Germany Blows Up €3 Billion Coal Power Plant — Climate Comes First
In Hamburg, one of Europe’s most modern coal power plants — Moorburg, with a capacity of 1,654 megawatts — has been partially demolished. The €3 billion facility was taken out of operation and partly destroyed as part of Germany’s climate strategy to phase out coal.
The plant had supplied power to the entire metropolis, but was deemed “incompatible with long-term goals” amid Germany’s shift toward renewable energy.
During the demolition, an incident occurred: of two boiler houses, only one was successfully destroyed, while the other remained standing due to a failure in one of the explosive charges. Currently, 600 kilograms of explosives remain in its basement, and experts are working to ensure the site’s safety.
Construction of the plant was completed in 2015. Just five years later, despite its high efficiency and compliance with environmental standards, authorities decided to shut Moorburg down as part of the national decarbonization plan.
The decision sparked widespread debate. Experts called the destruction of state-of-the-art energy infrastructure irrational amid energy shortages and growing dependence on gas and imports.
Nevertheless, Berlin reaffirms its commitment to the climate goals set out in the European Green Deal, including the complete phase-out of coal power by 2030.
Security around the undetonated explosives is currently being maintained, and access to the site is restricted. A decision on a second demolition attempt will be made soon.
The editorial board is not responsible for the content and accuracy of material taken, sent or obtained from other sources. The publication of such materials is for informational purposes only and does not imply automatic endorsement or approval of their content.