If current predictions are to be believed, Freie Universität Berlin will be faced with a huge increase in energy costs in 2023. This follows the average twenty-five percent increase in energy costs which already occurred in 2022. As things stand, it is possible that energy costs may even double in the coming year. However, the changes made to individual rates will undoubtedly vary depending on the energy source.

Looking to 2023, it is probable that natural gas will see the highest price increases – despite the fact that gas markets are relatively relaxed at the moment. As the university sources approximately a third of its heating from natural gas and approximately two thirds from district heating (that, in turn, is generated in combined heat and power plants powered by natural gas), we will also see these price developments reflected in the university’s energy costs.

However, we cannot yet provide an exact estimate of the extent to which prices will rise. The federal state of Berlin is currently in the process of re-evaluating its energy procurement across multiple suppliers – as a public higher education institution in Berlin, Freie Universität belongs to the state of Berlin’s energy procurement pool. The official energy management office (Energiewirtschaftsstelle) for Berlin informs the city’s universities of the rates for the upcoming year in December.

As electricity costs have accounted for almost two thirds of all energy costs at Freie Universität in the past, the increase in electricity costs will likely have a large impact on Freie Universität’s energy costs as a whole.