Climate-neutral security of supply
Iqony is planning a new gas-fired power station at its Bergkamen site, which will be able to operate in a climate-neutral manner in the future thanks to hydrogen
Bergkamen has been a power station site since 1981. With an installed capacity of 780 megawatts (net 717 MW), the existing Bergkamen A power station is one of the largest in the STEAG power station fleet. However, the plant is scheduled for decommissioning. This cannot take place until the end of March 2026 at the earliest. Until then, the power station is classified as system-relevant. This means the power station is obliged to be on standby upon request to ensure the stability of the electricity grid with its output.
To ensure that the existing power station, which is increasingly approaching the end of its technical lifespan, can be decommissioned in the future, as STEAG has been planning since 2021, a new gas-fired power station is to be built at the site to replace the old plant and, thanks to the use of hydrogen, can be operated in a climate-neutral manner in the future.
In this context, Iqony – the division within the Steag Group specialising in green future and growth businesses – is initially focusing on natural gas as a bridging technology and, from the middle of the coming decade, on hydrogen in the long term for climate-neutral energy generation, as also envisaged by the German government in its power plant strategy. The creation of new, climate-friendly generation capacity is a necessary prerequisite for the long-planned decommissioning of the existing hard coal-fired unit at the site.
The project
To ensure this succeeds, Iqony has already commenced planning work for a new gas-fired power station at the Bergkamen site that will eventually be fully hydrogen-compatible, even though the specific energy policy framework – key term: power station strategy – is still not fully in place.
This means that no valuable time is lost with regard to the stated political goal of bringing the new power stations into operation at the start of the coming decade. Rather, Iqony can get the project off the ground as soon as the political framework has been clarified – and has created the urgently needed investment certainty.
Plants such as the combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station also planned for Bergkamen operate particularly efficiently, and the latest generation of plants can already co-fire up to 50 per cent hydrogen – provided it is available in sufficient quantities. However, even during the period when hydrogen is not yet being used, simply switching energy generation at the site from hard coal to natural gas will roughly halve CO2 emissions. This is the first major step towards electricity generation that will eventually be completely emission-free whilst still ensuring security of supply.
| Power | approx. 880 MW |
| Fuel | Natural gas, later hydrogen |
| Location advantages | Use of existing power station infrastructure:
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| CO2 savings |
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Sustainable energy
Our strategy for new, hydrogen-compatible gas-fired power stations
Iqony is committed to sustainability, including through the development of new hydrogen-compatible gas-fired power stations as a key component of our vision for a green, climate-neutral energy future. Our combined cycle power plant projects demonstrate our leading role and expertise in this innovative technology and underline our commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact by paving the way for a low-carbon and, in the long term, hydrogen-powered emission-free energy supply.
Even without knowing the future legal framework for the construction of new power stations, Iqony has begun planning work on a new gas-fired power station at the Bergkamen site. Given the political deadline stipulating that the new gas-fired power stations – which will be capable of running on hydrogen in the future – are to come online at the start of the next decade, time is of the essence: that is why Iqony has also made an upfront financial investment to ensure the project can be completed by the start of the next decade.
On 17 June 2024, a public information event was held at the power station site in Bergkamen.
Were you unable to attend? You can find a document containing the key information here.
Once the preliminary planning work has been completed, the planning permission process will begin around the end of 2024. In parallel with discussions with the relevant authorities, Iqony will engage in dialogue with the general public to provide early, comprehensive and transparent updates on the project and its progress through various channels.
Monday, 7 April 2025, 6.00 pm: Public consultation on the planned construction of the gas pipeline at
the Bergkamen Power Station Information Centre, Westenhellweg 111, 59192 Bergkamen
The planned public consultation is an early stage of public participation within the meaning of Section 25a of the Administrative Procedure Act of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Were you unable to attend? You can find a document containing the key information here.
Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 6.00 pm: Public meeting on the planned gas metering stations in Werne
Werne Town Hall, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1, 59368
Once the outstanding legal framework for the future operation of the planned new power stations has been established, construction of the new power station could begin in 2027, following the completion of the approval process.
Provided all other stages of the project go according to plan, the new gas-fired power station could come on stream in 2030.
Planned gas pipeline
To supply the planned combined cycle power plant at the Bergkamen site with natural gas and hydrogen, two gas connection pipelines need to be constructed. These pipelines will run from the Open Grid Europe GmbH long-distance gas transmission network to the power plant site.
