In July 2018, we visited the Rheinhafen steam power plant in Karlsruhe.
We were first given an introduction to how a coal-fired power plant works before everyone grabbed a helmet and a headset and headed out onto the power plant site. We were led past the huge piles of black coal into Block 7. The newer Block 8 from 2014 was unfortunately being overhauled at the time. But that didn't mean we saw less. The construction methods are very similar - only there was probably more dust in our block.
We were guided through the impressive halls to the combustion boiler, the turbines and the control center, among other things. A short detour to the roof gave us a breathtaking view of the entire site and the Rhine next door.
On our tour, we not only learned a great deal about the structure and function of a coal-fired power plant, but also discussed the problems and prospects for power generation and storage in the future. All in all, a very worthwhile excursion!