In February 2013, Freie Universität Berlin first began operating two combined heat and power plants (CHP). Located at the Departments of Veterinary Medicine and Geosciences in Düppel and Lankwitz, both are supplied by two natural gas-based small district heating systems. Two more CHPs were launched in 2014 at the Department of Pharmacy at Kelchstraße and in 2016 in the Botanic Garden.

Combined heat and power plants produce power and heat at the same time and are highly efficient. These systems have a total electrical output of 715 kilowatts, meaning 4.5 to 5 million kWh of electricity a year.