How Germany is building an energy efficient future – Insights from a study visit to Berlin

As part of the cross-border cooperation project between Serbia and Croatia, "Energy-Efficient Communities," representatives from both countries visited Berlin in April 2025 to learn more about Germany’s experience with energy transition. This study visit provided an opportunity for direct meetings with key German institutions, including the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the German Energy Agency (DENA), and Agora Energiewende, an independent think tank supporting the shift to clean energy.

The visit enabled project partners to learn about advanced practices in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the development of energy communities, contributing to the achievement of the project’s goals and improving the quality of life in the cross-border region.

Over the past decades, Germany has made significant progress in its energy transition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% between 1990 and 2024, with the energy sector accounting for 80% of this reduction. In 2024, renewable energy sources in the electricity sector reached a record production of 285 TWh, while solar energy alone saw an increase of more than 17 GW in just one year.

Although greenhouse gas emissions from the heating sector continue to decline, they are still not at the level needed to meet climate targets. Germany continues to rely heavily on fossil gas for heating, but strong efforts are underway to roll out heat pumps on a large scale and modernize district heating systems with renewable sources. Starting in 2026, all new heating systems are expected to use at least 65% renewable energy.

Thanks to decentralization and broader acceptance of renewables, Germany now has the highest number of energy communities in Europe, even though the legal framework for energy communities is still being developed. A new law enabling shared energy usage is expected to be adopted by mid-2026.

To ensure continued progress in the energy transition, the "Energy-Efficient Communities" project draws on Germany’s experience in developing renewables and energy efficiency, supporting emission reduction goals and accelerating the shift toward sustainable energy systems.