Mobile energy centres Heating Cooling Building technology

When heating systems fail, construction projects come to a standstill or networks need to be maintained, time is of the essence when it comes to comfort, safety and, in an emergency, health. At IFH/Intherm in Nuremberg, the focus is on this often overlooked segment of building technology: mobile energy centres for heating and cooling. They are not a permanent solution, but they are indispensable in exceptional situations – and are becoming increasingly relevant in an increasingly fragile energy infrastructure.

The focus of the trade fair presentation is on a supplier that is hardly known to many end customers, but has been an established player in the industry for years. Enerent brings together two brands under one roof, which serve different sales channels but are technically based on the same foundation. While Hotmobil is primarily active in direct sales, mobiheat specifically targets the wholesale market. For heating engineers, this means that mobile heating centres can be purchased either directly or through the usual purchasing structures. This dual strategy ensures that the systems are quickly available in a wide variety of market situations.

Mobile heating centre as a temporary replacement

The basic principle of mobile heating centres is quickly explained, but their significance only becomes apparent in practical use. A mobile heating centre temporarily takes over the function of a permanently installed heating system. It is operated independently, connected to the existing heating system on site and provides heat at short notice – regardless of whether it is radiators, underfloor heating or mixed systems. There are many typical application scenarios. In the event of a sudden heating failure, for example on a winter weekend, a mobile solution can prevent buildings from cooling down. Facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes or nurseries are particularly sensitive, where even short interruptions would have serious consequences. Mobile systems are also used during modernisation work or in new buildings, for example when heating screed, if the actual heat generator has not yet been installed or cannot deliver the required temperatures.

Technical features and performance ranges

A mobile heating centre with an output of 70 kW will be on display at the trade fair. This performance class already covers a wide range of applications, from apartment buildings to smaller commercial properties. The device on display works with an integrated tank and is similar in function to a classic oil heating system. It is connected, started up and immediately takes over the heat supply. There are also numerous other variants that can be selected depending on the application. These include electrically powered mobile heating units that are mounted on compact chassis and run directly on electricity. In these units, water is heated electrically and fed into the existing heating system via the flow and return pipes. There are also versions for gas, liquid gas or pellets, allowing flexible use of different energy sources. The range extends from small, mobile units to large container-based solutions. Systems with outputs of up to several megawatts are used in this segment. Such systems are required, for example, when maintenance work is carried out on district heating networks. While valves are replaced or pipes are repaired, large mobile energy centres ensure the supply of entire neighbourhoods. Without these temporary solutions, hundreds of households would be without heating and hot water in such situations.

Typical areas of application for mobile energy centres

• Bridging sudden heating failures in residential and functional buildings
• Temporary heat supply during renovation or modernisation work
• Screed drying and construction heating in new buildings
• Backup for maintenance work in district heating networks
• Emergency supply for sensitive facilities such as clinics or nursing homes

Crises as drivers of a niche market

As soberly as the technology can be described, an uncomfortable truth also becomes clear in conversation: mobile heating centres are often used when other systems fail. Natural disasters, infrastructure problems or humanitarian crises create situations in which quick, pragmatic solutions are needed. In such moments, providers such as Enerent inevitably benefit from exceptional circumstances. A striking example is the Ahr Valley after the flood disaster. There, numerous heating systems in basements were destroyed and entire buildings were rendered uninhabitable. Mobile heating solutions made it possible to at least temporarily restore heat and maintain the use of the buildings. Mobile energy centres were also used for the temporary heating of refugee accommodation in order to create infrastructure at short notice where none existed.

Classification in the context of the energy transition

Mobile heating centres are not at odds with the energy transition, even though they are often powered by fossil fuels. Their purpose is not to provide a permanent supply, but to bridge periods when other systems are unavailable. In an energy system that is becoming increasingly complex and at the same time more susceptible to disruption, such flexible solutions are gaining in importance. Enerent positions itself less as a technology pioneer in the traditional sense and more as a problem solver. The systems should function, provide reliable heat and be quickly integrated into existing structures. This is precisely where their strength lies. While long-term strategies and sustainable heating concepts are being discussed, mobile heating centres ensure buildings remain usable even in exceptional situations. Ultimately, the trade fair presentation shows one thing above all: security of supply is not just a question of efficiency and sustainability, but also of responsiveness. Mobile heating centres fill the gaps when fixed systems fail – quietly, unobtrusively and usually only visible when they are urgently needed.