ENERGYNEST and LEONHARD KURZ drive sustainable production forward

02.04.2025

Source: Energynest AS

Energynest and LEONHARD KURZ, a global pioneer in thin-film technology, are jointly setting a significant milestone towards industrial decarbonization.

The two companies are planning to implement an innovative power-to-heat system with heat storage that offers a sustainable solution for industrial heating requirements.

LEONHARD KURZ, a German family-owned company with over 5,800 employees at more than 50 locations worldwide, has committed itself to reducing CO₂ emissions and creating climate-neutral production processes in its vision "Be a Green Leader". The partnership with ENERGYNEST marks a decisive step in the implementation of this vision.

Focus on sustainability and energy efficiency

The new power-to-heat system will enable KURZ to use surplus solar energy from the company's own photovoltaic field. The system supplies over 3 GWhth of clean heat per year, which covers more than 70 percent of the heating requirements for a production line at the Sulzbach-Rosenberg site. This solution not only reduces natural gas consumption by more than 3.5 GWh per year, but also saves over 700 tons of CO₂ emissions.

"This project is an important milestone, not just for LEONHARD KURZ, but for German industry as a whole," explains Alex Robertson, Managing Director of ENERGYNEST. "It shows that the energy transition is not only necessary, but also feasible now. Our solution proves that industrial decarbonization and sustainability can go hand in hand."

Power-to-heat: a pioneering system

The integrated power-to-heat system from LEONHARD KURZ comprises a 3 MWel electric heater and a ThermalBattery™ with a capacity of 12 MWhth. It is seamlessly integrated into the existing thermal oil system and enables a reliable, needs-based heat supply - without any fossil fuels. The technology converts renewable energies such as solar, wind or off-peak grid electricity into high-temperature heat, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.

A model for the future

LEONHARD KURZ, known for its innovative strength and 125 years of company history, is setting a new standard for sustainable industrial processes with this project. The model could serve as an example of successful industrial decarbonization far beyond Germany's borders.

"Our goal is to achieve climate-neutral production by 2040. The use of this innovative technology brings us a big step closer to this goal," says a spokesperson for LEONHARD KURZ.

With this progressive approach, LEONHARD KURZ and ENERGYNEST are proving that sustainable industrial production is not only possible, but also economical and future-proof.