“The Friedenauer” sets new standards for sustainable energy supply

Near Innsbrucker Platz, the office high-rise The Friedenauer is being developed as a pioneering energy project for sustainable energy supply in Berlin. As part of OFB’s new construction project, GASAG Solution Plus is implementing a fully electric solution that pro vides heating and cooling exclusively from renewable sources, setting new standards for the technical utilization of urban energy potential. In the future, the building will be supplied by wastewater heat, reversible heat pumps, and large-scale photovoltaic systems. In addition, waste heat from the server room will be integrated into the heating system and secured by a power-to-heat boiler. The Friedenauer is the first building in Berlin to obtain its entire heating and cooling supply from a combined wastewater sewer system. 

Consistent Waste Heat Concept and 100 Percent Renewable Energy 

The fully renewable energy supply is based on three reversible heat pumps, enabling both heating and cooling of the building. Two heat exchangers installed in the combined wastewater sewer system harness the temperature level of the wastewater and provide the base energy for the system. A low-temperature network connects the wastewater channels and the office building. 

Four buffer storage tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 liters, ensure security of supply, particularly during periods of lower wastewater volumes and temperatures. For exceptional cases, a 600-kW power-to-heat electric boiler is available as a backup solution. 

Another key element of the energy concept is the building’s server rooms. Server cooling is also provided via the wastewater system and is secured by a dry cooler; an expansion option for a second server system is planned. During winter, the waste heat generated during the cooling process is used as a heat source for the office spaces. 

A large-scale photovoltaic system will generate electricity for the operation of the energy center, further strengthening the building’s comprehensive electrification strategy. Surplus electricity will be fed into the public grid.

Wastewater Heat as a Key Technology 

The use of wastewater heat is considered a particularly reliable and climate-friendly energy source. Its consistently available temperature level—typically between 12 and 23°C—enables highly efficient heating and cooling generation. 

Through close cooperation with Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Berlin’s public water utility, the project will become the first large-scale office development in Berlin to employ this technology. The pilot project demonstrates how urban infrastructure can be intelligently integrated into sustainable energy supply concepts. 

Matthias Trunk, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales at GASAG: “For us, the success of an energy concept is measured by its ability to transform an innovative idea into a reliable supply system that can be operated efficiently and economically in everyday practice. At The Friedenauer, we are integrating wastewater heat and heat pumps into a holistic, electrically based energy supply system. Our excellent collaboration with OFB demonstrates how such solutions can be implemented practically and reliably in an urban environment.” 

Dr. Bernd Schade, Chairman of the Management Board of OFB Projektentwicklung GmbH, commented: “With The Friedenauer, we are consistently pursuing a state-of-the art energy concept focused on energy efficiency and the use of wastewater heat. In doing so, we are making an important contribution to reducing fossil fuel consumption while strengthening the building’s energy independence. We would like to thank GASAG Solution Plus, which has supported us as a strong partner in developing the technical solution and will continue to do so during the implementation of this innovative concept.” 

Part of a Long-Term Urban Development Project 

The eleven-story office tower The Friedenauer will offer approximately 21,000 square meters of leasable space for offices, restaurants, and retail, marking the near completion of the Friedenauer Höhe district development. The project is consistently focused on sustainability and aims to achieve DGNB Gold certification. Its anchor tenant is Kieback & Peter. 

Developed in several construction phases, Friedenauer Höhe has evolved into a modern urban quarter with more than 1,100 residential units. GASAG Solution Plus is responsible for the district’s underlying energy concept. The area is supplied by a biomethane fueled combined heat and power plant, supplemented by natural gas boilers and targeted renewable energy components. 

The Friedenauer builds on this overall concept. The development demonstrates how climate protection, energy efficiency, and urban densification can be effectively combined in a metropolitan setting. It therefore serves as a model for future urban districts and illustrates that the energy transition can be implemented not only through wind farms and solar parks, but also within cities themselves.

Implementation of the energy supply system for the office development is scheduled to begin during the ongoing construction process in the fourth quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the systems will take place in parallel with the overall completion of the building in the third quarter of 2027.


For more information on the region's economic development or support for businesses, investors, and research institutions, please contact:

Sandra Koletzki ​​​​​​ | sandra.koletzki(at)airport-region.de

(Source: OFB Projektentwicklung & GASAG Solutions, 06|02|2026 | “GASAG Group and OFB Develop One of Berlin’s Most Innovative Energy Concepts with “The Friedenauer"”)