Clouds of Dust and Dynamite: The Demolition of Ibbenbüren's Boiler House
Coal power plant's boiler house destroyed by explosion
Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Email | Print | Copy Link--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---Say goodbye to grey smokestacks, as the Municipality of Ibbenbüren reinvents itself during the transition from coal to wind energy. The boiler house of the old coal-fired power plant, once a symbol of the area's industrial past, has now been brought down to make way for a modern converter station to harness wind power from the North Sea.
This morning, a whopping 500 kilograms of explosives were detonated - marking the beginning of the end for the towering structure that weighed an impressive 19,500 tons and stood at 120 meters tall. The boiler house came crashing down in a matter of moments, leaving the spectators, including 150 experts, 100 first responders, and several hundred evacuated residents, in awe.
Hagedorn Unternehmensgruppe, the current owners of the Ibbenbüren power plant since 2023, aims to prepare the site for construction by mid-2026. The plan is for Amprion, the transmission network operator, to start building the converter station there in summer 2026, contributing to the power grid with wind power from the North Sea.
When it comes to dismantling the boiler house, Hagedorn opted for a specialized steel cable technique. Cuts were made on the structure, weakening it, while steel cables were tensioned, pulling the tower together to create a controlled collapse. Safety was paramount, with three catchment beds and protective measures in place, along with 30 pools filled with water to minimize dust.
The air preheater, too, felt the force of 500 kg of explosives. The remaining four pillars supporting the boiler house were cut, while the remaining six were brought down by explosions. As of now, these materials will be recycled on-site to be used in constructing the new converter station.
The Specter of Old Coal: A Dead End or a Grim Necessity?
The demolition of Ibbenbüren's boiler house serves as a grim reminder of the phase-out of coal in Germany. RWE, the country's largest electricity producer, labels the return of old coal-fired power plants as a "dead end" and believes it hinders the progress towards renewable energy.
Nonetheless, the conversion of sites like Ibbenbüren from carbon-heavy coal power to environmentally-friendly wind power marks a necessary step towards a greener future.
Source: ntv.de, mli/dpa
- Coal Phase-Out
- Wind Energy Transition
- North Rhine-Westphalia
Behind the Scenes: The Three Phases of a Power Plant Conversion
While the exact timeline of the Ibbenbüren project isn't available, I can provide some insights into the general process of converting a coal-fired power plant into a wind energy converter:
Phase 1: Planning and Assessment- Conduct feasibility studies- Develop a budget, schedule, and environmental impact assessment
Phase 2: Dismantling and Cleanup- Safely remove coal-fired equipment and infrastructure- Clean up the site, ensuring it's safe for use
Phase 3: Installation of New Infrastructure- Construct necessary transmission lines or connection points- Install the converter station equipment
Phase 4: Testing and Commissioning- Thoroughly test the new systems- Commission the facility for operational use
Phase 5: Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring- Regular maintenance to ensure efficiency and reliability- Monitoring performance and energy output
The timeline for such a project can vary significantly but usually takes several years to complete. Stay tuned for updates on the Ibbenbüren project and the exciting shift towards renewable energy!
- In an effort to move away from the industrial past, Ibbenbüren's Municipality, along with Hagedorn Unternehmensgruppe, is focusing on community policy revisions and vocational training programs, aiming to prepare the workforce for the transition from coal to wind energy.
- Amidst the bustling activity of dismantling the boiler house, the air preheater and supporting pillars were brought down, with the aim of recycling the materials for use in the construction of the new wind power converter station as mandated by Hagedorn.
- Beyond the demolition of Ibbenbüren's boiler house, a broader focus on the conversion of coal-fired power plants to wind energy stations necessitates careful planning, assessment, and execution of various phases, including site cleanup, installation of new infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
