Excursion to the Rothensee waste-to-energy plant
As part of an excursion, staff and students from the LENA Chair visited the Rothensee waste-to-energy plant (MHKW) in Magdeburg. The plant is one of the largest waste-to-energy plants in Germany and is an important part of the regional energy and waste disposal infrastructure.
After a brief introduction to the history and significance of the plant, a guided tour gave us a comprehensive insight into the thermal waste recycling processes. The view into the huge waste bunker, where the delivered waste is collected, was particularly impressive. From there, the waste is transported by crane to the incinerator - a process that could be experienced live.
As the tour continued, the technical processes were explained in detail: How is usable energy created from waste? How does flue gas cleaning work? And what happens to the remaining slag? These topics were also clearly explained. It became clear how complex and efficient the conversion of waste into electricity and district heating is.
A particular highlight was the visit to the control room, where all of the plant's processes are monitored and controlled. Here, the participants gained an insight into the complex control technology required to ensure continuous and safe energy generation.
The excursion offered an exciting combination of technical depth and practical demonstration and was an enriching addition to everyday study life for everyone involved, and the LENA Chair would like to thank the Rothensee CHP plant for the opportunity to go on the excursion.