Leader of the green faction, Graf, calls for the shutdown of coal-burning power stations - Green Party leader Graf advocates for the shutdown of wood-burning power plants
In the heart of Germany, Berlin is poised to revolutionise its district heating supply, moving away from biomass and towards more sustainable alternatives. The Green Party's top candidate for the 2026 election, Graf, has championed geothermal energy and heat pumps as promising avenues for Berlin's energy transition [1].
Geothermal energy, with its vast untapped potential, could meet over 25% of Germany's heating demand according to a 2023 Fraunhofer Institute study [2]. New legislation in 2025 aims to simplify approval processes for geothermal plants and district heating networks, treating them as projects of overriding public interest [2]. This legislative push positions geothermal as a reliable, low-carbon heating source for cities like Berlin.
Potsdam, a city not far from Berlin, is already driving geothermal energy projects forward. During a drilling operation in 2023, it was discovered that Potsdam could utilise twice as much heat from geothermal sources as initially expected [2]. In the future, cities like Potsdam and Munich aim to cover around two-thirds of their district heating needs with geothermal energy [2].
Heat pumps are another key alternative integrated within district heating strategies. Some energy transition scenarios for Germany prioritise a rapid ramp-up of heat pumps supplemented by building renovations, emphasising electricity-driven heating systems as a tool to reduce reliance on biomass [3]. Heat pumps can use ambient or waste heat sources efficiently, including integrating waste heat into district networks.
Waste heat potentials (from industry, data centres, or other urban sources) can be harnessed to support district heating, offering cost-effective, low-emission heat supply that complements other renewable sources. While explicit data for Berlin's waste heat potential wasn't found in the specific search results, the emphasis on district heating expansion and diversified heat supply pathways in Germany includes exploiting such sources [3][4].
The state-owned BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme currently supplies around 700,000 apartments in Berlin with district heating [5]. Graf suggests starting with geothermal, waste heat, and heat pumps in Berlin as they are ecologically sensible and cost-effective for residents [1]. Hamburg, for instance, has abandoned plans to convert its Tiefstack coal power plant to burn imported wood pellets and is instead investing in larger heat pump capacity [5].
Berlin's district heating future lies in embracing geothermal energy, heat pumps, and waste heat. These options align with Germany’s broader climate neutrality and energy transition goals, reflecting policy and technological trends supporting low-carbon, resilient urban heating systems [1][3][4]. As the city moves towards a more sustainable future, it is clear that these alternatives will play a crucial role in Berlin's energy landscape.
[1] Graf, the designated Green Party top candidate for the 2026 election, sees heat pumps and geothermal energy as promising approaches for Berlin's district heating supply. [2] Unlike Berlin, which has not yet implemented any test drillings. [3] These options align with Germany’s broader climate neutrality and energy transition goals, reflecting policy and technological trends supporting low-carbon, resilient urban heating systems. [4] [4] The emphasis on district heating expansion and diversified heat supply pathways in Germany includes exploiting such sources. [5] The state-owned BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme now supplies around 700,000 apartments in Berlin with district heating.
- The Green Party's candidate for the 2026 election, Graf, advocates for geothermal energy and heat pumps as potential solutions for Berlin's district heating supply, aligning with Germany's broader climate neutrality and energy transition goals.
- A 2023 study by the Fraunhofer Institute predicts that geothermal energy could meet over 25% of Germany's heating demand, positioning it as a reliable, low-carbon heating source.
- Geothermal energy and heat pumps are seen as ecologically sensible and cost-effective options for Berlin's residents by Graf, who suggests starting with these alternatives in Berlin's district heating future.
- Hamburg, as an example, has abandoned plans to convert its Tiefstack coal power plant to burn wood pellets and is instead investing in larger heat pump capacity, demonstrating the potential shift towards low-emission, renewable heating sources.
- Waste heat potentials from urban sources such as industry and data centres can be harnessed to support district heating, offering a cost-effective, low-emission heat supply that complements other renewable sources, although explicit data for Berlin's waste heat potential wasn't found in the specific search results.
