Uniper demolishes 116-metre cooling tower at Scholven site

Uniper has demolished cooling tower F at its Scholven power plant, marking a new stage in the dismantling of the Gelsenkirchen coal site, where the energy company plans to build a hydrogen-ready gas-fired plant.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

German energy company Uniper has carried out the planned demolition of the 116-metre-high cooling tower F at its Scholven site in Gelsenkirchen. The operation was executed precisely at 11:00 under the supervision of blasting specialist Thüringer Sprenggesellschaft, in the presence of selected guests. The process is part of the decommissioning of unit F, which began in April 2024.

A controlled demolition with extensive safety measures

A total of 60 kilograms of explosives was used to bring down the concrete structure, which weighs an estimated 11,000 tonnes. The fall direction had been precisely calculated by engineers, with 400 drill holes and specially designed guiding slots installed. The resulting rubble will be processed on site into high-quality recycled material to fill excavation pits.

Buerelterstraße and Feldhauser Straße were temporarily closed, and a 300-metre safety perimeter was established around the site. Although residents were not evacuated, they were informed in advance of safety procedures. The safety concept was developed in collaboration with local authorities, electricity grid operator Amprion and several neighbouring companies.

Repurposing the site for low-carbon energy generation

The Scholven plant has been undergoing progressive dismantling for several years. Towers G and H were already demolished in 2008 using a similar blasting strategy. In addition to cooling tower F, Uniper plans to demolish boiler house F and the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) facility later this year. Further demolitions are scheduled for 2026.

As part of the site’s transformation, Uniper is planning to build a new H2-ready gas-fired power plant, meaning it will be capable of operating on hydrogen in future. Other low-emission energy production projects are also in the planning stage. The company has not disclosed a specific timeline or investment volume for these new installations.

A milestone for the industrial conversion of the site

The company’s management described the demolition as a “symbolic” step in the site’s coal phase-out. The event marks a major technical and logistical step in freeing up construction-ready space for future projects. These efforts form part of a broader strategy to reallocate former energy infrastructure for purposes aligned with energy transition goals, particularly in the industrial regions of northern Ruhr.

Facing Western restrictions, Russia plans to increase coal deliveries to China, India and Turkey, according to a recent presentation on the sector’s outlook.
The visit of the Pakistani president to Shanghai Electric marks a new strategic phase in China-Pakistan energy cooperation, centred on the Thar mining and power project and local skills development.
Port congestion in Australia has boosted Russian and Indonesian coal exports to South Korea, with both now dominating the market due to lower prices and reliable delivery schedules.
Polish state-owned producer JSW confirms its 13.4 million tonnes production target for 2025 thanks to new equipment coming online, despite recent disruptions at multiple sites.
Russia and Indonesia overtook Australia as South Korea's top thermal coal suppliers in August, driven by lower prices and more reliable logistics amid persistent Australian shipment delays.
Underreported methane emissions from Australian mines could increase steelmakers’ carbon footprint by up to 15%, according to new analysis highlighting major gaps in global supply chains.
The new Russian railway line linking the Elga mine to the Sea of Okhotsk port will reach full capacity in 2026, after an operational testing phase scheduled for 2025.
The Romanian government is asking the European Union for a five-year delay on the closure of 2.6 gigawatts of coal capacity, citing delays in bringing gas and solar alternatives online.
President Gustavo Petro bans all coal exports to Israel, a decision with minor energy effects but strong diplomatic weight, illustrating his anti-Americanism and attempts to reshape Colombia’s domestic politics.
India’s coking coal imports are rising and increasingly split between the United States and Russia, while Australian producers redirect volumes to China; 2025 results confirm a shift in trade flows.
China approved 25 GW in H1 2025 and commissioned 21 GW; the annual total could exceed 80 GW. Proposals reached 75 GW and coal’s share fell to 51% in June, amid declining imports.
Valor Mining Credit Partners completes its first major financing with a secured loan to strengthen the operational capacity of a U.S. mining site.
Amid tensions on the Midwest power grid, Washington orders the continued operation of the J.H. Campbell plant to secure electricity supply over the coming months.
Peabody Energy abandons the acquisition of Anglo American’s Australian coal assets, triggering an arbitration process following the failure of a post-incident agreement at the Moranbah North mine.
Core Natural Resources announces USD220.2mn in operating cash flow for the second quarter of 2025, while revising its capital return strategy and increasing post-merger synergies.
A report by Wood Mackenzie reveals that geopolitical pressures and rising global electricity demand could keep coal-fired generation elevated well beyond current forecasts.
Ramaco Resources officially opens in the United States the first mine dedicated to rare earths in seven decades, also inaugurating Wyoming's first new coal mining operation in over half a century during a ceremony attended by senior political officials.
Turkish power producer Eren Energi Elektrik Uretim has launched a tender to buy 375,000 tonnes of thermal coal to be delivered in five shipments starting from August 2025, according to a document seen by Platts on June 27.
Ireland ends four decades of coal-based electricity production by converting its Moneypoint power plant to heavy fuel oil, now exclusively reserved for the balancing market until 2029.
Duke Energy Indiana will launch a technical study to evaluate the potential sale of its coal units at the Cayuga site following the planned commissioning of new natural gas plants in 2029 and 2030.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

[wc_register_modal]