32],{},"This guide walks through what actually matters in a\nComsof Heat replacement, compare the alternatives planners genuinely evaluate —\n",[15,30,31],{},"THERMOS, Hotmaps, ENEKA and Planeto"," — and show why most teams making a\ndetailed-design migration are landing on Planeto.",[34,35,36],"blockquote",{},[11,37,38,41,42,47],{},[15,39,40],{},"Already convinced?"," See the full feature-by-feature breakdown on our\n",[43,44,46],"a",{"href":45},"\u002Fcompare\u002Fplaneto-vs-comsof-heat\u002F","Comsof Heat alternative comparison"," page.",[49,50,52],"h2",{"id":51},"the-problem-with-comsof-heat-today","The problem with Comsof Heat today",[54,55,56,63,69,75],"ul",{},[57,58,59,62],"li",{},[15,60,61],{},"No more updates."," Bug fixes, new features and compatibility patches dry up.\nEach OS update becomes a risk that your install simply stops working.",[57,64,65,68],{},[15,66,67],{},"Support uncertainty."," As the product might wound down, the depth of support\nyou can rely on for live projects shrinks.",[57,70,71,74],{},[15,72,73],{},"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.",[57,76,77,80],{},[15,78,79],{},"Projects in flight."," Tenders and designs still have to ship. You need a\nreplacement that reads your existing work, not a year-long rebuild.",[11,82,83,84,87],{},"The good news: the ",[23,85,86],{},"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.",[49,89,91],{"id":90},"what-to-look-for-in-a-comsof-heat-alternative","What to look for in a Comsof Heat alternative",[11,93,94],{},"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.",[11,96,97],{},[15,98,99],{},"Must-haves to match Comsof Heat:",[101,102,103,109,115,121],"ol",{},[57,104,105,108],{},[15,106,107],{},"GIS-based automated network design"," — connect buildings, generate transport\nand distribution layouts automatically, not by hand.",[57,110,111,114],{},[15,112,113],{},"Pipe sizing & thermo-hydraulic simulation"," — sizing against pressure,\nvelocity and temperature constraints. Without this, it's a feasibility toy,\nnot a design tool.",[57,116,117,120],{},[15,118,119],{},"Deployment cost models & bill of materials"," — granular CAPEX\u002FOPEX (trench,\nequipment, service connections) and a procurement-ready BoM.",[57,122,123,126,127],{},[15,124,125],{},"Data migration"," — it must import your GIS files and existing designs. Ask\nevery vendor directly: ",[23,128,129],{},"how does my Comsof Heat data get in?",[11,131,132],{},[15,133,134],{},"Differentiators worth migrating for:",[101,136,138,144,150,156],{"start":137},5,[57,139,140,143],{},[15,141,142],{},"Cloud \u002F SaaS"," — no installation, no version management, continuous updates.",[57,145,146,149],{},[15,147,148],{},"5th generation (5G) DHC"," — native loop and meshed topologies for anergy\nrings and low-temperature networks.",[57,151,152,155],{},[15,153,154],{},"Real-time collaboration"," — your team and clients on the same live data.",[57,157,158,161],{},[15,159,160],{},"AI-assisted workflows"," — feasibility and design accelerated by an\nintegrated assistant.",[163,164],"article-image",{"alt":165,"caption":166,"src":167},"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",[49,169,171],{"id":170},"top-comsof-heat-alternatives-compared","Top Comsof Heat alternatives compared",[11,173,174,175,178,179,182,183,186],{},"A key thing to understand up front: most tools marketed for \"heat planning\" are\n",[15,176,177],{},"strategic \u002F pre-feasibility"," tools. They're excellent for mapping demand and\nscreening where a network ",[23,180,181],{},"could"," go — but they don't carry a project through to\na buildable, costed design. Only a few are genuine ",[15,184,185],{},"detailed-design","\nreplacements for Comsof Heat. We've flagged which is which.",[188,189,191],"h3",{"id":190},"_1-planeto-the-detailed-design-replacement","1. Planeto — the detailed-design replacement",[11,193,194,202],{},[43,195,199],{"href":196,"rel":197},"https:\u002F\u002Ftessa.planeto-energy.ch",[198],"nofollow",[15,200,201],{},"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.",[11,204,205],{},[15,206,207],{},"Comsof Heat workflows Planeto matches:",[54,209,210,213,216,219,222,225,228],{},[57,211,212],{},"GIS-based automated distribution network design",[57,214,215],{},"Pipe