The Lankow Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP), also known as HKW Lankow, is located at the energy site of the Schwerin utility company, alongside the Geothermal Heating Plant and the Well House. Since 1994, the facility has been supplying Schwerin with district heating and electricity. The CHP has a district heating capacity of 22 megawatts and operates in an environmentally friendly combined heat and power (CHP) process. Using natural gas as the primary energy source, both electricity and district heating are produced simultaneously, resulting in highly efficient utilization of the gas.

The newly modernized HKW Lankow not only generates heat and power but also plays a crucial role in providing green heat from the Geothermal Heating Plant. The temperature of the district heating water is raised to up to 82 degrees Celsius in the four heat pumps at the geothermal plant, which is sufficient for the summer operation of the Schwerin district heating network. However, for this water to enter the district heating network, it needs to be injected into the system, which is where HKW Lankow comes in. It already has a connection for injecting district heating, which is also utilized for distributing the green heat from geothermal energy.

Depending on the outside temperature, the flow temperature in the primary district heating network ranges between 80 degrees Celsius in summer and up to 130 degrees Celsius in very cold weather. During the winter months, HKW Lankow assumes an additional role: heating the 82-degree Celsius district heating water from the geothermal heating plant further, if necessary, before injecting it into the network.

HKW Lankow underwent a comprehensive modernization until the end of 2023, incorporating state-of-the-art technology to reduce its emissions. Additionally, its annual efficiency has significantly improved by almost ten percent, resulting in resource savings while maintaining performance. The new gas turbine can already operate with up to ten percent hydrogen, and after conversion, the hydrogen content can be increased to twenty percent.

The further expansion of renewable energy sources for heat and electricity is a key part of the expansion strategy of the Schwerin utility company. However, the primary task of the municipal company remains ensuring a secure energy supply, even in times of energy transition and profound transformation of the energy market. Therefore, the two heating power plants in Lankow and Süd serve as essential bases until new renewable facilities can be brought online in stable operation.