Environment & Climate
“Block 1” of the coal and gas power plant in Dürnrohr (Tulln district) has been idle since 2015. Verbund AG is now dismantling part of it, with the 1,500-ton steam boiler in particular posing a challenge.
In the course of the clean-up work in the Dürnrohr power plant, the interior of the 100 meter high boiler house is now also visible. This is where the steam for the power plant’s turbine was previously heated to over 500 degrees Celsius.
The empty cauldron weighs more than 1,500 tons. The dismantling is correspondingly complex. The coal and gas power plant was the largest in Austria. A 150 meter high crane is required for the dismantling work. “Block 1” is to be completely dismantled this year.
“Leave a Clean Building”
The Dürnrohr power plant was built as a replacement for the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant (Tulln district), which was never commissioned. One block was operated by EVN, the other by Verbund AG. According to Verbund project manager Thomas Zagler, the aim is to leave behind a “clean, safe and functional” building.
EVN also has plans for the second block. The system should be recycled, so there would be no dismantling, explains Stefan Zach from EVN. One thinks here of photovoltaic systems and new investors, they say.
Photo series with 4 pictures
The investments cannot be used
It was not until 2019 that the Ministry of the Environment checked whether the coal-fired power plant should go back into operation. However, this was not possible due to a lack of staff, there were not enough skilled workers. In the same year, EVN also ceased operation of the power plant – more on this in Dürnrohr coal-fired power plant shut down (noe.ORF.at; 2.8.2019).
Since the end of coal-fired power plants is also in sight internationally, the sale of individual parts and recycling is proving to be difficult. “There is no longer any demand for systems of this age and size,” explains Zagler. For this reason, among other things, the four turbines of the Dürnrohr power plant are being cut up and scrapped. Special alloys enter the scrap metal market. According to a statement, the proportional ownership of Verbund AG will be transferred to EVN in the course of the closure.
