Datteln 4 permitting: mercury rising?

There have been delays and technical problems, not least with new alloy T24, but the construction of a 10 GW (or thereabouts) tranche of supercritical hard- coal and lignite fuelled power plants that Germany embarked upon about a dozen years ago (when people didn’t worry that much about CO2) is complete, with one notable exception, Uniper’s 1050 MWe (net) Datteln 4.

After many delays (see, for example, Modern Power Systems, December 2012, pp 30-32, for a flavour of the complex permitting problems that have beset the project), the hope is to have the plant in commercial operation by the end of next year. But one potential permitting snag remains: the issue of mercury emissions.

In January 2017 a major step forward out of the regulatory morass was achieved when the Münster district government issued the all-important emissions- control permit to Datteln 4, which, at the time, Uniper said, made “it possible for construction work to be completed and for the unit to enter service.” However, Uniper believes the mercury threshold contained in that permit is too low and not realistically attainable, and is seeking a legal opinion as to its validity.

Meanwhile construction continues at the site. After a hiatus, substantial construction activities recommenced on the project in March 2016 following issuance of permission for an “early” commencement of construction works. Although the generating unit itself is largely completed, Uniper says, a number of ancillary facilities must still be built or completed. These include the fuel storage facility, the conveyor system, and the equipment to unload coal barges and load byproducts.

As well supplying the grid, Datteln 4 will generate electricity (at 16.7 Hz) for the rail system and provide district heating to households in the area. It will replace a number of older Uniper units in the Ruhr region.