Vattenfall Europe may build Hamburg coal plant
Vattenfall Europe (VE) is examining whether to build a new coal-fired CHP power plant in the Hamburg area, a spokesman said.
“We are in the very early stages of planning. There are two possible sites, one in Hamburg and one at Brunsbuettel, 70 km outside the city,” he said, adding, “It would definitely be black coal-fired.”
Representatives of VE and the group’s Hamburg distribution arm HEW presented the idea to federal state economic minister Gunnar Uldall as well as representatives of large industry such as copper producer Nordeutsche Affinerie and Hamburger Aluminium Werke.
Separately, the spokesman said that HEW was still negotiating with HAW over a possible new contract. HEW recently announced it was exercising a get out clause in a long term supply contract with HAW that had become unprofitable for the former since market liberalisation. HEW lost Norddeutsche Affinerie to rival supplier Electrabel earlier this year.
But recent media reports suggested HAW would struggle to find an alternative supplier. Dismissing suggestions that HEW holds almost monopoly-like control in supplying the Hamburg region, the spokesman said,
“Our grid access fees for the high voltage grid — that which is used to supply large factories like HAW — are the cheapest in Germany.” AKB
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