[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":657},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog:\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"cardImage":628,"category":629,"date":630,"description":631,"draft":632,"excerpt":628,"extension":633,"footerCta":634,"hero":640,"locale":647,"meta":648,"navigation":649,"path":650,"seo":651,"slug":654,"stem":655,"__hash__":656},"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":612},"minimark",[10,19,26,33,48,53,81,88,92,95,100,130,135,167,173,177,192,197,208,213,236,241,272,277,296,300,310,333,337,351,377,381,395,414,418,531,533,547,551,554,580,584,590,596,602,608],[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:",[101,136,138,144,155,161],{"start":137},5,[57,139,140,143],{},[15,141,142],{},"Cloud \u002F SaaS"," — no installation, no version management, continuous updates.",[57,145,146,154],{},[15,147,148,149,153],{},"5",[150,151,152],"sup",{},"th"," generation (5G) DHC"," — native loop and meshed topologies for anergy\nrings and low-temperature networks.",[57,156,157,160],{},[15,158,159],{},"Real-time collaboration"," — your team and clients on the same live data.",[57,162,163,166],{},[15,164,165],{},"AI-assisted workflows"," — feasibility and design accelerated by an\nintegrated assistant.",[168,169],"article-image",{"alt":170,"caption":171,"src":172},"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",[49,174,176],{"id":175},"top-comsof-heat-alternatives-compared","Top Comsof Heat alternatives compared",[11,178,179,180,183,184,187,188,191],{},"A key thing to understand up front: most tools marketed for \"heat planning\" are\n",[15,181,182],{},"strategic \u002F pre-feasibility"," tools. They're excellent for mapping demand and\nscreening where a network ",[23,185,186],{},"could"," go — but they don't carry a project through to\na buildable, costed design. Only a few are genuine ",[15,189,190],{},"detailed-design","\nreplacements for Comsof Heat. We've flagged which is which.",[193,194,196],"h3",{"id":195},"_1-planeto-the-detailed-design-replacement","1. Planeto — the detailed-design replacement",[11,198,199,207],{},[43,200,204],{"href":201,"rel":202},"https:\u002F\u002Ftessa.planeto-energy.ch",[203],"nofollow",[15,205,206],{},"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.",[11,209,210],{},[15,211,212],{},"Comsof Heat workflows Planeto matches:",[54,214,215,218,221,224,227,230,233],{},[57,216,217],{},"GIS-based automated distribution network design",[57,219,220],{},"Pipe sizing with pressure, velocity and service-connection constraints",[57,222,223],{},"Full deployment cost models (trenching to equipment) with CAPEX\u002FOPEX",[57,225,226],{},"Bill of materials, ready for procurement",[57,228,229],{},"Heat delivery units, demand configuration and simultaneity factors",[57,231,232],{},"2-layer transport\u002Fdistribution and multi-source networks",[57,234,235],{},"GIS file import and cloud-based calculations",[11,237,238],{},[15,239,240],{},"What Comsof Heat users gain on top:",[54,242,243,249,255,260,266],{},[57,244,245,248],{},[15,246,247],{},"Cloud SaaS"," — no install, no IT overhead, always up to date.",[57,250,251,254],{},[15,252,253],{},"Native 5G loop & meshed networks"," — anergy rings and multi-injection-point\nsystems Comsof Heat was never built for.",[57,256,257,259],{},[15,258,159],{}," — share scenarios with colleagues and clients\ninstead of emailing project files.",[57,261,262,265],{},[15,263,264],{},"AI-assisted feasibility & design"," — accelerate the repetitive work.",[57,267,268,271],{},[15,269,270],{},"Migration support"," — the Planeto team audits and transfers your existing\nComsof Heat projects, GIS files and cost