EUREF-Campus

EUREF stands for “European Energy Forum” and represents the idea of bringing together science, business and politics in one place to help drive the energy transition forward. Around 7,000 people work, conduct research and study at the EUREF-Campus Berlin across more than 150 companies, institutions and start-ups – collaboratively, openly and jointly.

Since acquiring the site in 2007, EUREF AG has developed the area around the Schöneberg Gasometer into a living lab for the energy transition. In terms of thermal energy supply, the EUREF-Campus Berlin has already been meeting the German federal government’s CO₂ climate targets for 2045 since 2014. More than 70,000 people visit the EUREF-Campus every year to learn about solutions related to energy, mobility, climate action and sustainability. Through events, guided tours and company visits, as well as informative projects such as the EUREF Energy Workshop, the campus offers many opportunities to engage with issues related to the energy transition and to explore different approaches and technologies.

Energy and Mobility

100 %

of the EUREF-Campus’s heating requirements are covered by its own combined heat and power plant

2,500 meters

of underground district heating pipes

2,400 megawatt hours

of electricity generated by the CHP plant in the EUREF Energy Workshop

The energy supply at the EUREF-Campus is designed to keep CO₂ emissions as low as possible. This is achieved through the use of renewable energy sources, energy storage systems and other measures. Energy-efficient buildings and the integration of energy and building technologies are also key elements of the campus’s energy concept.

The EUREF-Campus provides a real-world environment for developing and testing technologies and applications that support the energy transition. These include solutions for electric and shared mobility. Various projects have also used the campus to test autonomous driving under real-world conditions.

Energy Workshop

GASAG Solution Plus GmbH operates the EUREF Energy Workshop, which generates all of the heat required on site.

At the heart of the Energy Workshop is a biomethane combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Burning biomethane drives a generator to produce electricity, which is fed directly into Berlin’s electricity grid. The waste heat generated in the process is used to heat water. At the EUREF-Campus, this hot water is used to heat the office buildings. The heating network comprises around 2.5 kilometres of underground pipes, through which water is transported to the buildings at temperatures of up to 90°C.

Together with two smaller CHP plants that generate electricity for the Energy Workshop and the zeemobase, the system covers a large proportion of the heating demand on campus. On particularly cold days, two low-temperature gas boilers are available to cover peak demand. At the same time, the Energy Workshop produces cooling for the numerous server rooms and office spaces.

The Energy Workshop is controlled by the so-called Eco-Tool, a digital energy management system that also uses artificial intelligence. Around 1,000 data points provide information on energy consumption in the Energy Workshop and the campus buildings. Weather forecasts and energy market data are also factored into the system’s calculations.

On sunny or windy days, solar and wind farms may generate more electricity than is currently needed. The Energy Workshop detects this surplus and uses power-to-heat and power-to-cold technology to store renewable energy. Surplus electricity is used to heat or cool water, which is then stored in two highly insulated water tanks for later use. This storage system was developed as part of the WindNODE research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

The campus also operates a 1.9 MWh second-life battery. Twenty used batteries from Audi e-tron test vehicles have been combined to form a large stationary battery storage system. The system is used to test the reuse of vehicle batteries and can help stabilise the electricity grid on the campus.

You can visit the EUREF Energy Workshop by GASAG Solution Plus on a guided tour and learn more about energy generation, distribution and storage at the EUREF-Campus. For more information, visit: energiewende-erleben.de.

zeemobase (micro smart grid)

The zeemobase stands for Zero Emission Energy and Mobility Base. It is the place on campus where energy and mobility come together and are connected both physically and digitally.

Technically, the zeemobase is a micro smart grid that connects and controls energy producers, consumers and storage systems within a defined area. Energy can be generated and stored on site and made available for a range of applications, including electric mobility. The system takes into account both the energy available at any given time and current demand. It remains connected to the public electricity grid, with the aim of reducing the strain on the grid through predictable energy flows and increasing the share of renewable energy.

More than 20 EV charging points at the zeemobase are connected to the grid, including AC charging stations with capacities of up to 22 kW and DC charging stations with capacities of up to 50 kW.

The system is operated by inno2Grid and Schneider Electric. Together with a network of partners, the zeemobase is used to develop, test and implement applications and technologies that connect energy and mobility. It also serves as a showroom, demonstrating how a micro smart grid works in practice and how energy supply can be integrated with electric mobility.

Heritage Protection and Energy Efficiency

Numerous listed buildings are a defining feature of the campus and have been carefully incorporated into its overall design. Modern, energy-efficient buildings sit alongside the listed clinker and brick buildings of the former Schöneberg gasworks, while others have been sensitively integrated with the historic structures. The historic buildings were refurbished in accordance with heritage protection requirements, while also taking energy efficiency into account. All new buildings have been integrated into the existing campus structures.

The buildings are designed to meet high energy-efficiency standards, such as the “Efficiency Building 55” standard. Automated energy load management and innovative, energy-efficient building technologies help to reduce energy consumption. These include monitoring systems from Schneider Electric. All buildings are connected to the local energy network via smart meters, enabling energy use to be monitored and managed centrally.

Many of the buildings also feature high-performance insulation, triple-glazed windows with integrated solar shading and intelligent façades. Office lighting is automatically adjusted according to occupancy and available daylight. Materials were selected with a focus on minimising their impact on human health and the environment.

