N-Ergie Spends Millions on Hybrid Cogeneration Plant
The facility combines combined heat and power plants, a large-scale heat pump, power-to-heat technology, and thermal storage to generate heat and electricity in a way that meets demand and, in the long term, is more climate-friendly.
November 9, 2026
Source: E & M powernews
A combined heat and power plant, a CHP unit, a large-scale heat pump, and a thermal storage system are set to supply a new neighborhood in Nuremberg. The facility is scheduled to go into operation in mid-2028.
Nuremberg-based N-Ergie is investing approximately 52 million euros in a new combined heat and power plant in the southwestern part of the city. The innovative combined heat and power plant (iCHP) is set to supply a new neighborhood as well as parts of the existing district heating network in the future. According to a press release, Kraftanlagen Energies & Services SE has been commissioned as the general contractor to handle the planning and construction.
The combined heat and power plant combines several types of generation. The facility includes two natural gas-fired combined heat and power units (CHP), each with an electrical output of 4.5 MW, which can also be converted to run on hydrogen. In addition, there is a large heat pump with a thermal output of approximately 4.6 MW. It consists of four modules and uses the ambient air as a heat source.
The system is supplemented by a thermal storage unit with a capacity of 60,000 kWh. The storage unit can absorb heat at temperatures of up to 115 degrees Celsius. In addition, two existing power-to-heat systems—in the form of electric boilers, each with an electrical output of 25 MW—from the Sandreuth cogeneration plant will be integrated into the overall system.
The various generation units enable flexible operation. The large heat pump is specifically designed to handle the base load of the heat supply. When heat demand is higher—such as during the winter months—the combined heat and power (CHP) units are brought online. They generate both electricity and heat simultaneously.
The electric boilers make it possible to generate additional heat from electricity when electricity prices are low. The storage system can decouple heat generation from consumption over time. In the future, the cogeneration plant is also expected to be able to utilize renewable heat from the Nuremberg district heating network, such as from geothermal energy or additional large-scale heat pumps.
The project is aligned with the development of the new “Tiefes Feld” urban district. Around 2,000 apartments for approximately 4,000 people are to be built there by 2030. To connect to the existing district heating network, N-Ergie has been laying approximately 2.4 kilometers of new district heating pipes since 2023.
Kraftanlagen Energies & Services was awarded the contract for the combined heat and power plant in March 2026, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place in June. According to the company, large sections of the floor slabs had already been completed by October, and the first exterior walls had been erected. Work is on schedule. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in mid-2028.
Author: Stefan Sagmeister
