Construction contract for 165 MW heat pump in Mannheim

30.10.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The energy group MVV has commissioned the construction of a further river heat pump on the power plant site in Mannheim-Neckarau.

Energy turnaround at the coal-fired power plant: MVV is having a second river heat pump built on the site of Grosskraftwerk Mannheim AG (GKM). The environmental technology subsidiary of the Strabag Group has been awarded the construction contract, according to the energy supplier. The new heat pump will provide a thermal output of up to 165 MW

A system consisting of two individual modules, each with an output of 82.5 MW, is planned. Isobutane is to be used as the refrigerant. The technology will generate heat of up to 130 degrees Celsius from Rhine water. Construction is scheduled to start in mid-2026.

MVV has already been operating a river heat pump with a thermal output of 20 MW on the site of the hard coal-fired power plant since fall 2023. "Thanks to the energy from thermal waste treatment, the biomass cogeneration plant and the first river heat pump, we can already supply almost 50 percent of our district heating requirements from green sources", says MVV's Chief Technology Officer Hansjörg Roll. With the new river heat pump, which is scheduled to go into operation in winter 2028, the company aims to supply "up to 40,000" more households with green heat. "For complete decarbonization, we are planning another river heat pump and the use of the region's existing geothermal potential," says Roll.

Total investment volume of 200 million euros

The current project - of which the second river heat pump is a part - has been put out to tender across the EU and is receiving funding from the Federal Fund for Efficient Heating Networks (BEW). MVV puts the total investment volume at up to Euro 200 million. According to the company, the preliminary and design planning for the plant was carried out by INP Deutschland GmbH as general planner. INP was involved in the tendering process.

"The GKM is part of the transformation process towards a climate-friendly and sustainable energy supply for the region. The use of the existing infrastructure for new energies and our technical project management are a prime example of sustainable, joint planning," says GKM Chief Technical Officer Thomas Hörtinger.

Author: Manfred Fischer