sizing with pressure, velocity and service-connection constraints",[57,217,218],{},"Full deployment cost models (trenching to equipment) with CAPEX\u002FOPEX",[57,220,221],{},"Bill of materials, ready for procurement",[57,223,224],{},"Heat delivery units, demand configuration and simultaneity factors",[57,226,227],{},"2-layer transport\u002Fdistribution and multi-source networks",[57,229,230],{},"GIS file import and cloud-based calculations",[11,232,233],{},[15,234,235],{},"What Comsof Heat users gain on top:",[54,237,238,244,250,255,261],{},[57,239,240,243],{},[15,241,242],{},"Cloud SaaS"," — no install, no IT overhead, always up to date.",[57,245,246,249],{},[15,247,248],{},"Native 5G loop & meshed networks"," — anergy rings and multi-injection-point\nsystems Comsof Heat was never built for.",[57,251,252,254],{},[15,253,154],{}," — share scenarios with colleagues and clients\ninstead of emailing project files.",[57,256,257,260],{},[15,258,259],{},"AI-assisted feasibility & design"," — accelerate the repetitive work.",[57,262,263,266],{},[15,264,265],{},"Migration support"," — the Planeto team audits and transfers your existing\nComsof Heat projects, GIS files and cost models.",[163,268],{"alt":269,"caption":270,"src":271},"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",[11,273,274,277,278,281,284,285,287,290],{},[15,275,276],{},"Best for:"," teams replacing Comsof Heat for real, buildable network design.",[279,280],"br",{},[15,282,283],{},"Pricing:"," commercial SaaS (free trial to start). ",[279,286],{},[15,288,289],{},"Limitation:"," a commercial tool, not free\u002Fopen-source like the strategic options below.",[188,292,294],{"id":293},"_2-thermos-free-strategic-network-optimisation","2. THERMOS — free strategic network optimisation",[11,296,297,304],{},[43,298,301],{"href":299,"rel":300},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thermos-project.eu\u002F",[198],[15,302,303],{},"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.",[11,306,307,309,310,312,314,315,317,319,320,323,324,327],{},[15,308,276],{}," early-stage screening, scenario comparison and academic \u002F pre-\nfeasibility studies. ",[279,311],{},[15,313,283],{}," free, open-source. ",[279,316],{},[15,318,289],{}," it's a\nstrategic optimisation tool — it does ",[15,321,322],{},"not"," deliver detailed thermo-hydraulic\ndesign, granular bill-of-materials, or the engineering depth needed for a final,\nbuildable design. Useful ",[23,325,326],{},"before"," Comsof Heat's job, not a replacement for it.",[188,329,331],{"id":330},"_3-hotmaps-open-source-heat-mapping-master-planning","3. Hotmaps — open-source heat mapping & master planning",[11,333,334,341,342,345],{},[43,335,338],{"href":336,"rel":337},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotmaps-project.eu\u002F",[198],[15,339,340],{},"Hotmaps"," is an open-source toolbox (Horizon\n2020, Fraunhofer ISI and partners) that ships ",[15,343,344],{},"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.",[11,347,348,350,351,353,314,355,357,359,360,363,364,367,368,371],{},[15,349,276],{}," municipal and regional master planning, policy work and identifying\npriority areas. ",[279,352],{},[15,354,283],{},[279,356],{},[15,358,289],{}," Hotmaps is a\nmapping and strategic-planning toolbox — there's ",[15,361,362],{},"no automated pipe routing,\nhydraulic sizing or bill of materials",". It tells you ",[23,365,366],{},"where"," a network makes\nsense, not ",[23,369,370],{},"how"," to engineer it.",[188,373,375],{"id":374},"_4-enekaenergieplanung-municipal-heat-planning-dach","4. ENEKA.Energieplanung — municipal heat planning (DACH)",[11,377,378,385,386,389],{},[43,379,382],{"href":380,"rel":381},"https:\u002F\u002Feneka.de\u002F",[198],[15,383,384],{},"ENEKA.Energieplanung"," is a web-based GIS platform focused\non ",[15,387,388],{},"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.",[11,391,392,394,395,397,399,400,402,404,405,408],{},[15,393,276],{}," municipalities and utilities producing regulatory heat plans,\nprimarily in Germany\u002FDACH. ",[279,396],{},[15,398,283],{}," commercial. ",[279,401],{},[15,403,289],{}," it's a\nstrategic and transformation-planning tool for ",[23,406,407],{},"regional"," heat strategy — not a\ndetailed DHC network-design or