models.",[168,273],{"alt":274,"caption":275,"src":276},"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",[11,278,279,282,283,286,289,290,292,295],{},[15,280,281],{},"Best for:"," teams replacing Comsof Heat for real, buildable network design.",[284,285],"br",{},[15,287,288],{},"Pricing:"," commercial SaaS (free trial to start). ",[284,291],{},[15,293,294],{},"Limitation:"," a commercial tool, not free\u002Fopen-source like the strategic options below.",[193,297,299],{"id":298},"_2-thermos-free-strategic-network-optimisation","2. THERMOS — free strategic network optimisation",[11,301,302,309],{},[43,303,306],{"href":304,"rel":305},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thermos-project.eu\u002F",[203],[15,307,308],{},"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.",[11,311,312,314,315,317,319,320,322,324,325,328,329,332],{},[15,313,281],{}," early-stage screening, scenario comparison and academic \u002F pre-\nfeasibility studies. ",[284,316],{},[15,318,288],{}," free, open-source. ",[284,321],{},[15,323,294],{}," it's a\nstrategic optimisation tool — it does ",[15,326,327],{},"not"," deliver detailed thermo-hydraulic\ndesign, granular bill-of-materials, or the engineering depth needed for a final,\nbuildable design. Useful ",[23,330,331],{},"before"," Comsof Heat's job, not a replacement for it.",[193,334,336],{"id":335},"_3-hotmaps-open-source-heat-mapping-master-planning","3. Hotmaps — open-source heat mapping & master planning",[11,338,339,346,347,350],{},[43,340,343],{"href":341,"rel":342},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotmaps-project.eu\u002F",[203],[15,344,345],{},"Hotmaps"," is an open-source toolbox (Horizon\n2020, Fraunhofer ISI and partners) that ships ",[15,348,349],{},"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.",[11,352,353,355,356,358,319,360,362,364,365,368,369,372,373,376],{},[15,354,281],{}," municipal and regional master planning, policy work and identifying\npriority areas. ",[284,357],{},[15,359,288],{},[284,361],{},[15,363,294],{}," Hotmaps is a\nmapping and strategic-planning toolbox — there's ",[15,366,367],{},"no automated pipe routing,\nhydraulic sizing or bill of materials",". It tells you ",[23,370,371],{},"where"," a network makes\nsense, not ",[23,374,375],{},"how"," to engineer it.",[193,378,380],{"id":379},"_4-enekaenergieplanung-municipal-heat-planning-dach","4. ENEKA.Energieplanung — municipal heat planning (DACH)",[11,382,383,390,391,394],{},[43,384,387],{"href":385,"rel":386},"https:\u002F\u002Feneka.de\u002F",[203],[15,388,389],{},"ENEKA.Energieplanung"," is a web-based GIS platform focused\non ",[15,392,393],{},"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.",[11,396,397,399,400,402,404,405,407,409,410,413],{},[15,398,281],{}," municipalities and utilities producing regulatory heat plans,\nprimarily in Germany\u002FDACH. ",[284,401],{},[15,403,288],{}," commercial. ",[284,406],{},[15,408,294],{}," it's a\nstrategic and transformation-planning tool for ",[23,411,412],{},"regional"," heat strategy — not a\ndetailed DHC network-design or thermo-hydraulic engineering tool, and its focus\nis the German regulatory context.",[49,415,417],{"id":416},"comsof-heat-alternatives-at-a-glance","Comsof Heat alternatives: at a glance",[419,420,421,447],"table",{},[422,423,424],"thead",{},[425,426,427,430,433,436,439,441,444],"tr",{},[152,428,429],{},"Tool",[152,431,432],{},"Type",[152,434,435],{},"Detailed network design & sizing",[152,437,438],{},"Bill of materials",[152,440,142],{},[152,442,443],{},"Pricing",[152,445,446],{},"Best for",[448,449,450,473,493,511],"tbody",{},[425,451,452,457,460,463,465,467,470],{},[453,454,455],"td",{},[15,456,206],{},[453,458,459],{},"Detailed