Hybrox 16 heat pump replaces combined heat and power plant in Helmbrechts

The previous combined heat and power plant had been in operation for many years, supplying the building with heat and electricity. However, as it aged, operating costs and maintenance requirements increased significantly. When the plant finally broke down in the winter of 2023, a decision had to be made quickly.

“We were already pioneers with our heating system back then,” says Norbert Bächer, referring to the oil-fired combined heat and power plant from 2004, which until recently heated his house and produced electricity at the same time. At the time of installation, it was state-of-the-art technology, subsidized by the government, with a high feed-in tariff for the electricity supplied to the grid fixed for 20 years.

However, such old fossil fuel-based combined heat and power plants are not only harmful to the climate, but in most cases are no longer profitable. When the plant suddenly stopped working in December 2023 and could not be repaired, good advice was hard to come by.

For the Bächer family, it was clear that the new heating system should be less dependent on fossil fuels, require less maintenance, and be economical in the long term.

After a thorough analysis of the existing system by installer Roland Fischer, the decision was made to install the Hybrox 16 air/water heat pump from alpha innotec. It seamlessly replaces the old CHP unit and supplies the entire house with heat and hot water.

Technical highlights:

• Sufficient power to provide reliable heating even on cold winter days
• Direct connection to the existing heating system without major conversion work
• Precise control for optimum efficiency
• Hydraulically clean connection via module and multifunctional storage tank
• Quiet, reliable operation for high living comfort

The Hybrox 16 air/water heat pump from alpha innotec is perfectly suited to the requirements of the residential building that Norbert Bächer has lived in since childhood. The house was originally built in 1954.

The old combined heat and power plant could be easily replaced by the new heat pump system without any further measures. Thanks to a well-thought-out connection concept and coordinated components, the replacement was quick and uncomplicated.

The Hybrox 16 has now successfully coped with many cold days with snow and outdoor temperatures as low as -15°C without any loss of heating in the rooms.

The Bächer family's heating system is now up to date again, but this time it is climate-friendly and independent of oil and gas.

The project clearly shows that replacing a combined heat and power plant is easily possible with modern heat pump technology – even in existing buildings. With careful planning and an experienced specialist company, a solution can be created that is efficient, quiet, climate-friendly, and economical in the long term.

If you are thinking about replacing your CHP plant, let's work together to find the right heat pump solution for your building.