Niederaußem power station: An innovation hub for IT and sustainable industries
Multi-layered site on 240 hectares
The Niederaußem power station site and the immediately adjacent Fortuna-Nord refining plant offer room for a wide variety of subsequent uses thanks to their land potential, the location directly between the districts of Auenheim and Niederaußem and the adjacent agricultural open spaces. As part of the gradual phase-out of coal by 2030, all lignite plants will be gradually decommissioned.
The site, which covers around 240 hectares in total, is located a good 20 kilometres west of the metropolis of Cologne in the district town of Bergheim. It is served by RWE’s own works railway network, which is directly connected to the public railway network at four points. The good infrastructure facilities are reflected equally by accessibility via the public road network and the energy supply.
The site will be developed gradually over the coming years. The first sub-areas in the so-called ‘starter area’ will be available for subsequent use as early as 2026. Other open spaces totalling around five hectares also offer space for smaller settlements.
Broad range of development opportunities with potential for expansion
The size of the overall site permits catering to different space requirements as needed. A broad-based qualification process with the involvement of politicians and administration enables the development of a joint vision for the future of the site. Thanks to its excellent connection to the power grid and the favourable location of the Rhenish mining area on two important European data routes, the site is ideally suited for energy-intensive companies in the digital sector, among others. The listed areas of the Klein-Mönchhof estate and parts of the Fortuna-Nord plant offer special design opportunities that will be taken into account as part of the structural concept currently being developed.
Good development opportunities with a wide range of possible uses are seen for the power station and upgrading site. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Rhine-Erft district have selected Bergheim as the site for an anchor project to establish a digital park. The site’s potential clearly lies in the availability of space (first areas ready for construction expected from 2026, expansion in stages from 2030), the potential for expansion and the favourable technical infrastructure, including for energy-intensive uses.
40 hectares of open space for the start of the first trendsetting settlements
Part of the 40-hectare ‘starter area’ is currently used for agricultural purposes. Another part serves as a storage and overhaul area for the operation of the Niederaußem power station, known as ‘Baufeld Ost’ (construction site east). The area is directly connected to the B 477 via the L 279 and is separated from the Niederaußem power station to the south-west by the works railway. The listed, medieval to modern estate ‘Klein-Mönchhof’ will be integrated into the development area. The site can be expanded in the short to medium term to include further potential areas to the north
(50 hectares) and south (40 hectares) of the ‘starter area’.
The key to rapid subsequent use
The approximately 40-hectare site in the direct neighbourhood of the Niederaußem power station, which is still in operation, is an ideal starting point for the first settlements. Thanks to its strategic location in the immediate vicinity of the power station and the existing infrastructure, it is fully developed and available at an early stage.
Contact details
Jan-Frederik Walter
RWE Power AG
Phone +49 2271.70.4332
jan-frederik.walter@rwe.com
Inga Driller
NRW.URBAN
Phone +49 211.54238.231
inga.driller@nrw-urban.de