Did you hear about the Gustav Knepper power station Turbine? It stood tall in Dortmund. This is its story.
The Gustav Knepper power station Turbine was a landmark. It was located in Dortmund, specifically in Mengede. This Turbine played a significant role in the region’s energy production.
Construction of the Gustav Knepper power station Turbine finished in 1971. It marked a new era for power generation in Dortmund. Originally, Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-AG operated the plant. Later, Bochumer Bergbau AG and VEBA Kraftwerke Ruhr AG took over.
E.ON AG eventually operated the Turbine after a merger. They ran it until its retirement in 2001. Hagedorn bought the plant after it shut down. They wanted to repurpose the area.
Unit C was a key part of the Gustav Knepper power station Turbine. It was built between 1968 and 1971. It generated 340 MW of power. There were plans to expand the plant, adding a 740-MW unit. However, this idea was rejected.
The Gustav Knepper power station Turbine underwent improvements over the years. Denitrification and desulphurisation plants began operating in 1985-1986. A fly ash silo was added in 1990. It had a capacity of 40,000 tons.
Units A and B, each with 64 MW, closed in 1990. In 2002, turbine improvements boosted net output to 360 MW. Besides electricity, the plant supplied district heating. This benefited neighboring districts.
Rising costs led to the Gustav Knepper power station Turbine shutting down in 2014. Demolition began in summer 2018. On February 17, 2019, the cooling tower, chimney, and boiler house were blown up. The Gustav Knepper power station Turbine is no more. But its history remains. It reminds us of Dortmund’s industrial past. It shows how energy production has changed over time.