Walheim power plant was built between 1962 and 1967. It has two coal-fired blocks. In the winter of 1981/1982, a gas turbine fired using light fuel oil was commissioned at the power plant in Walheim. Since it can be started up within a matter of minutes and feed electricity into the grid, it is used during times of peak demand. The power plant’s two coal-fired blocks were already registered for decommissioning in 2014, but are classified as having system relevance by the Federal Network Agency until at least March 2023. Their final decommissioning date is envisaged for March 2023, but is subject to the decision of the Federal Network Agency. The gas turbine will continue to operate.

The new sewage sludge combined heat and power plant will be built on part of the present site of the coal dump at the current power plant. The remaining coal dump area is also sufficient for the coal blocks’ reserve power plant status.