The study visit in Berlin was hosted and organised by the German Geothermal Association (BVG). The visit took place over two and a half days and combined introductory workshop for the German market context , field visits to selected demonstration sites, workshops with experts, and a final synthesis and coordination session. The field visit were conducted at local companies and public entities involved in the development and operation of innovative geothermal solutions with heat pumps and related installations.
On-site Visits
27.01.2026 | BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme GmbH
BEW is Berlin’s public company for district heating, established in 2024 through the remunicipalisation of the city’s heat supply. It operates one of Germany’s largest interconnected district cooling systems in central Berlin. BEW provided participants with a comprehensive view of how a utility can lead large-scale system transformation. BEW constitutes a great example of the organisational, governance and technical conditions required to deploy renewable heating solutions.
27.01.2026 | Humboldt Forum
Humboldt Forum highlights the integration of advanced heating and cooling solutions within a complex, heritage-sensitive building. This site visit provided valuable insights into the integration of shallow geothermal energy, smart building systems, and demand-specific climate control within a complex public infrastructure project, illustrating the role of building-level innovation in the broader renewable heating transition.
28.01.2026 | Shallow Geothermal Drilling for a Hospital Building
The final visit offered hands-on physical walkthrough, demonstrating the practical realities of shallow geothermal deployment in critical infrastructure. Experts walked participants through drilling processes, risk management, and performance expectations in an urban healthcare setting.
Across all visits, external experts enriched the experience by sharing real-world challenges, successes, and transferable lessons—making the exchange highly practical and relevant.