“Can you imagine Chemnitz without heat?” Let me tell you about the Heizkraftwerk Nord II. This power plant played a vital role in keeping Chemnitz warm for many years.
Heizkraftwerk Nord II stands as a testament to Chemnitz’s industrial spirit. It addressed the growing energy demands of the city. Especially, it supported the new residential areas.
Construction for Heizkraftwerk Nord II started in 1981. It was a large project to provide heat and power. By December 1986, the first heating was supplied. The first electricity production started soon after. The Heizkraftwerk Nord II was fully operational by 1990. It had a large capacity for heat and electricity generation.
The plant used a combined heat and power system. This system generated 3x 160 megawatts of heat. It also produced 3x 60 megawatts of electrical power.
Before reunification, the plant belonged to VEB Energiekombinat Karl-Marx-Stadt. In 1990, it became Energieversorgung Südsachsen AG after privatization. The Stadtwerke Chemnitz AG took over operations in 1996. In 2010, it merged with Erdgas Südsachsen GmbH to form Eins Energie in Sachsen GmbH & Co. KG.
The location of Heizkraftwerk Nord II near the Chemnitz River was important. However, it required rerouting the WbCF line and the Furth freight station. The railway connection was essential for supplying resources.
Around 1990, the Küchwald station was adapted to meet the needs of the power plant. The old thawing hall was replaced. A switch tower and a track scale were built. A longer thawing shed was also constructed.
Initially, all three blocks in Heizkraftwerk Nord II used lignite. In 1995, Block A was converted to natural gas and light oil. Following damage in 2016, Block A was shut down in 2017. Blocks B and C continued using lignite until the end.
The use of lignite ended on January 18, 2024. This switch marked a big change in Chemnitz’s energy sources.
To reduce emissions, a flue gas desulfurization plant was installed in 1996. This required regular deliveries of limestone from the Rübeland quarry.
The railway was used to transport various materials to and from the plant. These included brown coal, light heating oil, limestone, and acid for water treatment. Waste products like ash and REA gypsum were also transported.
The towering chimney stood at 301.8 meters. It became a landmark in Chemnitz. The chimney was painted with colorful sections by the French artist Daniel Buren. It was considered the tallest artwork in the world.
Today, gas engine power plants have replaced Heizkraftwerk Nord II. One was built on the site of the former Heizkraftwerk Nord I. A second one is in Altchemnitz. These plants use gas bought on the open market. This gas is considered more environmentally friendly than local lignite.
Although Heizkraftwerk Nord II is no longer running, its legacy remains. It provided essential heat and power to Chemnitz for many years.