Preliminary work on route planning began in early 2025 as part of a species protection survey and supplementary surveying work (see press release). The route planning now envisaged takes these results and further route-planning principles into account. Both pipelines
will be buried underground. A section of the planned route approximately 1 km long lies within a particularly sensitive area of the Lippe floodplains. To minimise the impact of construction work in this area, the pipelines are to be laid there using a trenchless construction method (blue line), which means that there will be no above-ground intervention in this area.
The figure below shows the planned route, which has been determined after taking all specifications and route-planning principles into account. The route will be further refined as part of the detailed planning process.
Frequently asked questions about the construction of the planned gas pipeline
The gas connection pipelines are required to enable the implementation of projects for low-emission and even climate-neutral energy generation at the Bergkamen power station site. One such project, which is also intended to ensure security of supply in the future, is the construction of a new gas-fired power station – this is to be operated initially with natural gas and, in the longer term, with hydrogen.
The two planned gas connection pipelines from the power station site in Bergkamen-Heil to the connection point on the existing long-distance gas pipelines of Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) in Werne will ensure the site’s supply of natural gas and hydrogen.
Without a new gas-fired power station, it is unlikely to be possible to decommission STEAG Power GmbH’s existing hard coal-fired power station. The plant is currently considered systemically important – which means it is called upon when necessary to stabilise the electricity grid. However, the existing power station will soon be 45 years old. It is therefore approaching the end of its technical lifespan.
To ensure that the electricity supply remains secure in the medium and long term, new power generation capacity is needed to replace the existing plant – this is particularly true during the winter months, when insufficient electricity from solar and wind energy is available during so-called ‘dark lulls’. The switch from hard coal to natural gas already reduces CO2 emissions by around 50 per cent. And in the long term, the new power station can even be operated in a climate-neutral manner thanks to the use of hydrogen.
Two parallel pipelines, each with a diameter of 500 millimetres (DN 500), are being laid. Each pipeline will be connected to one of the two existing long-distance gas pipelines.
The reason for this is that one of the two Open Grid Europe (OGE) gas transmission pipelines is to be converted from natural gas to hydrogen in future as part of the emerging H2 core network. This will also secure the hydrogen supply for the power station site in the future – enabling climate-neutral energy generation projects or hydrogen projects to be implemented at the Bergkamen power station site.
At present, the exact route has not yet been finalised. However, the Steag Iqony Group, in collaboration with an engineering firm, has identified a preferred option as part of a comprehensive assessment of various route alternatives.
The route-planning principles applicable to such line projects were taken into account when deriving and assessing the options. Key criteria for the preferred option were the lowest possible impact on nature and the landscape, running parallel to existing infrastructure, technical feasibility, the lowest possible conflicts with spatial constraints, and the minimal possible impact on land areas.
The exact route within the preferred option will be determined during the course of further detailed planning. The Steag Iqony Group is in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders in this regard.
The gas connection pipes will be laid using open-cut construction methods in accordance with the latest technical standards. To minimise or, where possible, eliminate any impact on the Lippe river and the adjacent conservation areas, this section will be crossed using trenchless construction methods. Special techniques such as microtunnelling or pipe jacking will be used for this purpose.
In addition, roads to be crossed (such as Westenhellweg or Lünener Straße) will also be crossed using a closed construction method, where open-cut laying would result in unacceptable disruption. The Steag Iqony Group is making every effort to minimise the impact of the pipeline laying on both the natural environment and landscape, as well as on traffic.
In accordance with the specifications of Open Grid Europe GmbH, it is mandatory to install a gas metering station, including a pig lock, at a maximum distance of 200 metres from each connection point to the natural gas and hydrogen transmission networks. This is the only way to record the volumes of gas procured by the Steag Iqony Group and settle accounts with OGE. The pig trap is used for maintenance and servicing operations. In addition, shut-off devices will be installed at the metering station to enable the gas connection lines to be disconnected from the transmission networks.
The gas metering station planned for Werne-Langern consists of two separate building sections, each approximately four metres high. The station makes use of the site’s natural topography and is integrated into the landscape through landscaping measures, such as a green embankment, so that it is barely noticeable in the surrounding landscape.
In addition, the front area of the site will be redesigned with benches and bicycle parking spaces to create a rest area for cyclists that is pleasant to spend time in.
