Construction site of the week – Dismantling of Germany’s largest power plant

Germany’s largest power plant dismantling project has been underway since July 2023. The coal-fired power plant in Voerde (Lower Rhine), which was built in 1970/71, will be dismantled by our member company PORR Becker Abbruchtechnik GmbH until the end of August 2026.

Various parts of the power plant, such as the boiler and engine houses, are being dismantled conventionally. The 165 meter high cooling tower (pictured) was already blasted last December. Around 1,000 boreholes were drilled into the structure, which has an impressive maximum diameter of 118 meters. Around 25,000 tons of high-quality rubble was produced after the blasting.

Special location requires special conditions

When carrying out the dismantling and blasting work, a number of special features must be taken into account. The power plant is located directly next to the Rhine, which means that water protection regulations must be observed. In addition, Frankfurter Straße runs through the middle of the power plant site and there is a high-voltage power line from the electricity supplier Amprion in the immediate proximity, which must be protected.

The conventional dismantling of the reinforced concrete and steel skeleton construction is carried out using a Longfront KMC 1200, various 30 t and 50 t tracked excavators and mobile excavators. In addition, wheel loaders and dump trucks help to transport the accumulated masses. The material is processed on site after demolition.

A total of up to 150 employees will be working on the dismantling project until August 2026. The client is the energy supply group RWE.

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Photos: Becker Sanierungstechnik GmbH / Leon Brink