thermo-hydraulic engineering tool, and its focus\nis the German regulatory context.",[49,410,412],{"id":411},"comsof-heat-alternatives-at-a-glance","Comsof Heat alternatives: at a glance",[414,415,416,443],"table",{},[417,418,419],"thead",{},[420,421,422,426,429,432,435,437,440],"tr",{},[423,424,425],"th",{},"Tool",[423,427,428],{},"Type",[423,430,431],{},"Detailed network design & sizing",[423,433,434],{},"Bill of materials",[423,436,142],{},[423,438,439],{},"Pricing",[423,441,442],{},"Best for",[444,445,446,469,489,507],"tbody",{},[420,447,448,453,456,459,461,463,466],{},[449,450,451],"td",{},[15,452,201],{},[449,454,455],{},"Detailed design",[449,457,458],{},"✅ Yes",[449,460,458],{},[449,462,458],{},[449,464,465],{},"Commercial (free trial)",[449,467,468],{},"A true Comsof Heat replacement",[420,470,471,473,476,479,481,483,486],{},[449,472,303],{},[449,474,475],{},"Strategic optimisation",[449,477,478],{},"❌ No",[449,480,478],{},[449,482,458],{},[449,484,485],{},"Free \u002F open-source",[449,487,488],{},"Early screening & feasibility",[420,490,491,493,496,498,500,502,504],{},[449,492,340],{},[449,494,495],{},"Strategic mapping",[449,497,478],{},[449,499,478],{},[449,501,458],{},[449,503,485],{},[449,505,506],{},"Regional master planning",[420,508,509,512,515,517,519,521,524],{},[449,510,511],{},"ENEKA",[449,513,514],{},"Municipal heat planning",[449,516,478],{},[449,518,478],{},[449,520,458],{},[449,522,523],{},"Commercial",[449,525,526],{},"German regulatory heat plans",[279,528],{},[11,530,531,534,535,538,539,542],{},[15,532,533],{},"The takeaway:"," THERMOS, Hotmaps and ENEKA are valuable — but as ",[23,536,537],{},"strategic","\ntools that sit upstream of where Comsof Heat worked. If you need to replace the\ndetailed engineering Comsof Heat actually did, ",[15,540,541],{},"Planeto is the only like-for-\nlike option"," in this list, and it adds cloud, low-temperature network design and collaboration on top.",[49,544,546],{"id":545},"migrating-without-losing-momentum","Migrating without losing momentum",[11,548,549],{},"A tool change doesn't have to mean a standstill. The smoothest Comsof Heat\nmigrations follow four steps:",[101,551,552,558,564,570],{},[57,553,554,557],{},[15,555,556],{},"Get a demo"," — see the platform run against your own projects.",[57,559,560,563],{},[15,561,562],{},"Data audit"," — review your existing Comsof Heat files and GIS data together.",[57,565,566,569],{},[15,567,568],{},"Migration"," — the Planeto team transfers your designs, GIS and cost models.",[57,571,572,575],{},[15,573,574],{},"Onboarding"," — your team is productive from day one.",[49,577,579],{"id":578},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently asked questions",[11,581,582,585],{},[15,583,584],{},"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.",[11,587,588,591],{},[15,589,590],{},"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.",[11,593,594,597],{},[15,595,596],{},"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.",[11,599,600,603],{},[15,601,602],{},"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.",[605,606],"footer-cta-banner",{"heading":607},"Ready to migrate from Comsof Heat?",{"title":609,"searchDepth":610,"depth":610,"links":611},"",2,[612,613,614,621,622,623],{"id":51,"depth":610,"text":52},{"id":90,"depth":610,"text":91},{"id":170,"depth":610,"text":171,"children":615},[616,618,619,620],{"id":190,"depth":617,"text":191},3,{"id":293,"depth":617,"text":294},{"id":330,"depth":617,"text":331},{"id":374,"depth":617,"text":375},{"id":411,"depth":610,"text":412},{"id":545,"depth":610,"text":546},{"id":578,"depth":610,"text":579},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":607,"primary":631,"secondary":633},{"label":632,"to":196},"Start for free",{"label":634,"to":635},"Get a migration demo","\u002Fproduct-demo\u002F?ref=blog-comsof-migration",{"heading":637,"subhead":638,"image":639},"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":640,"alt":641,"width":642,"height":642},"\u002Fimg\u002Fblog\u002Fcomsof-heat-hero.png","Planeto district energy planning interface",600,"en",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning",{"title":648,"description":649,"ogImage":640},"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",1785843738649]