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- In the same operation, which involved a total of 1,074 kilograms of explosives, a coal hopper building was also demolished.
- With this milestone, the dismantling of the facility is entering its final phase and is expected to be fully completed by the end of the year.
Endesa has completed this midday the final major milestone in the dismantling of the Compostilla II coal-fired power plant, an icon of electricity generation in Castilla y León. This midday, the energy company successfully carried out the technical challenge of demolishing the plant’s two remaining chimneys.
The demolition of the two chimneys—one belonging to Units 1, 2 and 3, and the other to Units 4 and 5—was carried out alongside the demolition of the coal feed hopper building belonging to Units 4 and 5. These works were carried out together with the specialized demolition and dismantling contractors Recifemetal and 4D.
The operation, which was carried out simultaneously, used a total of 1,074 kilograms of explosives to demolish these structures, which had an approximate combined weight of 44,000 tonnes. Around 95% of this material will be recovered, making the operation a zero-waste project.
The dismantling of Compostilla II follows the high sustainability standards that characterize Endesa’s projects. In this regard, it is an example of the circular economy, as virtually all the waste generated is recovered, while also demonstrating a commitment to local employment.
In this respect, more than 1,250,000 working hours have been accumulated, with an average of 108 workers employed in January, more than two-thirds of whom are local workers.
Technical challenge of the demolitions
The chimney serving Units 1, 2 and 3 stood 290 metres tall, equivalent to a skyscraper of more than 70 floors, with a base measuring 26.6 metres in diameter that gradually narrowed to 11.10 metres at the top. The second chimney, serving Units 4 and 5, stood 270 metres tall, with a diameter of 22.15 metres at the base and 10.10 metres at the top.
For each of the chimneys, the shaft was weakened so that it would fold in half and fall towards the designated area in a controlled manner, bending in on itself.
Meanwhile, the hopper building—a distinctive structure that housed the storage bins where the coal was received and metered for use by the power plant—stood 59 metres high, was 30 metres wide and 170 metres long. Its shape posed a technical challenge for the demolition engineers, who carried out its demolition by causing the structure to topple.
In order to minimize the dust generated by the demolition, protective screens were installed, along with mist cannons and irrigation sprinklers. In addition, seismographs were used to monitor the blast, continuously measuring the resulting ground waves.
For this reason, a safety perimeter was established throughout the surrounding area, limiting access and restricting traffic in coordination with the Cubillos del Sil Town Council and the Security Forces.
Final phase
With this achievement, the power plant dismantling project is entering its final phase. In fact, the project is already more than 90% complete and is expected to be fully completed by the end of this year.
The Compostilla II power plant was inaugurated in 1972 and subsequently expanded until 1985. The facility was closed in June 2020 due to its loss of competitiveness in the market as a result of rising CO2 emission prices and increased environmental restrictions imposed by the European Union, when its capacity stood at just over 1,000 MW. The complex covers a total area of approximately 375 hectares and consisted of five thermal units: Units 1, 2, 4 and 5 have already been fully dismantled, while work is being completed on Unit 3 and on service buildings at the former plant, with all works expected to be completed during 2026.
About Endesa
Endesa is the leading electricity company in Spain and the second-largest in Portugal. It is also the second-largest gas operator in the Spanish market. The company operates an integrated electricity generation, distribution and retail business, and offers value-added services aimed at electrifying energy uses in homes, businesses and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and corporate social responsibility. In this area, it also operates through the Endesa Foundation. Our workforce comprises around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.