Energy efficiency
With its ambitious climate protection goals, the German capital region has extensive expertise and many years of experience.
On the path to climate neutrality by 2045, the capital region is successfully tackling the challenges of a cross-sector energy transition. Numerous companies are pioneers in the systematic implementation of efficiency measures – from energy generation and conversion, transport, and storage to consumption. Here, new energy efficiency technologies, as well as energy services and new business models, are developed and applied.
The following energy efficiency technologies, among others, play an important role in the region:
- Environmental and waste heat utilization and storage
- Technologies for the efficient distribution and storage of heat and cooling in buildings and neighborhoods
- Digital solutions for optimizing energy consumption in buildings and neighborhoods
About the Capital Region
„With its numerous competencies in science and business, the Berlin Brandenburg Energy Technologies Cluster offers an ideal environment for developing and advancing new technologies in the area of energyefficient building systems.“
Innovations and initiatives
The EUREF Campus is a symbol of the energy transition and a location for companies in the fields of energy, sustainability, and mobility. CO₂-neutral energy supply is already being achieved today through highly efficient technologies: in addition to combined heat and power plants, renewable energy systems, and storage solutions, a central AI-supported control and regulation system is also being used.
In 2022, the Berlin Coordination Office for Circular Economy, Energy Efficiency, and Climate Protection in Business (KEK) was established to assist companies (especially SMEs) in the ecological transformation. Increased energy efficiency thus creates long-term competitive advantages and additional economic potential.
As the capital of digitalization, Berlin also makes important contributions to the development of energy-saving IT solutions. For example, the Photonics Enhanced Data Centers project at the Fraunhofer High Performance Center for Digital Networking is working on integrating photonic elements into data centers, which can significantly reduce their enormous energy consumption.
Network and funding
In the "Infralab Energy Efficiency," network, Berlin-based energy and infrastructure companies are working together on measures to save energy, increase efficiency, and protect the climate. The Berlin wastewater heat atlas created here serves as a basis for the use of wastewater heat for heating and cooling. The goal of the current third network phase is to achieve final energy savings of almost 16,000 MWh/a.
Under Funding Priority 1 "Energy Efficiency", the Berlin Program for Sustainable Development (BENE2) supports projects that reduce emissions with technology-neutral solutions – for example, by switching to district heating/using renewable energies or energy-efficient production facilities and processes.
