The future of district heating for Nuremberg
The‘Tiefes Feld’ combined heat and power plant in Nurembergis developing an innovative energy system to provide climate-friendly heating to a new urban district. Kraftanlagen Energies & Services, acting as the main contractor on behalf ofN-ERGIE, is constructing a modern combined heat and power plant that will integrate highly efficient combined heat and power units, a large-scale heat pump, a heat storage tank and existing electric heaters into a smart, integrated system.
The plant lays the foundations for a sustainable district heating supply for around 4,000 future residents of the ‘Tiefes Feld’ neighbourhood in south-west Nuremberg. At the same time, it enhances security of supply and makes an important contribution to the decarbonisation of the heating supply in the Nuremberg metropolitan region.
At a glance:
Location: Nuremberg, Germany
Project: ‘Tiefes Feld’ combined heat and power plant
Scope of work: Main contractor for the design
and construction of an innovative combined heat and power
plant
Commissioning: 2028
Key features: hydrogen-compatible, large-scale heat pump,
combined heat and power, thermal storage, integration of existing plant
An integrated energy system rather than a single technology.
Rather than relying on a single technology, the “Tiefes Feld” combined heat and power plant is based on the interaction of various systems. The intelligent combination of CHP, heat pump technology and heat storage creates a flexible, highly efficient solution that meets the demands of modern district heating networks.
The following are used:
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two combined heat and power plants, each with an electrical output of 4.5 MW and a thermal output of 4.4 MW.
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a large-scale heat pump comprising four modules that utilise ambient air.
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a 60 MWh thermal storage system acting as a pressure storage tank with a maximum temperature of 115°C.
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existing electric heaters from the Sandreuth cogeneration plant
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the necessary process and electrical engineering infrastructure, including all ancillary facilities
One particular advantage is that: The combined heat and power plants are ready for the future transition to hydrogen. This means that the facility is ready for long-term climate-neutral heat generation.
Project Milestones at a glance:
March 2026:
With the signing of the contract by representatives of N-ERGIE and Kraftanlagen Energies & Services, the official green light was given for the planning and construction of the new combined heat and power plant.
©N-ERGIE
June 2026:
The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of the construction phase of this major project in southwest Nuremberg.
From left to right: Florian Stöger (Member of the Executive Board, Kraftanlagen Energies & Services SE), Marcus König (Mayor, City of Nuremberg), Maik Render (Spokesperson for the Executive Board, N-ERGIE Aktiengesellschaft)
©N-ERGIE
October 2026:
Construction progress is now clearly visible. Most of the floor slabs have been completed, the first exterior walls have been erected, and the project is right on schedule.
A key component of the heating transition in Nuremberg
The “Tiefes Feld” combined heat and power plant is establishing a sustainable infrastructure for the municipal heat supply. This project shows how economic efficiency, security of supply and climate protection can be achieved by intelligently integrating different technologies.
As a general contractor, Kraftanlagen is responsible for planning, integrating and coordinating all key trades, thereby ensuring the various plant technologies interact seamlessly. The hydrogen compatibility of combined heat and power plants also creates opportunities to reduce CO₂ emissions further in the heating sector.
The project showcases Kraftanlagen’s expertise in the implementation of complex energy infrastructure, helping to expand Nuremberg’s district heating system in a sustainable and forward-looking manner.
