Along with GE, Kraftanlagen München (KAM) has won a contract to develop a gas-fired thermal power plant in Kiel for German municipal utility Stadtwerke Kiel.

The facility is expected to generate 190MW of electrical and 192MW of thermal energy.

While Kraftanlagen München has been appointed as the general contractor for the facility, GE will supply 20 Jenbacher J920 Flextra gas engines for it.

Equipment delivered by the US firm will have total efficiency of more than 90% and electrical efficiency of 45%.

Those engines will also support Germany’s energy transition plan, which aims to derive 80% of its power mix from renewable and volatile energy sources by 2050.

The facility will replace an existing coal-fired power plant in the region and will support district heating.

Kiel plant will store the surplus electricity as heat for when demand is low and supply it to the grid when demand rises.

GE Germany executive operations Oliver Klitzke said: “Versatility in the electricity exchange paired with inexpensive costs for heat generation will be the way forward in Kiel.”

The project will be developed in two phases. The initial phase will comprise planning and construction of the pump house to be connected to the district heating system, the electrode boiler and heat storage, as well as scheduling and obtaining operating approval for the entire system, including gas engines.

Construction of phase two is expected to start in May next year, and include development of the gas engine power plant.