design",[453,461,462],{},"✅ Yes",[453,464,462],{},[453,466,462],{},[453,468,469],{},"Commercial (free trial)",[453,471,472],{},"A true Comsof Heat replacement",[425,474,475,477,480,483,485,487,490],{},[453,476,308],{},[453,478,479],{},"Strategic optimisation",[453,481,482],{},"❌ No",[453,484,482],{},[453,486,462],{},[453,488,489],{},"Free \u002F open-source",[453,491,492],{},"Early screening & feasibility",[425,494,495,497,500,502,504,506,508],{},[453,496,345],{},[453,498,499],{},"Strategic mapping",[453,501,482],{},[453,503,482],{},[453,505,462],{},[453,507,489],{},[453,509,510],{},"Regional master planning",[425,512,513,516,519,521,523,525,528],{},[453,514,515],{},"ENEKA",[453,517,518],{},"Municipal heat planning",[453,520,482],{},[453,522,482],{},[453,524,462],{},[453,526,527],{},"Commercial",[453,529,530],{},"German regulatory heat plans",[284,532],{},[11,534,535,538,539,542,543,546],{},[15,536,537],{},"The takeaway:"," THERMOS, Hotmaps and ENEKA are valuable — but as ",[23,540,541],{},"strategic","\ntools that sit upstream of where Comsof Heat worked. If you need to replace the\ndetailed engineering Comsof Heat actually did, ",[15,544,545],{},"Planeto is the only like-for-\nlike option"," in this list, and it adds cloud, low-temperature network design and collaboration on top.",[49,548,550],{"id":549},"migrating-without-losing-momentum","Migrating without losing momentum",[11,552,553],{},"A tool change doesn't have to mean a standstill. The smoothest Comsof Heat\nmigrations follow four steps:",[101,555,556,562,568,574],{},[57,557,558,561],{},[15,559,560],{},"Get a demo"," — see the platform run against your own projects.",[57,563,564,567],{},[15,565,566],{},"Data audit"," — review your existing Comsof Heat files and GIS data together.",[57,569,570,573],{},[15,571,572],{},"Migration"," — the Planeto team transfers your designs, GIS and cost models.",[57,575,576,579],{},[15,577,578],{},"Onboarding"," — your team is productive from day one.",[49,581,583],{"id":582},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently asked questions",[11,585,586,589],{},[15,587,588],{},"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.",[11,591,592,595],{},[15,593,594],{},"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.",[11,597,598,601],{},[15,599,600],{},"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.",[11,603,604,607],{},[15,605,606],{},"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.",[609,610],"footer-cta-banner",{"heading":611},"Ready to migrate from Comsof Heat?",{"title":613,"searchDepth":614,"depth":614,"links":615},"",2,[616,617,618,625,626,627],{"id":51,"depth":614,"text":52},{"id":90,"depth":614,"text":91},{"id":175,"depth":614,"text":176,"children":619},[620,622,623,624],{"id":195,"depth":621,"text":196},3,{"id":298,"depth":621,"text":299},{"id":335,"depth":621,"text":336},{"id":379,"depth":621,"text":380},{"id":416,"depth":614,"text":417},{"id":549,"depth":614,"text":550},{"id":582,"depth":614,"text":583},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":611,"primary":635,"secondary":637},{"label":636,"to":201},"Start for free",{"label":638,"to":639},"Get a migration demo","\u002Fproduct-demo\u002F?ref=blog-comsof-migration",{"heading":641,"subhead":642,"image":643},"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":644,"alt":645,"width":646,"height":646},"\u002Fimg\u002Fblog\u002Fcomsof-heat-hero.png","Planeto district energy planning interface",600,"en",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmigrating-from-comsof-heat-district-energy-planning",{"title":652,"description":653,"ogImage":644},"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","1Z9uow3bZyygdBIpco-g3L683U-RwIuQ_TqdwQsZarE",1790169687568]