Krefeld Coal-Fired Plant Gets Green Light

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The final hurdle delaying construction of the 1 billion euro ($1.45 billion) Krefeld coal-fired power plant north of Dusseldorf, Germany, has been overcome.

Industrial Info Europe can confirm that full permission for the project will be granted January 13 by local authorities, supported by key German political parties. The controversial 750-megawatt (MW) power plant being planned by Trianel Energie GmbH (Aachen, Germany) has been on hold since March 2009 because of environmental concerns. The plant will be constructed at the nearby Krefeld-Uerdingen Chempark. The decision arrived as dozens of protesters marched at the proposed site.

The Chempark is sited on 260 hectares and is home to four large chemical manufacturing companies. The Chempark is recognised as one of the leading locations for the manufacture of polycarbonates and polyamides in Western Europe, as well as the world's largest production site for inorganic pigments.

Getting permission and financial backing for new coal-fired plants in Germany is proving increasingly difficult. Energy companies have cancelled some planned coal-fired projects because of high costs, poor returns on investment, and the falling demand for electricity. Last month, Danish energy giant Dong Energy (Fredericia, Denmark) abandoned plans for the fiercely protested 1,600-MW coal-fired plant in Lubmin, and in October, the company shelved plans for another coal-fired plant in Emden because of falling electricity demand. For additional information, see related news item from October 15, 2009 - Dong Energy Cancels Two Coal-Fired Projects.

Last year, work at E.ON AG's (OTC:EONGY) (Dusseldorf) almost complete Datteln coal-fired plant ground to a halt after various protests. However, work resumed at the plant last month. For additional information, see related news items - E.ON Stops Work on Datteln Power Plant and Work Resumes at E.ON's Datteln Coal-Fired Plant. Most recently, Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW) (Karlsruhe, Germany) pulled the plug on a planned 900-MW coal-fired power station in Doerpen, Lower Saxony.

Those against the Krefeld plant claim that the plant will not be profitable, citing the cancellation of similar projects at Lubmin, Emden and Doerpen, but Trianel countered with news that it has a guaranteed buyer for the power.

"The conditions in Uerdingen make the project uniquely favourable for Germany, because a big industrialist customer is already waiting in the wings at the Chempark," the company's chief planner. "They will purchase a constant 33% of all energy produced."

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