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Berlin heat planning: This is how the capital will become climate neutral by 2045!
Berlin is planning a climate-neutral heat supply by 2045. You can find out here how the 2026 heat planning will influence the energy transition.
Berlin heat planning: This is how the capital will become climate neutral by 2045!
Something is happening in Berlin when it comes to sustainable heat supply. The capital wants to have climate-neutral heating by 2045. This is an ambitious goal that is now supported by public participation in Berlin's heat planning, which is scheduled to start in 2026. Currently less than 10% of heat comes from renewable sources, but that is set to change with the new Heat Planning Act (WPG). This obliges all municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants to submit a detailed heat plan by the end of June 2026, as rbb24 reports.
A look at the current situation shows that around 40% of the CO2 emissions in Berlin come from the building and heating sectors. While district heating covers a good 30% of heat consumption, around 50% of households heat with gas. Interestingly, around 75% of district heating comes from natural gas, which makes the path to climate neutrality more difficult. The Berlin Energy Transition Act stipulates that 40% of heat should come from renewable energies or waste heat by 2030.
New structures for heat supply
The heat planning divides Berlin into three different types of areas: In the heat network areas, existing or expandable district heating is mainly used, while the economic viability of heat networks is examined in test areas. In the decentralized areas, the focus is on individual conversion to technologies such as heat pumps. In addition to these measures, the promotion of waste heat from industry, geothermal energy and solar thermal energy is part of the plan to provide more environmentally friendly heating in the future.
The investments are huge: The Berlin Energy and Water Supply (BEW) has taken over the city's largest district heating network since 2024, and over 6 billion euros are to be invested in the heating transition in the next five years. This is done not only through public money, but also through private energy suppliers and owners, who also have to invest in modern infrastructure.
Costs and challenges of the heat transition
However, the implementation of the heating transition is assessed as slow, and overall costs are forecast to run into billions. Despite existing funding programs, reliability often falls short of expectations. A major concern is to make the change socially acceptable and affordable, without rent increases due to energy-efficient renovations skyrocketing.
Another point of discussion is the regulation of district heating prices. Currently, providers have the freedom to set their own prices, which is causing concern. In the future, planned price monitoring should at least provide an overview of price developments and differences.
Cultural commitment: “Protect the Dolls”
The term is now often used humorously and signals support for the trans community. However, the context should definitely be taken into account when using it, especially when addressing trans people individually. The use of “protect the dolls” is considered a positive expression that strengthens the social perception of trans identities and at the same time calls for the associated challenges to be taken seriously.
Berlin is not only moving in a new direction climatically, but also culturally. The link between sustainability and social justice is a topic that is very important both in heat supply and in society.