Berlin-Brandenburg is a pioneering region in the energy transition.

About the Capital Region

„The infrastructure in the capital region for research and development in the field of solar energy generation (in the form of electricity and hydrogen) is unique. It ranges from fundamental research in the new EMIL laboratory at the BESSY II synchrotron to application-oriented technology development at PVcomB. With regional, national and international partners from industry and science, we are working intensively on the global energy transition.“

Prof. Dr. Rutger Schlatmann Director PVcomB, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Berlin needs a lot of energy. Brandenburg can produce a lot of energy. Innovative technologies and implementation concepts are jointly developed and tested here. The capital region is now a leader in the development, construction and management of energy grids with a high proportion of renewable energies:

Solar energy

Photovoltaics (PV) makes an important contribution to supplying the capital region. With almost 3.0 kWp, Brandenburg now has the highest installed PV capacity per capita in Germany (2024). The expansion is also picking up speed in Berlin: In 2024, approximately 12,600 new PV systems were installed – more than ever before – with a newly connected capacity of 68 MWp and a total installed PV capacity of almost 350 MWp. With the Solarcity master plan, the state of Berlin is pursuing a 25 percent share of photovoltaics in electricity generation by 2035.

The capital region is also home to top international expertise in solar cell research. Since the beginning of 2025, the Helmholtz Center Berlin, together with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, has held the current efficiency world record of 24.6 percent for thin-film tandem solar cells made of CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) and perovskite. Stakeholders such as Oxford PV and aleo solar enrich the regional value chain with their solar cell and module production. In addition, startups such as Enpal and everyone energy are driving the expansion of solar systems with their innovative products and services.

Wind energy

With an installed capacity of around 9.0 GW and over 4,100 wind turbines, Brandenburg ranks second in Germany for wind energy (as of the end of 2024).

Berlin-Brandenburg is home to numerous providers of services for the planning, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of wind farms, such as ENERTRAG, Energiequelle and Turbit Systems. In addition, various companies and scientific institutions in the region are involved in research into rotor blades and base foundations as well as retrofitting and predictive maintenance of wind turbines.

Bioenergy

Numerous companies and research facilities are working together on solutions in the fields of agro-forestry systems and algae research as well as biogas, biofuels and biochar. The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB) conducts research into the use of biomass as an energy source. By providing practice-oriented application laboratories for business partners, the ATB promotes the development of agricultural innovations until they are ready for the market.