Frimmersdorf Power Station chimney demolished in Grevenbroich

A 200-meter-high chimney at the decommissioned Frimmersdorf power station in Grevenbroich was demolished via controlled explosion on Saturday at 11:00 AM. The structure, part of the former 300-megawatt Blocks P and Q, was brought down using a folding demolition technique with explosive charges placed at the base and at approximately 100 meters in height.

The demolition resulted in approximately 14,000 tons of debris, which will be crushed, sorted, and largely recycled on-site. To manage the impact, sand beds and seven-meter-high earth embankments were used to catch falling material. Despite water being used to suppress dust, a large cloud briefly enveloped the village of Neuenhausen and parts of southern Grevenbroich.

The demolition is part of an ongoing decommissioning process commissioned by RWE Power AG, with the goal of completing the northern site's removal by mid-2028. Future plans for the area involve transforming the site into an innovative digital location through a collaborative strategy involving the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district, and the city of Grevenbroich. Certain industrial heritage elements, such as the machine hall, are intended to be preserved.