Solarimo, a subsidiary of the French energy group Engie, is installing photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of 808 kilowatts in the Spandau district of Berlin. These systems, part of a project developed by Patrizia and Kauri CAB Berlin, will integrate existing installations and prominently feature on listed buildings.
The development, named “Havelufer Quartier,” spans 95,000 square meters and will include 1,700 apartments, both newly constructed and renovated. The project aims to create a “campus-like mix of living, housing, and working with regional appeal,” with a focus on rental properties rather than ownership.
Despite its appeal to affluent tenants, the development includes 230 publicly funded apartments through the municipal housing company Howoge. However, the general rent level exceeds 20 euros per square meter.
The solar power initiative, alongside a combined heat and power system and local heating, has earned the district a “DGNB Gold” certificate from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). To achieve this rating, projects must meet at least 50 percent of specific criteria, averaging 65 percent overall. The highest “platinum” level requires meeting criteria at 65 or 80 percent.
Solarimo reports that the first buildings with photovoltaic systems are already occupied, with full completion of the district expected by 2025. The photovoltaic installations will be placed on the roofs of 20 residential projects, providing an output of 808 kilowatts, or approximately 475 watts per apartment. The estimated annual electricity yield is 781 megawatt hours, translating to 460 kilowatt hours per apartment.
Notably, the project includes the installation of solar systems on listed buildings, such as a 100-year-old hall with a shed roof. “The prejudice that monument protection and sustainable power supply are mutually exclusive still persists in the industry,” said Daniel Budisky, project lead at Solarimo. The “Havelufer Quartier” demonstrates that sustainable power solutions can coexist with heritage conservation, with successful collaboration with the monument protection office.
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