Siemensstadt-Square-Vogelperspektive. Foto: Siemens AG

Siemens Sqare Berlin: CO2-neutral and trend-setting for global metropolises

At the end of June, the foundation stone was laid for one of Europe’s largest urban renewal projects on an area of ​​76 hectares, representing an investment of 4.5 billion euros. In collaboration with a number of project partners, Siemens is helping to transform the more than 100-year-old industrial site in Berlin-Spandau into an integrative urban district that combines production, research, learning and living in one place.

Technology from Siemens forms the backbone of the new district and connects the real and digital worlds. Intelligent digital twin technology plays a central role in the planning, optimization and operation of the urban infrastructure, which covers all aspects from the supply of renewable energies to sustainable building management.

By gradually building a digital twin of the future district, urban planning, construction and infrastructure data can be used efficiently in a multidimensional way and over the entire life cycle of the district. Possible or necessary adjustments are identified early on based on data and decisions can be made efficiently and sustainably thanks to intelligent technology.

“Siemensstadt Square is a model of how urban development can be successfully designed worldwide and represents a blueprint for the sustainable transformation of former industrial areas,” said Matthias Rebellius, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Smart Infrastructure.

“We are very proud to be able to use such a wide range of Siemens technologies in the areas of infrastructure, industry and transport. This is a real example of how we use technology to really change everyday life for each of the 35,000 people who will live and work in Siemensstadt Square.”

Transforming buildings into intelligent, efficient and sustainable assets

Siemensstadt Square shows how digitalization can be used to modernize existing infrastructures. In addition to the digital twin technology, Siemens’ Building X 360° Viewer serves as a collaborative tool for planning the modernization of the building stock. The 360° Viewer represents a location as a virtual 3D environment and offers indoor navigation that provides insights into the topology and installation of systems in the buildings. Building X is a digital building platform that helps customers digitize, manage and optimize building operations. Building X is part of Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform that makes digital transformation easier, faster and scalable for customers.

Looking to the future and planning new office buildings to be built by 2027, the digital solutions Building X Energy Manager and the integrated building management system Desigo CC form the basis for optimal building operations.

Building X Energy Manager uses AI-powered insights to monitor, analyze and optimize the energy consumption, costs and CO2 emissions of the building portfolio and delivers energy savings of up to 30 percent. Desigo CC enables central monitoring and efficient control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings.

Efficient use of renewable energies for a climate-neutral future

In addition, the digital energy twin of Siemens Smart Infrastructure was piloted to simulate the energy consumption of future construction phases in Siemensstadt Square, which will be gradually implemented by 2035.

To ensure that all energy consumption comes from renewable sources, Siemens is developing the largest wastewater heat exchanger of its kind in Europe together with Berliner Wasserbetriebe and a local energy supplier. In combination with heat pumps, this system will supply the district with 100 percent CO₂-neutral heat and cold, with the electricity required for this being generated 100 percent from renewable energies.

Electrification of transport for emission-free mobility

Public transport and pedestrian and bicycle friendliness are at the heart of the sustainable mobility strategy for the district. This sustainable concept also includes e-mobility: up to 50 percent of the parking spaces are to be equipped with charging stations from the Siemens portfolio. Matthias Rebellius continued: “This project is a trend-setter for other metropolises around the world that face similar challenges when it comes to sustainable modernization. It shows that by connecting the real and digital worlds, sustainable urban development is also possible in historically grown structures. The technology is there, and with Siemensstadt Square we have a real example that everyone can experience.”

You can also read this article in the current issue of the eMove360° magazine in german language. Download the PDF for free or order the print version in the eMove360° shop.