Emile Huchet power station

Part of the Global Gas Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor and Center for Media and Democracy project.

Emile Huchet power station is a 1,473-megawatt (MW) coal- and gas-fired power plant in the department of Moselle, France.

Location

The map below shows the location of the power station in Saint-Avold, the department of Moselle, France.

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Background

The power station originally consisted of six coal-fired units, commissioned from 1951 to 1981. Units 1 and 2 were retired in 1983, and unit 3 retired in 2003.

In 2015, E.ON reported that unit 4 (125 MW) was not operational and unit 5 (343 MW) mothballed. Units 4 and 5 were closed permanently in 2015 due to the impact of the Industrial Emissions Directive.

Only unit 6 (647 MW) remains operational of the first six coal units. E.ON is planning to run unit 6 until 2022. Additionally, E.On’s reorganization will move its fossil fuel assets into the new company Uniper starting in 2016.

The power station also consists of two 413 MW combined cycle gas plants, which began operating in 2010.

In July 2019, Czech EPH successfully concluded its buy-out of Uniper's activities in France, including the Emile-Huchet power station. EPH plans to retire the plant's coal unit in 2022, when France phases out coal power use.

There are multiple reports of Total SA acquiring the power station. In their 2019 Factbook, Total said the planned 2020 purchase was pending review of authorities. In August of 2020 the European Commission announced the purchase of the plant (via EPH's subsidiary Kernaman SAS) by Total had cleared review.

Project Details

• Sponsor: Kernaman SAS
• Parent company: Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH)
• Location: Saint-Avold, the department of Moselle, France
• Coordinates: 49.1526, 6.7018 (exact)
• Gross generating capacity (operating): 1,473 MW
  • Unit 6: Subcritical coal-fired, 647 MW (start-up 1981)
  • Unit 7: Gas-fired combined cycle, 413 MW (start-up in 2010)
  • Unit 8: Gas-fired combined cycle, 413 MW (start-up in 2010)
• Coal Type: Bituminous/Lignite
• Coal Source: Imported