Power-to-heat describes the conversion of electrical energy into thermal heat. Especially in times of high feed-in from renewable energies, surplus electricity can be flexibly absorbed and converted into thermal heat. At the heart of the power-to-heat plant is the electrode boiler, which operates with an efficiency of up to 99% and virtually no losses.
The result of this key technology is sustainable and CO₂-free heat that can be used for the district heating network—a decisive contribution to the energy transition.
Against this backdrop, Stadtwerke Erfurt decided in November 2023 to build a 20 MW power-to-heat plant and commissioned Kraftanlagen Energies & Services to implement the project.
Kraftanlagen constructed a turnkey power-to-heat plant on the site of the gas and steam turbine plant in Erfurt. The central element of this plant is the electrode boiler, a newly constructed power-to-heat building, the complete plant technology, electrical rooms and electrical engineering, as well as integration into the existing district heating network, which will supply district heating to over 2,000 households in the future.
With the new power-to-heat plant, Stadtwerke Erfurt is sending a strong signal for sustainable and CO2-free energy supply.
Copyright: Stadtwerke Erfurt / Photographer Jacob Schröter
Advantages of a power-to-heat plant
The use of the power-to-heat plant offers Erfurt’s municipal utilities the following key advantages:
The potential of the plant is particularly evident in the stabilization of the power grid. Especially in times when a lot of electricity is fed in from wind and solar energy, the power-to-heat plant helps to relieve the grid and respond flexibly to fluctuations.
Together with Stadtwerke Erfurt and the network operator 50Hertz, a supply concept was developed on this basis that focuses on both efficiency and sustainability.
With many years of expertise, Kraftanlagen acts as a general contractor to ensure comprehensive, turnkey project implementation.
Commissioning of the P2H plant by Jochen Hendrik Hail, Head of Risk Management and Redispatch at 50 Hertz, Thuringia’s Minister for the Environment, Energy, Nature Conservation, and Forestry Tilo Kummer, and Karel Schweng, Managing Director of SWE Energie GmbH.
Copyright: Stadtwerke Erfurt / Photographer Jacob Schröter
Project services at a glance
”This plant will relieve the strain on the power grid in the future and enable inexpensive surplus electricity from renewable energies to be used to supply Erfurt with heat. At the same time, natural gas will be saved, thereby protecting the climate. The 20-megawatt electrode boiler can convert electricity into high temperatures and hot water and store it in heat accumulators. The project is thus exemplary for the transformation of energy supply in Thüringen.
Tilo KummerThüringens Minister für Umwelt, Energie, Naturschutz und Forsten
Statement by Maro Türke, Power Plant Manager at Stadtwerke Erfurt SWE Energie GmbH, on the collaboration in the Power-to-Heat project.
Source: LinkedIn Kraftanlagen Energy & Services
With the installation of the electrode boiler, the project reached its final and most important implementation phase—a technical and organizational highlight that impressively demonstrated the progress made.
Particularly noteworthy is the exceptionally efficient project management: the entire project was completed within just 15 months – one month ahead of schedule and within the customer’s budget. This precision landing underscores the high level of planning and execution expertise of all those involved. The successful acceptance at the end of April 2025 marked the official completion of the project.
Boiler installation in November 2024.
Copyright: Stadtwerke Erfurt
The result: an all-round success story and another example of the reliable partnership between Stadtwerke Erfurt and Kraftanlagen.
Boiler installation in November 2024.
Copyright: Stadtwerke Erfurt
Further information on the power-to-heat plant can be found in our press release:
Press contacts
Dr. Isabelle Werner +49 89 6237 387, isabelle.werner@kraftanlagen.com
Verena Treutlein +49 89 6237 627, verena.treutlein@kraftanlagen.com
