Heizkraftwerk Reick

Did the Heizkraftwerk Reick always embrace innovation? Not quite. Originally, the Heizkraftwerk Reick was simply known as Heizkraftwerk Dresden-Reick. It was built between 1972 and 1976 to provide crucial heat to the burgeoning Plattenbausiedlungen of Prohlis and Leuben. Imagine thousands of new apartments springing up, needing a reliable source of warmth. The Heizkraftwerk Reick, starting operation on October 9, 1976, answered that call. Fast forward to 2015. The Heizkraftwerk Reick underwent a transformation, earning a new title: the Innovationskraftwerk Dresden-Reick. This change signified a commitment to blending traditional and renewable energy sources. The site now houses not only the power plant, capable of producing 266 MW of thermal energy and 2 MW of electrical energy, but also a network of 60 heat storage tanks, built between 1984-1986 and 2017-2018. A photovoltaic system, generating 600 kW of AC power, basks in the sun. And a 2 MW battery storage facility stores energy for future use. The Heizkraftwerk Reick stands as a testament to Dresden’s forward-thinking approach to energy. It’s a place where the past and future of power converge. You can even see the remnants of that history in the two smaller chimneys that replaced the towering 220-meter giant that once dominated the skyline.