SPD on climate and energy

The SPD wants Berlin to become climate neutral before 2045 if possible and stands by the Berlin Energy Transition Act. It plans to focus on transport, heating and power plants. Low-income households should not face extra burdens as a result.

The SPD wants to make Berlin climate neutral. That means the city no longer harms the climate. This should happen before 2045 if possible. People with little money should not have to pay more for it.

The program names three levers: moving transport away from fossil fuels, replacing fossil heating systems in buildings and converting power and heat plants. For transport, the SPD relies on more public transit, electric buses and more charging stations. State-owned companies are to play a key role, and a climate pact with them is meant to secure their funding for climate action. Electricity and heat storage should be built into planning. The waste company BSR and the water utility are to supply waste heat from garbage and sewage for power and district heating.

The SPD wants to expand district heating through the state-owned provider BEW and switch its plants to renewable energy. Other providers and new decentralized heating networks are also to get room. Free advice and transparent prices are meant to make the shift manageable for consumers.

The SPD wants more district heating in Berlin. District heating comes through pipes from a plant into the home. The plants should run without oil and gas. A free advice service should help with questions about heating and costs.

For new decentralized and cooperative heating networks, the SPD wants to provide subsidized loans and call for federal funds. Where district heating is not expected, neighborhood-wide solutions are to apply, such as heat pumps, storage and near-surface geothermal energy. Plans include a central inquiry office, checks of heating bills and a Berlin energy and heating advice service. The gas network is to become a hydrogen core network for large consumers, and switching gas apartment heaters to fossil-free heat will be subsidized. For building renovation, the state wants to direct its money to places where green heating networks are not possible and make public buildings more efficient through contracting models.

The SPD wants a quarter of the electricity generated in Berlin to come from solar power by 2035. To get there, photovoltaics and battery storage are to be subsidized, especially on company rooftops.

The SPD wants more power from the sun. By 2035, a quarter of Berlin's electricity should come from the sun. There will be money and advice for this. Companies in particular should put solar panels on their roofs.

The basis is the Masterplan Solarcity. The SolarPlus program is to fund photovoltaics and grid-supporting battery storage. The SPD sees the greatest potential on company rooftops. Businesses are to receive needs-based funding and advice to install large systems.

In the long term, the SPD aims to bring the gas utility GASAG fully into state ownership. The grids for heat, electricity and gas are to be planned together, with the goals of climate neutrality and a hydrogen economy.

Berlin should buy the gas company GASAG. The SPD wants this in the long run. The grids for power, gas and heat should be planned together. One central office should steer the energy transition.

When expanding the power grid, the SPD wants to pay special attention to the future heating needs of large consumers and to push the medium-voltage grid. Bidirectional charging, where electric cars can feed power back into the grid, is meant to strengthen decentralized solutions. At the Senate level, a central coordination office is to pool planning for the energy and heating transition and resolve conflicts.