Demolishing the Past: The Spectacular Fall of Ibbenbüren's Coal Plant
- Explosion demolishes the decommissioned coal-power plant in Ibbenbüren.
In the picturesque Münsterland region, spectators gathered last Tuesday to witness the grand spectacle: the 19,500-tonne, 120-meter high behemoth of the former Ibbenbüren coal power plant came crashing down. The boiler house, boasting a height of 125 meters, met its demise midday, and the crowd stood awestruck. Hagedorn Group, the company responsible for the demolition, confirmed a smooth execution.
Having owned the Ibbenbüren coal power plant since 2023, Hagedorn aims to transfer the site to the transmission grid operator Amprion by mid-2026, ready for construction. The latter plans to establish a converter station there to harness wind power from the North Sea and feed it into the power grid as soon as summer 2026.
The intricate demolition of the boiler house
The project required the coordination of around 150 experts, as well as over 100 professionals from the police, local authority, and fire brigade. Residents living nearby were evacuated for the morning proceedings. Spectators admired the event from a safe distance.
The total of 500 kilograms of explosives were utilized for both the boiler house and the 9,000-tonne air preheater. Four of the ten supports for the boiler house were cut intentionally, while the rest succumbed to explosions. Three protective barriers and measures against flying debris were anticipated. To minimize dust, 30 pools brimming with water were prepared.
Now a memory, the cooling tower
Hagedorn utilized a sophisticated steel cable technique for the cooling tower's deliberate collapse. By cutting 21 massive, 11-meter long, 50 centimeter wide slots into the tower structure, the design weakened the tower and caused it to collapse in a controlled match. Steel cables were also employed, which were tightened and gradually pulled the tower together until it finally caved in.
The materials will be recycled and reused for constructing the planned converter plant on the site. The converter station forms part of the offshore grid connection project BalWin 2 and is scheduled to commence operations in 2031, signifying a significant step in the energy transition: moving away from harmful fossil fuels and embracing eco-friendly renewable energy generation.
- Ibbenbüren
- Coal Power Plant
- Renewable Energies
- Explosives
- Hagedorn
- Münsterland
- Boiler House
- Cooling Tower
- Amprion GmbH
- German Press Agency
- Steinfurt
- North Sea
A glimpse of the past as the future unfolds: transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energies.
As Germany propels forward in its energy transition endeavors, shutting down coal-fired power plants becomes increasingly common. The former Ibbenbüren plant's demolition offers an opportunity for newer, more sustainable technologies to emerge. Companies like Amprion are instrumental in integrating renewable energy sources into the nation's grid and ensuring both grid stability and reliability as the energy mix evolves.
- The demolition of the Ibbenbüren coal power plant, a sight that attracted spectators last Tuesday, will pave the way for a converter station to be built by Amprion, aimed at harnessing wind power from the North Sea.
- Just as Hagedorn Group dismantled the boiler house and cooling tower of the former power plant using sophisticated techniques and 500 kilograms of explosives, the company will reuse the materials for the construction of the converter station.
- With the decommissioning of coal-fired power plants like Ibbenbüren's becoming more widespread in Germany, the shift towards renewable energies is underway, allowing companies like Amprion to play a crucial role in integrating these sources into the national grid and promoting a greener energy future.
