The Wolfsburg Mitsubishi WV gas power plant is a significant project in the history of the Volkswagen Group’s energy transition. The plant’s history is marked by its conversion from coal to natural gas, which is expected to be completed by 2022. The project involved Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe (MHPS Europe) and was part of Volkswagen AG’s commitment to modernizing its cogeneration plant “Heizkraftwerk Wolfsburg-West”. The new gas-and-steam plant will have a total output of 288 megawatts of electricity and approximately 265 megawatts of heat, contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.5 million tonnes per year. This project is a clear signal of Volkswagen’s dedication to combating climate change and improving air quality.

On behalf of MHPS Europe, convex ZT GmbH was responsible for the building permit, construction and structural design. 

Dr. Helena Vrecl Kojc, Ph.D. was part of the design team, performing geotechnical analyses of deep foundations, and structural engineering analyses for reinforced-concrete structures.

Wrapping Up with Key Insights

The team once again contributed to the energy transition with its assembly work. On the Volkswagen AG factory premises, two hard coal blocks from the West thermal power plant were replaced by a double block fired with natural gas. In this context, the design services carried out the assembly of two gas turbine lines as well as the entire electrical renewal.