In the very heart of the lignite stronghold, a new combined heat and power plant is being built to run entirely without coal by 2021. Know-how from South Tyrol, North Tyrol and Emilia Romagna is being used: we are planning and realising the 65-million-euro project in cooperation with Cefla S.C. from Bologna and Innio from Jenbach. Recently, the contract between the project parties was officially signed and construction will start in a few weeks.

The contract includes the implementation planning and the turnkey construction of a new combined heat and power plant as well as 16 pressurised heat accumulators around 30 metres high. Five highly efficient gas engines of the new 10 MW power class from Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co. OG will generate electricity and heat from Siberian natural gas.

The specified construction time of only two years is a great challenge. After commissioning, 100,000 tonnes of CO2 pro year should be saved and the efficiency increased from 70 to 90 per cent.

The construction of the new power plant in Lusatia is part of an investment plan demanded by the German government, which aims to replace coal-fired power plants with gas-fired power plants.