RheinEnergie Commissions MAN Energy to Deliver Heat-Pump System for Cologne Plant
The heat-pump system uses Rhine water as its energy source and operates with a natural refrigerant in a closed-loop system.
RheinEnergie selected MAN Energy Solutions to supply a 150-MW riverine heat-pump system for its Cologne-Niehl power plant, which is set to be the largest fluvial heat-pump plant in Europe, according to the company. Investing approximately €280 million in this project, RheinEnergie will deliver climate-neutral district heating to around 50,000 households in the Cologne region.
“The large-scale heat pump in Cologne-Niehl is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy to decarbonize the heating sector,” said Andreas Feicht, CEO of RheinEnergie. “This initiative marks the beginning of a comprehensive program for sustainable heat supply. We are pleased to have found, in MAN Energy Solutions, a partner capable of delivering the project entirely from a single source, ensuring the successful realization of our vision.”
The turnkey solution includes a facility with three large heat-pump units, the district-heating pump station, and river-water and district-heating pipelines. It also features compressors, condensers, heat exchangers, a control system, and electrical infrastructure, with MAN Energy serving as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) provider. Three integrally geared compressors will be manufactured and tested at MAN’s Berlin and Oberhausen locations.
Cologne-Niehl heat pump plant; image credit: MAN Energy Solutions
MAN PrimeServ also signed a long-term service agreement, using MAN PrimeServ Assist to provide real-time monitoring, data analytics, and diagnostics for the electrically-driven compressors.
“As EPC contractor, we will hand over a turnkey plant to RheinEnergie,” said Alexander Stöckler, Head of Sales, Tendering & Project Management, Power Segment. “Our EPC team at the Augsburg site already has experience with projects and plants worldwide, which will now enable us to supply RheinEnergie with this complete solution from a single source. We are creating a blueprint that can also be transferred to other large-scale heat-pump projects in Germany, Europe and worldwide.”
Heat-Pump System
The electricity-powered system, via thermodynamic cycle with a natural refrigerant, extracts thermal energy from Rhine water and operates with a natural refrigerant in a closed-loop system.
It will raise the temperature of district heating water up to 110° C and, by replacing fossil fuels, will save approximately 100,000 tons of CO2 per year. The facility is slated to begin operation in 2027 and meets the requirements of Cologne’s district heating network.
“This project marks the first deployment of our large-scale heat-pump technology in Germany,” said Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions. “As the fourth-largest city in the country, Cologne is taking a role in showcasing how climate-neutral heat supply can succeed at a large scale. With our heat-pump technology, we are demonstrating how urban heating systems can be transformed using sustainable energy sources – an essential step toward a greener energy future. Together with RheinEnergie, we are driving the heating transition forward and inspiring other large cities to adopt similar, climate-neutral solutions.”
The liquid refrigerant absorbs thermal energy from river water and evaporates, then compressing the gaseous refrigerant to raise temperature. A heat exchanger transfers the heat to the district heating network and, following release, the refrigerant cools and condenses into a liquid before returning to the evaporator, restarting the cycle.
Each compressor delivers a 50-MW heating capacity and features a compact design, offering high power-density and low space requirements. The system allows quick power-balancing on the grid, supporting the integration of intermittent renewable energy.
“This order underscores the trust customers place in our technology and our ability to understand their specific needs,” said Mikael Adler, Head of Sales and Project Management Heat Pumps at MAN Energy Solutions. “Our focus is on integrating the heat-pump system into the existing district-heating network. We are already collaborating with district-heating providers on large-scale projects in Denmark, Finland, the USA, and now Germany. Together, we share a clear goal: to make heat-supply sustainable and climate-neutral.”
MAN Energy News
Last week, MAN Energy Solutions agreed to deliver three multi-shaft, type RG90-8 integrally geared CO2 compressors to the Tangguh LNG plant in Papua Barat, Indonesia, assisting bp’s enhanced gas recovery and carbon capture, utilization, and storage project. The compressor trains will be installed at an onshore facility to compress CO2 to a 165-bar maximum.
