Chemnitz is investing in district heating: Decarbonization and the future of energy supply

The path to climate-neutral district heating in Chemnitz

In a time when climate protection and the energy transition are at the forefront, district heating plays a crucial role. Chemnitz has set clear goals and launched concrete projects to fully transition its district heating supply to renewable sources by 2045. In March 2026, important milestones were achieved that advance the city on this path.

Transformation needs and current production capacity

The current production landscape for district heating in Chemnitz is diverse but still largely fossil-fuel based. The production portfolio includes the Power Plant North (HKW Nord), which consists of 7 CHP units (80 MWth, 88 MWel), one boiler (100 MWth), and PtH (20 MWth). In addition, the Power Plant Altchemnitz is in operation with a heating capacity of 100 MWth. This infrastructure forms the basis for the upcoming transformation.

A central goal is to achieve a fully renewable district heating supply by 2045. To this end, urgent modernizations and expansions are planned. The share of biomass will be limited to a maximum of 15% to ensure the sustainable use of resources.

Decarbonization strategy and projects in implementation

Since mid-2023, Chemnitz has been developing a decarbonization strategy supported by the BEW program of BAFA. This strategy is part of the municipal heating plan and includes the creation of a building model with demand data for 2045. A central element is the building block model, which prioritizes the expansion of the heating network in areas with a heat demand of at least 400 MWh/ha*a.

A milestone was the conversion of the PtH facility in Altchemnitz (PtHA) to hydrogen. With a capacity of 50 MW, this facility is in the planning phase and will be integrated into the Altchemnitz Heating Plant building. Commissioning is planned for the fourth quarter of 2027. The goal is to ensure supply security, provide regulating power, and generate heat when electricity prices are low.

In addition, a 20-year contracting agreement for a wood-fired power plant was concluded with the company HoST Participaties B.V. The biomass CHP plant will generate approximately 90,000–130,000 MWh of renewable district heating and cover about 10% of the district heating share in Chemnitz.

Expansion of district heating and future technologies

Another focus is the planned waste-to-energy power plant (AHKW), which will be built on the site of the former coal storage facility of the HKW Nord. With a planned commissioning in 2030 and a district heating coverage of 30–50%, the project is a central building block of the decarbonization strategy. However, the condition for construction is a grant in the municipal residual waste tenders.

In addition to these projects, Chemnitz is increasingly relying on large heat pumps. With a capacity of up to 37 MWth and a supply temperature of 95–110°C and return temperature of 60–65°C, they contribute to the decarbonization of district heating. The total capacity of the heat pumps could increase to up to 48 MWth by 2045.

Conclusion: Chemnitz on the way to a climate-friendly future

With a wide range of projects and a clear strategy, Chemnitz has set important course corrections for the future of energy supply in March 2026. The combination of biomass, waste utilization, heat pumps, and hydrogen technology shows how a modern, climate-neutral district heating supply can look. The expansion of district heating by 50% by 2045 is not only a technical goal, but also a social and ecological milestone. Chemnitz thus demonstrates how cities can actively shape the energy transition.