Combination of SOKRATHERM heat pump and cogeneration unit awarded as
CHP unit of the month August 2023

CHP unit container and head office.

Starting from spring 2023, our head office in Hiddenhausen (Northwest Germany) and an additionally connected district heating network are being supplied by an intelligent combination of CHP unit and heat pump. The further development of our CHP control system MiniManager Plus allows both machines, the CHP unit (generating heat and power from gas) and the heat pump (generating heat from power and ambient air), to fully play out their advantages.

Defined by parameters such as the heat pump’s COP (Coefficient of performance), temperatures and energy prices each of the components are activated automatically when their operation is technically and economically most efficient.

The heat pump was installed directly behind the CHP unit container.

The profitability of this system is generated mainly by the revenues from the CHP unit’s power production. The CHP produces up to 48 kW power and 101 kW heat. The air/water heat pump with a heat capacity of 75 kW is operated mainly during spring and autumn and is supplied by a 30 kWp solar power plant installed on the roof of our company building. This novel concept unites these technologies which are often depicted as concurring ideas. It was reported extensively reported on by the German professional press and awarded as the CHP unit of the month August 2023 by the Energie & Management newspaper. The article in German language can be downloaded here.