“Kraftwerk V” was one of Germany’s largest power plants at the time. The lignite-fueled power station, which had been built a few years before World War II, had six 35 megawatt turbines. After World War II, the Soviet Union had received control of the power plant, which led to the dismantling of several sections.
The power plant was partially dismantled and rebuilt a few years later. The newer power plant was significantly larger than the old one. It housed twelve 32 megawatt turbines, producing a total of 384 megawatts. After a few years of smooth operation, the power plant ended up shutting down in the 1990s. During the operation, there had only been one serious incident. A few years later, demolition got under way, starting with the gasometer removal and then with the blowing up of the chimneys.
Today, the structure still stands tall but serves no purpose. The turbine hall has been cleaned out, but the control rooms and boiler house remain. Vandalism and decay have started to spread throughout the area. The building once housed a museum. As a result, the turbine hall isn’t completely empty; a model of a turbine’s blade still sits in the location.
