Overview
- State utility BEW has applied to build an ‘Altholz’ biomass combined heat-and-power unit at Reuter West, with public objections accepted until January 9, 2026.
- Environmental groups BUND and Robin Wood say available waste wood falls far short, estimate annual fuel needs at roughly 130,000 to 250,000 tonnes, and warn of added CO2 and harmful air pollutants.
- The Greens in Berlin’s parliament urge the Senate to halt the project, citing risks of wood imports and rising district heating prices.
- BEW states biomass will play only a limited role within a broader heat mix, prioritizes waste wood under sustainability rules, and is updating its decarbonisation plan.
- In a separate local retrofit, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg installed wood-chip boilers using park cuttings and integrated gasification to reduce dust and NOx, drawing public criticism from meteorologist Jörg Kachelmann.