Combined heat and power designates the simultaneous, combined generation and use of electricity and heat. This method can significantly increase a hard coal fired power station’s energy utilisation ratio.

A portion of the steam from a lower pressure stage is removed from the steam cycle that is driving the turbines used for power generation. This steam releases its heat via a heating condensor to the district heating water.

At some power station sites of E.ON Kraftwerke, active use is made of the alternative of combined heat and power generation. The heat is here extracted for industrial purposes and adjacent residential areas.

The heat distribution network consists of two pipelines installed in parallel. In the feed line, water that has been heated up to 130°C reaches the compact substation at the customer’s. There it transfers its energy to the building heating. Afterwards the cooled water flows back to the combined heat and power station via the return line. Then the cycle starts anew.

E.ON Fernwärme GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of E.ON Kraftwerke, is among the large district heating supply companies in Germany.