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NürnbergMesse tests climate-neutral energy supply with hybrid power plant and digital twin

Innovative real laboratory combines photovoltaics, storage, hydrogen and AI-based energy management for CO₂-neutral trade fair operations

24.11.2025

Sources: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and ENERGIEregion Nürnberg e.V.

NürnbergMesse wants to make its energy supply completely CO₂-neutral - and is testing a completely new energy system in the "REMBup" real-world laboratory.

Ten partners from business and research, including several members of the Nuremberg ENERGY Region, are jointly developing a sector-coupled hybrid power plant that will provide electricity, heating and cooling from renewable sources.

At the heart of the project is a digital twin that virtually maps the entire energy system. Based on load forecasts, weather data, event calendars and AI methods, it optimizes the operation of all systems - from PV and battery storage to heat pumps, chillers and hydrogen technologies. The results are then tested in practice in real trade fair operations.

Hybrid power plant combines proven and new technologies

Existing systems such as the 8.6 MWp PV installation and a 6.5 MWh battery storage system form the basis. They will be supplemented by additional components, including

  • Hydrogen and LOHC storage solutions
  • Wood gas cogeneration plants for trade fair waste
  • Thermal storage and innovative environmental heat sources

The aim is to completely replace fossil fuels, reduce peak loads and make the energy supply for the trade fair stable, economical and climate-friendly.

Practical test for new business models

As many companies have so far shied away from the complexity of such energy systems, REMBup aims to show that a well thought-out hybrid power plant not only works technically, but also economically. The project team is also developing new business models that can be transferred to other industrial and commercial applications.

Lighthouse project of the energy transition

One of Germany's most ambitious real-world laboratories is being built in Nuremberg over a period of five years. The modular structure of the digital twin makes it possible to transfer the developed system architecture to numerous other locations at a later date.

REMBup is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the 7th Energy Research Program (FKZ 03EWR021A-I).

Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and ENERGIEregion Nürnberg e.V.