History
This coal-fired power station was commissioned in the 1950s and has remained one of the largest thermal power stations in France since the 1960s. Units 1 and 2 were stopped in the 1980s and the original Alsthom turbines from the 1950s were unfortunately dismantled shortly before my exploration. The last coal fired units shut down a few years ago.
An other more modern coal power plant is still active on the site but will be stopped in 2022.
Exploration
Turbine hall
I went to this power plant just after the lockdown when the active plant had not resumed activity, so there was hardly anyone on site which made it much easier to explore. The access was surprisingly simple as this plant is reputed to be under tight security.
Entering the building through a wide open door, stairs led us directly to the impressive turbine hall, with 3 intact turbines and two - unfortunately the oldest - being dismantled.
The 3 unusualy colored intact turbine
Control desk on a turbine
The two 1850's half dismanteled turbines under plastic film because of asbestos
Boiler house
We then went to the boiler houses. Those of the units stopped in the 1980's have been completely emptied and give way to amazing perspectives.
The empty boiler house
The perspectives are very cool in this part
It doesn't show too much on the pictures but this part was huge
The more recent part, intact and with power still on. As you can see from the markings, the dismantling is planned to beggin soon.
Control rooms
Finally, here are the two control rooms to which we had access, but I think there is a larger one in a completly locked part.
This coal-fired power station was commissioned in the 1950s and has remained one of the largest thermal power stations in France since the 1960s. Units 1 and 2 were stopped in the 1980s and the original Alsthom turbines from the 1950s were unfortunately dismantled shortly before my exploration. The last coal fired units shut down a few years ago.
An other more modern coal power plant is still active on the site but will be stopped in 2022.
Exploration
Turbine hall
I went to this power plant just after the lockdown when the active plant had not resumed activity, so there was hardly anyone on site which made it much easier to explore. The access was surprisingly simple as this plant is reputed to be under tight security.
Entering the building through a wide open door, stairs led us directly to the impressive turbine hall, with 3 intact turbines and two - unfortunately the oldest - being dismantled.
The 3 unusualy colored intact turbine
Control desk on a turbine
The two 1850's half dismanteled turbines under plastic film because of asbestos
Boiler house
We then went to the boiler houses. Those of the units stopped in the 1980's have been completely emptied and give way to amazing perspectives.
The empty boiler house
The perspectives are very cool in this part
It doesn't show too much on the pictures but this part was huge
The more recent part, intact and with power still on. As you can see from the markings, the dismantling is planned to beggin soon.
Control rooms
Finally, here are the two control rooms to which we had access, but I think there is a larger one in a completly locked part.