Shining bright in Seewinkel: the solar-powered district reinventing green living ☀️

Fürstenwalder Seewinkel – a rather strange name but actually a real place doing some pretty serious stuff to help us all with smarter, greener, more affordable energy.

The concept is relatively straightforward. What if your home didn’t just keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, but actually worked smarter – reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, saving energy and making life easier without you lifting a finger?

That’s already happening in Fürstenwalder Seewinkel, which is actually a pioneering urban district on the outskirts of Berlin -  all whilst alleviating the city’s housing shortage. Here, over 200 apartments are powered by a mix of solar energy, district heating and ultra-efficient technology able to heat in low-temperatures, proving that green living isn’t just possible — it’s practical, affordable, and already delivering at a community scale.

A green revolution in the making

You see, Seewinkel is powered by a smart combination of renewable energy and innovative efficiency measures, ensuring that heat and electricity are used only when and where they’re needed (because who needs warm pipes in a heatwave?)

So how does it work?

1. ’LowEx’ technology (literally meaning a low temperature network) keeps the system running at a lower temperature than more traditional heating systems (up to 40°C), reducing heat loss and boosting efficiency
2. No energy goes to waste – excess power from solar panels, surplus heat from local businesses, and even geothermal and wastewater heat are all captured and reused in the network
3. Everything happens locally – instead of relying on distant power plants, homes are connected to their own decentralised network, keeping energy clean, efficient and close to home

The result means 200 tonnes of CO₂ are saved every year – the same as eliminating 7.5 million miles of diesel car driving, or charging 24 million smartphones.

And, with inclusivity in mind, Seewinkel isn’t just for the few, it’s designed for everyone. 30% subsidised housing, lakeside balconies and on-site day care prove that green living doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag.

Closer to home…

While Berlin is leading the way, the UK is no stranger to smart, sustainable communities. Just look at some of our innovative projects, like:

• Our hidden power station in the City of London – Citigen – which taps into geothermal energy sources 200m beneath the capital to provide sustainable energy solutions for the equivalent of 13,600 homes
• East London’s Silvertown where our unique ectogrid™ technology is being installed for an energy-sharing heat network that could cut emissions by 88% compared to traditional gas boilers
• And at national scale, we’ve partnered with Quinbrook to construct a 230MW battery storage facility in South Wales, helping to balance the energy grid by storing surplus electricity at off-peak times (and prices) ready for distribution during peak demand – a critical step in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and making energy more affordable.

This innovative project in Berlin is proof that cleaner, greener living isn’t a distant dream, it’s happening right now. The tech, the innovation, and the green solutions are out there – and we are already turning them into a reality in our own backyards.