The two gas connection pipelines are designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the latest state of the art. They are equipped with the measurement, control and safety devices required for safe operation, in line with the applicable technical guidelines and legal requirements. This ensures that operational faults are reliably detected and that the pipelines are restored to a safe condition without posing any safety risks to the environment or the general public.
Maintenance and servicing work, as well as inspections, are carried out using so-called pigging devices. These are devices that are inserted into the gas pipelines as required. For this purpose, parking areas for mobile pigging stations are provided at the connection points (power station site and in the vicinity of the metering stations). Consequently, no intervention in nature or the landscape is required for this work.
Within the Steag Iqony Group, STEAG Kraftwerksgrundstücks-Gesellschaft mbH (SKG) is responsible for all matters relating to land and property. People whose land is affected by the route planning have either already been contacted by colleagues at SKG, or will be contacted shortly. The aim of these discussions is to find a mutually acceptable solution that is acceptable to all parties involved.
The Steag Iqony Group plans to submit an application for planning approval to the Arnsberg District Government in spring 2026 for the construction of two new gas supply pipelines to the Bergkamen power station site. The planning approval process is expected to be completed by mid-2027. Construction of the gas supply pipelines could then begin (at the end of 2027).
With a view to the planned planning approval procedure, a scoping meeting took place at the end of March with the participation of the public authorities concerned to discuss the scope of the EIA report. The Arnsberg District Government is leading this process.
Our Expertise
With the construction and commissioning of the Herne combined cycle power plant (CCP) at the end of 2022, we demonstrated that we can reliably deliver complex projects of this kind “on time” and “on budget,” even under difficult conditions.
Despite the pandemic and disrupted supply chains, we were able to meet the planning targets in collaboration with our partner Siemens Energy!
Following a successful bid in a decommissioning auction, the Bergkamen power station was already scheduled for permanent decommissioning in autumn 2022. However, at the request of the transmission system operator Amprion, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) classified the plant as systemically important, i.e. essential for grid stability and security of supply. Following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the resulting concerns about a natural gas shortage, the Bergkamen power station, along with other system-relevant power stations, has temporarily returned to commercial operation. The basis for this was the so-called ‘Standby Power Plant Act’ (EKBG). This Act expired on 31 March 2024, meaning that the Bergkamen power station reverted to system-relevant status on 1 April 2024. The classification as a system-relevant facility is valid until 31 March 2026.
Yes. The official name of the existing Bergkamen A power station unit already suggests that plans were originally in place to build a second unit at the site, namely Bergkamen B. However, as this was never built, the site has sufficient spare land to construct a new H2-ready gas-fired power station there alongside the existing Bergkamen A unit.
Yes. When building a new power station, the ‘1-2-3 rule’ is usually applied. This means that planning takes one year, the approval process takes two years, and a further three years are required for construction and commissioning. Iqony proved that this is achievable at the end of 2022 with the commissioning of the combined cycle power station in Herne: although the construction phase coincided almost exactly with the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic, the plant was successfully completed and commissioned ‘on time and within budget’.
The plan is for the power station to initially run on natural gas and then, at a later date to be determined by policymakers, to switch to hydrogen as its fuel. To this end, the site must be connected to both the natural gas network and the hydrogen network, which is still under development. The Bergkamen site offers excellent conditions in this regard, as two major pipelines – currently forming a ‘main artery’ of the natural gas network – run just a few kilometres away. Thanks to the planned conversion of one of these two pipelines, the Bergkamen site also has excellent prospects for the future use of hydrogen.
At present, the Bergkamen site does not yet have a natural gas and hydrogen connection of sufficient capacity. For this reason, a connection to the long-distance gas network (and future hydrogen network) – spanning a few kilometres – is planned for the new H2-ready gas-fired power station; this is currently at the preliminary design stage. Here, too, it is worth looking to Herne, as there was originally no sufficiently sized natural gas connection there either, but this was also planned and built in good time. With regard to the plans for Bergkamen, this example shows what is possible when all project stakeholders work together to ensure successful implementation.
At this stage, it is not yet possible to put a definitive figure on the total costs, as a number of contracts have not yet been put out to tender or even awarded. In view of this, the investment volume can currently only be estimated roughly at a figure in the high hundreds of millions. A final investment decision will be made as soon as the framework conditions have been finalised.
