Loud protest against a development plan is one of the rare events in the local council. At the meeting last week, however, the debate about the early development plan for the Rheinhafen steam power plant even had to be temporarily interrupted in order to refer climate protection activists of the hall. However, the local council was not impressed by this and ultimately voted in favour of the large-scale project of the EnBW.

The energy supply company wants to build a new Block 9 on its power plant area at the Rhine port, which will initially be operated with gas. In addition, EnBW intends to finally shut down Block 7 and transfer the likewise coal-fired block 8 into the grid reserve. "In many rounds and with hard bandages," says Jonathan Faller of the real estate office, the city and EnBW then negotiated contracts that stipulate, among other things, the fastest possible switch from gas as fuel to regeneratively generated hydrogen as soon as the conditions for this are met.

In addition, annual freight of nitrogen oxide will be a third lower than originally planned.

There was a hurry, explained Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup, because if the federal government makes its announcement true and new power plant buildings are freed from development plans, “we no longer have the opportunity to help shape the framework conditions”. Karlsruhe must remain a power plant location in any case. If EnBW acts as a major buyer of hydrogen, this will facilitate the connection of the fan city to the supra-regional supply network.

"Big profit for Karlsruhe"

The project was assessed differently from the Council Groups. CDU, SPD, FDP/FW, Volt and Friedemann Kalmbach (FOR) agreed, the KAL abstained. Rejection came from AfD, Die Linke and Max Braun (DieParty) while the Greens had tabled an amendment. With this idea, they wanted to anchor further requirements for environmental and climate protection in the contracts, for example on the nature of the natural gas used and on nitrogen oxide emissions. After the rejection of this request, the Greens also voted against the overall project.

"We have not managed to create the conditions for this for years," complained Green Group leader Alyoscha Löffler, "that we can do without the operation of power plants with fossil furnaces." In addition, his displeasure was directed against the EnBW: "It would be possible to follow the declaration of intent binding words and deeds," according to Löffler. On the other hand, Tilman Pfannkuch (CDU) reported "very constructive and realistic negotiations" with the operator. "We should not span the arc," warned Pfannkuch, because the power plant is urgently needed for the supra-regional supply. Dr. Anton Huber (SPD) called the EnBW plans "a big win for Karlsruhe." If the fan city opposes it, then another municipality would come to the fore. Petra Lorenz (FDP/FW) commented similarly: "We are not discussing whether the power plant will be built, but where". Companies and the population need planning security.

Question about availability of hydrogen

As a "memorial of the self-overestimation of the local council" branded Dr. Paul Schmidt (AfD) the decision. The federal subsidies to operate a gas and hydrogen power plant would push the price of electricity further. Instead, Schmidt called for a return to nuclear power. "We cannot decide on the energy policy of the federal government," Fabian Gaukel (Volt) countered this. Rather, it is about "making the best of a bad federal political situation for the city".

Tanja Kaufmann (Die Linke) described Block 9 as "energy policy not necessary and ecologically nonsensical." In addition, she justified her group's rejection by the fact that the announced conversion to hydrogen was uncertain and far away. Michael Haug (KAL) also saw too many open questions, especially in the availability of hydrogen, and added: "What we need is the switch to alternative energies".

Logistics area instead of vacancy

As Heike Dederer-Schöberl, head of the city planning office, informed, the development plan also brings an "urban development advantage" by also extending to the area of the "Thermoselect" plant. The industrial ruin, which lies on the headland between the harbour basins 4 and 5, was finally decommissioned from 22 years after the concept of extracting energy from waste had proved to be unworkable. According to an announcement by EnBW, the dismantling of the plant is scheduled to begin these days. The area will then serve as a logistics area for new power plant construction.

Source:FuelCellesWorks