New energy gives maximum speed to the railway

In the 50s and 60s, the German Railway electrified its rail network and converted train operation from steam to electric. The Datteln power plant came about due to the increasing need for railway power. The first two blocks went into operation in 1964/65, the third in 1969. With a total output of 303 megawatts, the Datteln power plant ranks as one of the largest units to supply the German Railway network. Today, around 20 percent of the railway’s power is supplied by the Datteln power station.

New energy heats up Datteln

The city of Datteln is also profiting from the power plant: The power plant has been supplying district heating to the city since the beginning of 1964. The district heating is acquired by means of combined heat and power, i.e. the simultaneous generation of power and heat in one process. Today, the power plant covers around 50 percent of the room heating needs for the city of Datteln.