New 54-MW Power Plant To Support Germany Data Center Demand

INNIO Group has signed a contract with KMW (Kraftwerke Mainz-Wiesbaden AG) for a new 54-MW peaking power plant, Mainz, Germany. The company will provide Jenbacher J624 natural gas engines, each with 4498 kWel at 15 kV and an electrical efficiency of 46.8%. The units will be produced at the company’s Jenbach, Austria, facility.

The power plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027. INNIO’s energy systems will serve as backup in case of a blackout due to grid failure and offers an alternative to traditional diesel generators, with up to 95 % lower nitrogen oxide emissions. According to INNIO, their output can be adjusted to meet specific power needs. In addition, the Jenbacher units can be converted to operate on up to 100% hydrogen in the future.

Part of the plant’s capacity is expected to be available for the Green Rocks data center in Mainz. KMW and Norwegian data center company, Green Mountain, are partners in the project, with each company holding a 50% stake in a new joint venture.

Primary power for the data center will be sourced from KMW’s wind and solar portfolio. The river Rhine runs just outside the data center and will be the cooling source for the servers. Excess heat will be channeled directly into the existing district heating grid, benefiting the city of Mainz while minimizing carbon dioxide emissions.