The heating transition in old building complexes: research project develops blueprints in Northern Schöneberg
The “Schöneberger Norden” neighborhood is located in Berlin's Tempelhof-Schöneberg district. Illustration: WärmSchöN project, 2026
The State of Berlin plans to present its municipal heat planning in the coming months, after which the focus will shift to implementing the heating transition. One challenge here is Berlin’s numerous older neighborhoods. In a new research project, the “Schöneberger Norden” neighborhood is serving as a model for developing solutions for climate-friendly and affordable heating in existing buildings in densely populated inner-city areas. With funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the WärmSchöN project is investigating how the district, the state, and local stakeholders can jointly implement the heating transition at the neighborhood level and how these experiences can serve as blueprints for other neighborhoods.
In this project, the Tempelhof-Schöneberg District Office is collaborating with the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), the Hermann Rietschel Institute at the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin), Gewobag Energie- und Dienstleistungsgesellschaft, the “heating transition” working group of the Schöneberger Norden Neighborhood Council, and the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection, and the Environment (SenMVKU).
Supplementing the district heating network with local heating networks
Berlin aims to become climate-neutral by 2045, yet natural gas is the primary source of heat today. “To ensure that heating remains affordable in the future, we need energy-efficient renovations and a phase-out of fossil fuel-based heating sources,” says project manager Dr. Julika Weiß of the IÖW. “Northern Schöneberg is a typical example of the situation in Berlin’s old building complexes: They consist mainly of existing rental buildings that currently have high energy consumption and – if they are not located in district heating network areas – are still predominantly heated with gas,” explains the environmental engineer. The area is characterized by dense, Wilhelminian-style perimeter block development from around 1900, complemented by striking post-war buildings and social housing projects from the 1970s.
In existing neighborhoods that will not be connected to the district heating network in the coming years, the question arises as to how they will be heated in a climate-neutral way in the future. Local heating networks based on renewable energy or local waste heat can be a sensible and cost-effective solution in these areas. However, there are still many challenges involved in initiating and implementing local heating networks.
Improving collaboration among stakeholders
“For a socially responsible heating transition to succeed, the Senate, the district, and local businesses must work together effectively. At the same time, residents should be able to voice their concerns early on,” emphasizes District Mayor Jörn Oltmann. The WärmSchöN project is investigating the processes and tools needed to achieve this.
The results are also intended to serve as a model for climate-neutral and socially responsible heating solutions in other densely populated neighborhoods in Berlin and beyond. The plan is to develop ready-to-use concepts and informational materials to support districts and other stakeholders in planning, communication, and implementation.
From participatory formats to technical feasibility
The transdisciplinary project team is addressing four key areas:
- First, as a key component, the team is examining cooperation models for the financing and operation of a potential local heating network.
- Second, based on discussions with residents, the team is developing a concept for a participatory and socially responsible implementation of the heating supply.
- Third, the focus is on understanding and expanding the scope of action available to the state and district authorities, for example, in providing land for heat generation and storage.
- Fourth, various technical options for climate-neutral heat supply and energy-efficient renovation are being compared and evaluated. To this end, the researchers are examining which local heat sources – such as geothermal energy or waste heat (e.g., from wastewater) – are available in the study area and can be economically tapped.
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Further information:
• Website of the “Wärmewende Schöneberger Norden – WärmSchöN” project
