Struggling to imagine where Frankfurt’s waste goes? Right before us stands the Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt. It is not just an incinerator, it is a vital organ in the city’s infrastructure. The Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt processes waste and transforms it into energy.
Let’s delve into the story of this imposing structure. Until the mid-19th century Frankfurt’s waste disposal was the responsibility of individual property owners. By 1900, the city generated 75000 cubic meters of waste annually. This figure rose to over 120000 cubic meters by 1912.
The growing piles of waste led to the construction of Frankfurt’s first incineration plant in 1902. It was located near the Niederrad sewage treatment plant. This early plant could process 100 tons of household waste and 50 tons of sewage sludge daily. However, after World War I the plant closed due to the decreased heating value of the waste.
In the early 1960s Frankfurt reconsidered waste incineration. The new Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt was built in Heddernheim. It would supply the Nordweststadt with electricity and district heating. The plant began trial operations in late 1965. Its official opening was on August 16, 1968.
Between 1984 and 1987, the facility was upgraded. A flue gas cleaning system was installed. In 1997 the plant’s 110-meter chimney received a makeover. A fire-breathing dragon was painted on it. The dragon became Fessie, the mascot of the Frankfurter Entsorgungsgesellschaft FES.
From 2003 to 2009 the plant was modernized during continuous operation. It was expanded into a Müllheizkraftwerk. The Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt now has a combustion capacity of 525000 tons per year.
The Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt generates over 1.5 million tons of steam annually. The steam is converted into electricity and heat. This provides energy to Frankfurt households. The Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt helps conserve resources. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
The Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt is more than a waste disposal site. It is a symbol of Frankfurt’s commitment to sustainability. By burning waste to create energy the Müllheizkraftwerk Frankfurt contributes to a cleaner, greener city.