Concept, Performance, and Initial Operational Experiences of the Dinslaken Holzenergiezentrum

By firing industrial wood waste, the Dinslakener Holzenergiezentrum uses biomass to generate electricity and heat, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and replacing fossil fuels.

by Burkhard Krüger, Annette Ziemann-Nöthe, Ferdinand Krüll and Eckhard Lehmann

The Dinslakener Holzenergiezentrum (DHE) is a cornerstone of Stadtwerke Dinslaken’s sustainability concept and makes an important contribution to climate-friendly energy supply. By firing industrial wood waste, the DHE uses biomass to generate electricity and heat, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and replacing fossil fuels.

A key feature of the DHE is the combined use of generation of Heat and Power (CHP), which increases the efficiency of energy generation through the simultaneous production of electricity and heat for the district heating network of Fernwärme Niederrhein. Due to the exclusive use of renewable raw materials, the energy generated is classified as CO₂-neutral.

From 2024 onward, the DHE will save an additional 125,000 tons of CO₂ annually through sustainable wood waste utilization and optimized energy generation via CHP technology. The basis for this is a combustion system comprehensively designed by Doosan Lentjes that can handle the different requirements of wood assortments regarding calorific value and homogeneity. The facility also integrates an advanced flue gas cleaning system to ensure compliance with stringent emission limits, contributing to environmental protection.

Initial results regarding emissions are well below 17. BImSchV limits, highlighting the effectiveness of the combustion and the emission control technologies implemented at the DHE.

The DHE represents a significant step towards a CO₂-neutral future, playing a central role in the city’s energy policy and supporting climate goals by continuously improving the use of wood waste and enhancing CHP technology. This ensures a robust reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, fostering a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply for the City of Dinslaken.

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published: Abfallwirtschaft und Energie, Band 2, 1|2025
Keywords: Pollution Control, Sustainability, Climate, Germany