The three lignite units each have a capacity of 300 megawatts (MW). With their deployment, they contribute to strengthening the security of supply in Germany during the energy crisis and to saving natural gas in electricity generation. Their deployment is initially limited until 30 June 2023.

The restart of the power plants was preceded by extensive work to prepare the plants for a longer period of operation with high utilisation. Components had to be serviced and thoroughly cleaned, wearing parts replaced and updates to the measurement and control technology installed. In addition, the teams were strengthened by colleagues taking early retirement later, more trainees being taken on and new employees being recruited from the labour market. Originally, it was planned that the three reserve power plant units affected would be permanently shut down on 30 September 2022 and 30 September 2023 respectively.

RWE Power AG

RWE Power AG, with headquarters in Essen and Cologne, Germany, is a company of the RWE Group. Its business is lignite-based and nuclear power generation. The Company employs about 11,000 people and operates three opencast lignite mines in the Rhineland area. Lignite production is predominantly used for electricity generation in the Company’s own power stations, but is also processed to make solid fuels and filter materials. In addition, RWE Power manages the operation, decommissioning and dismantling of RWE’s nuclear facilities. The RWE Power’s plants have the capacity to supply 9 gigawatts of electricity.

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