GASAG subsidiary installs hybrid heating system in Berlin existing building

GASAG Solutions Plus, a subsidiary of the GASAG Group, commissioned a hybrid heating system in a residential apartment building owned by Berlin's state-owned housing association Gewobag at the end of April. The modernisation of the approximately 50-year-old property is expected to save around 21.6 tonnes of CO₂ per year, bringing the installation into compliance with the legal requirements of the German Buildings Energy Act (GEG), which mandates a minimum share of 65 percent renewable energies.

The hybrid solution consists of an air-source heat pump with an output of 45 kilowatts combined with a gas-powered peak-load boiler. The heat pump covers the majority of the heating demand, while the boiler is only activated during peak loads and at very low temperatures. According to the companies, the building is representative of a large proportion of Berlin's existing housing stock. The retrofit requires no extensive renovation, needs little space and can be implemented in a socially compatible manner.

Matthias Prennig, Head of Sales at GASAG Solutions Plus, stated that the project demonstrates that GEG-compliant modernisation of existing buildings can be achieved at market-viable costs. It could serve as a blueprint for the transformation of Berlin's building stock, for which decentralised heat supply is the only viable option.