[Fürth/Germany, March 31, 2025] – ENERGYNEST, the global leader in thermal storage, has signed a commercial agreement with LEONHARD KURZ, a world-leading family business in thin-film technology, to implement an innovative power-to-heat system with thermal storage. This collaboration strengthens industrial decarbonization efforts, showcasing a replicable model for reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing worldwide.
LEONHARD KURZ is a global technology leader with operations in over 50 countries and 5,800 employees, supplying advanced surface decoration solutions across multiple industries. KURZ’s products are widely used in automotive parts, smartphones, laptops, furniture, packaging, books, textiles, labels, and bank cards, as well as in security applications to prevent counterfeiting. Committed to sustainability, the company aims for carbon-neutral production by 2040 and already sources 100% renewable electricity at its German operations.
However, producing these high-tech decorations requires process heat at high temperatures, traditionally supplied by natural gas boilers. The targeted production line at KURZ’s Sulzbach-Rosenberg facility consumes over 4 GWhth of process heat annually, making it a prime candidate for electrification and emissions reduction.
Power-to-heat technology converts renewable electricity, such as solar, wind, or off-peak grid power, into high-temperature heat. When paired with advanced thermal storage, it provides a reliable, flexible, and carbon-free energy source for industrial processes, helping manufacturers reduce their dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining operational efficiency.
To significantly lower its carbon footprint, KURZ is integrating ENERGYNEST’s turnkey power-to-heat solution, featuring a 3 MWe electrical heater and a 12 MWhth ThermalBattery™. The system will seamlessly integrate into KURZ’s existing thermal oil infrastructure, providing stable, on-demand heat while drastically reducing reliance on natural gas.
By adopting this system, KURZ will:
- Utilize excess solar energy from its on-site PV field
- Benefit from a system that delivers over 3 GWhth of clean heat annually, covering more than 70% of the heat demand for one of the site’s production lines. More than 40% of heat demand will be met directly from stored heat, ensuring greater energy efficiency and reliability.
- Reduce natural gas consumption by more than 3.5 GWh per year, cutting more than 700 tons of CO2
This agreement marks ENERGYNEST’s first sale of a complete turnkey power-to-heat solution, proving the scalability of thermal storage technology for industrial applications. With LEONHARD KURZ’s global footprint, the success of this system demonstrates the cross-border potential for power-to-heat technology to decarbonize industrial sectors worldwide.
KURZ’s commitment to sustainable innovation aligns with EU-wide decarbonization initiatives, including ‘Fit for 55’ and the European Green Deal, reinforcing the company’s role in driving the industrial energy transition. By demonstrating the practicality of power-to-heat systems, LEONHARD KURZ and ENERGYNEST are paving the way for widespread adoption of industrial electrification in key manufacturing sectors worldwide, with a scalable, repeatable model for decarbonizing industrial heat.
ENERGYNEST CEO, Alex Robertson, said: “Electrification of industrial heat is essential for decarbonizing global manufacturing and supply chains. By partnering with LEONHARD KURZ, ENERGYNEST is showcasing a scalable and effective decarbonization strategy that can be replicated worldwide. This agreement is a proof point that industrial energy transition is not just a necessity — it’s happening now.”
Dr. Andreas Hirschfelder, CEO of LEONHARD KURZ, said:
“Sustainability is deeply embedded in our corporate DNA, guiding every aspect of our operations and innovation. By integrating ENERGYNEST’s power-to-heat system with thermal storage, we are significantly reducing emissions and taking another major step toward our goal of a fully sustainable production lifecycle and CO₂ neutrality. This project reinforces our commitment of being a ‘Green Leader’ in the industry.”
Ralph Hopfensitz, Executive Senior Vice President Global Technology at LEONHARD KURZ, added:
“The shift to electrified, renewable-based industrial heat is a game changer for manufacturing. By leveraging ENERGYNEST’s advanced thermal storage technology, we ensure a stable, on-demand heat supply that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels while increasing energy efficiency. This is a pivotal innovation that strengthens our long-term energy strategy and accelerates our transition towards CO₂-neutral production.”
About KURZ: LEONHARD KURZ is a world-leading thin-film technology specialist with more than 5,800 employees at more than 50 locations worldwide. KURZ develops and produces decorative and functional layers, including for the printing, packaging, and the plastics industry, for banknotes and ID documents, as well as for the automotive, electronics and medical technology sectors. The company’s comprehensive product portfolio ranges from decorative and smart interactive surface finishes, to design consulting and security concepts for product and brand protection. Together with its subsidiaries, KURZ offers solutions for digital embellishment, cold transfer, hot stamping, related printing and embossing machines, and embossing tools. KURZ is also developing its own recycling programs, is a UN Global Compact participant, and has been repeatedly recognized by EcoVadis for its sustainability activities.
About ENERGYNEST: Founded in 2011, ENERGYNEST pioneers integrated power-to-heat solutions and thermal energy storage for industrial decarbonization. Our technology provides secure, green heat and steam, reducing reliance on fossil fuels while ensuring a stable and cost-efficient energy supply. Designed for flexibility and efficiency, our solutions capture and store renewable energy, eliminating waste and enabling 24/7 process heat. Scalable, fast to install, and commercially available today, ENERGYNEST empowers industries to transition to a future-proof, gas-free energy system.
Press contact:
Ursula Mezler-Andelberg
LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG
Schwabacher Straße 482, 90763 Fürth, Germany
Phone: +49 911 71 41 214
E-mail: presse@kurz.de
Mareike Schumm
ENERGYNEST
Caffamacherreihe 7, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
E-mail: msc@energynest.com
Media inquiries:
Mareike Schumm
ENERGYNEST
Caffamacherreihe 7, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
E-mail: msc@energynest.com
