Kelvion and Zeppelin Power Systems Enhance District Heating Decarbonization
Kelvion and Zeppelin Power Systems are collaborating on projects in Germany to reduce emissions from district heating networks. Initiatives in Duisburg and Oberhausen leverage wastewater heat and boost decentralized energy generation.
Thermal technology company Kelvion and energy solutions provider Zeppelin Power Systems have partnered to support Germany's decarbonization efforts for district heating networks. Two projects, in Duisburg and Oberhausen, aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions as part of the nation's drive towards a greener energy infrastructure.
In Duisburg, Zeppelin Power Systems has constructed and commissioned Germany's largest innovative combined heat and power (iCHP) plant connected to a wastewater treatment facility. The plant, operational since June, will supply sustainable thermal energy to approximately 4,000 households using a 4 MW heat pump. Kelvion supplied two shell and tube heat exchangers designed to transfer heat from up to 520 m³/h of treated wastewater, operating between 8°C and 25°C. This system recovers energy from treated wastewater before discharge into the Rhine, contributing to clean energy generation and reducing thermal pollution.
The Oberhausen project focuses on a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, reinforcing the growing importance of flexible, decentralized energy generation in the energy transition. Kelvion provided eight plate heat exchangers for this plant, including gasketed and brazed units. These components are critical for efficient heat transfer, maintaining optimal pressure drop and thermal performance within the CHP setup, where compact design and operational efficiency are key.
These initiatives highlight the value of the long-standing collaboration between Kelvion and Zeppelin Power Systems, driven by a shared commitment to innovation and energy efficiency. Daniel Schäfer, Project Manager at Zeppelin Power Systems, noted Kelvion's deep understanding of thermal systems and their flexible, solution-oriented approach as crucial for implementing technically demanding systems that support the regional energy transition.
Both projects are expected to make a significant contribution to Germany's long-term climate goals by advancing sustainable heating solutions and the role of decentralized energy production.