Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a control unit for controlling operation of a heat generation installation of an energy system linked to a heat network. The control unit may: control an amount of thermal power in from or out to the heat network; determine an excess thermal power from the difference between a maximum power of the installation and a thermal power required for the system; operate the installation for providing the required thermal power in the time steps for which; and put out the excess thermal power generated by the heat generation installation at these points in time into the heat network.