Mobility concept

Only electric vehicles, golf carts, taxis, bicycles, pedestrians and emergency vehicles are permitted within the gated inner area of the campus. Wherever possible, vehicles with combustion engines are directed to the underground car park at Buildings 21–22 before reaching the barrier, or to the underground car park behind Buildings 10–14. Deliveries by vehicles with combustion engines are also handled in designated loading areas behind the buildings. Deliveries within the inner area are only permitted in exceptional cases and must be agreed in advance with Campus Management.

Bicycles can be parked in outdoor cycle racks near the building entrances or in the underground car parks, where they are protected from the weather. Several buildings also provide changing rooms and showers.

The campus mobility concept is complemented by extensive charging infrastructure for electric cars and a range of shared mobility services.

E-mobility

The EUREF-Campus has more than 180 charging points for electric vehicles, 53 of which are publicly accessible. These include 12 Tesla Superchargers (V3) and more than 40 charging points in the publicly accessible underground car parks. Tenants can also often make use of e-bike charging facilities in the underground car parks.

By the way: Vehicles with combustion engines are only permitted to enter the inner area of the campus in exceptional cases. The area is primarily reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and electric vehicles.

The EUREF-Campus is regularly used to test and trial electric mobility technologies. Germany’s first fast-charging station for electric buses and its first urban V3 Superchargers were tested here. In 2023, Audi worked with the Mobility2Grid research campus to trial the use of charging robots on the site.

Future Mobility Solutions

The EUREF-Campus provides an ideal setting for testing new mobility and transport solutions under real-world conditions.

The campus has already been used to trial a range of technologies and services before their launch, including the Emmy e-scooter, AUDI’s charging robot, the TIER e-scooter and CleverShuttle’s on-demand ride-pooling service.

Automated and autonomous driving also play a role in the development of new mobility solutions. Various vehicle models and applications have already been tested at the EUREF-Campus, including the “Olli” electric shuttle by Local Motors, “Emily” by EasyMile and an autonomous street-sweeping vehicle developed by Enway.

EUREF-Campus mobility map

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History and the Gasometer

The EUREF-Campus was developed on the site of the former Schöneberg gasworks, drawing on the site’s industrial heritage. Today, the campus combines historically listed buildings that have been carefully refurbished with modern, energy-efficient buildings incorporating smart technologies. At its heart is the 80-metre-high Schöneberg Gasometer.

At the initiative of Berlin’s State Conservator, the significant buildings of the former gasworks, including structures designed by the renowned architect Alfred Messel, were designated as a listed ensemble in 1994.

In 2007, Reinhard Müller, a project developer and architect with many years of experience in heritage conservation, and Johannes Tücks, now Chief Architect of the EUREF-Campus, discovered the site around the Gasometer. At a time when investing in listed buildings affected by contaminated land did not appear economically viable, EUREF AG acquired the site. In close cooperation with the Schöneberg district authorities, the objectives for its future use were subsequently developed as part of a planning process, based on a heritage assessment and involving local residents. With the completion of the Gasometer in 2024, the State Conservator’s objective was fully realised: to ensure the long-term preservation and public appreciation of the listed buildings based on an economically viable concept that supports their continued use.

Schöneberg Gasometer – From Gas Tank to Think Tank

The careful refurbishment of the Gasometer and its conversion into a modern office and conference centre have given new life and purpose to one of Berlin’s landmarks. Today, numerous companies, institutions and start-ups based around the Schöneberg Gasometer are working on the transformation of energy supply from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Around 28,000 square metres of modern office space have been created. Deutsche Bahn is advancing the digitalisation of rail transport from here. A unique conference and event centre occupies more than 2,000 square metres within the historic steel structure and on the upper floor. Highlights include the Forum, with its retractable amphitheatre, and the Sky Lounge on the 15th floor. The adjoining 360° rooftop terrace is also open to the public during selected events and guided tours, offering panoramic views of Berlin from around 66 metres above ground.

The Gasometer has retained its original form. The design of the new building reflects the historic appearance of the telescopic gas holder. The steel structure dating from 1910 was carefully refurbished using sandblasting techniques in accordance with heritage conservation requirements and now serves as the framework for the circular new building. The predominantly glazed façade creates a high degree of transparency.

The new building was designed to meet the ‘Efficiency Building 55’ standard. This standard defines requirements for the energy performance of buildings and requires primary energy consumption to be limited to 55% of the reference value. At the time of planning, these requirements were even more stringent than the applicable legal requirements under Germany’s Building Energy Act (GEG). As with other new buildings on the EUREF-Campus, the building’s energy supply is provided through a centrally controlled heating and cooling system using renewable energy and combined heat and power. The cylindrical shape of the building provides a favourable ratio between the external envelope and the heated volume. The well-insulated building envelope with triple glazing, modern building technology and automated energy load management help to keep the building’s energy demand low.

When EUREF AG took over this site in 2008, there were many politicians in Berlin who did not believe in the success of this visionary project. I am glad that we seized the opportunity that presented itself to our city here. Not only with regard to the role of the EUREF-Campus as a location for innovation, but also in terms of the intelligent conversion and enhancement of existing architectural monuments, as can now be seen once again at the gasometer.