EP Group has taken another decisive step in its commitment to phasing out coal and repurposing former industrial sites for a sustainable energy future. The iconic 130-meter-high cooling tower of the decommissioned Mehrum coal-fired power plant was successfully demolished in a meticulously planned and executed operation.
The demolition, marked a powerful moment in the transformation of the site. Using 150 kilograms of explosives, the tower—constructed from 12,000 tons of reinforced concrete—collapsed safely into its footprint, with minimal dust and debris dispersion.
The cooling tower demolition follows a previous blast in October 2024, in which two 70-meter-high silos were brought down. Further demolition is scheduled through 2026, including the 130-meter boiler house in summer 2026 and the 250-meter chimney in autumn next year. The complete dismantling of the Mehrum plant is expected to be finalized by spring 2027.
The hard coal-fired Mehrum power plant, operational for 45 years, has produced in total over 120 million MWh of electricity. Mehrum power plant was taken off the German merchant market in 2021, but was kept operational from 2022 following an emergency intervention of the German government in response to the energy crisis in Europe. It was permanently decommissioned in March 2024. EP Group is actively developing plans for a new, state-of-the-art gas-fired power plant on the site, pending federal regulatory approval.