Epiroc breaker powers power plant demolition
22 September 2025
Work has begun on dismantling Block F of the Scholven coal power plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, as part of the country’s shift toward cleaner energy. The project is being carried out by Regrata Abbruch und Recycling, part of the Matthäi Group, on behalf of Uniper Kraftwerke.
Photo: Epiroc
A newly introduced Epiroc HB 5800 hydraulic breaker, supplied by Baumaschinentechnik Nord, is being used for the project.
Weighing 5.8 tons and designed for carriers in the 58–100 ton class, the breaker delivers high impact energy for reinforced concrete.
“The Epiroc HB 5800 supports Regrata in executing this technically demanding project. It combines power and reliability—key requirements for handling such complex tasks. That’s why Regrata has relied on Epiroc hydraulic breakers for years,” said Björn Bassen, Authorized Officer and Senior Site Manager at Regrata.
Block F, commissioned in 1979 and shut down in 2014, is being dismantled as part of a wider plan to transform Scholven from a coal-based site into a modern energy hub.
A new gas and steam turbine plant is planned for the location, with infrastructure designed to be hydrogen-ready.
Regrata is deploying a fleet of specialised machines alongside the Epiroc breaker, including long-reach excavators up to 175 t, crawler lattice boom cranes and large crushing systems.
Controlled blasting of selected structures is being handled by Thüringer Sprenggesellschaft, also part of the Matthäi Group.
The dismantling programme began in April 2024 and is scheduled for completion in September 2026.
Once finished, the redevelopment will pave the way for climate-friendly power generation, with full hydrogen conversion as a long-term goal
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