After 43 years, a furnace line at the Schwandorf plant goes silent. This is not an end, but the beginning of ‘triphönix’, a major project set to secure the region’s sustainable energy future.
Key Takeaways
- The Schwandorf Shutdown of furnace line 3 is a step towards the ‘triphönix’ project, aimed at sustainable energy.
- This furnace operated since 1982, processing 4 million tonnes of waste and generating 10.39 million MWh of energy.
- The ‘triphönix’ project involves modernisation, including new flue gas cleaning for furnace line 4, with completion expected by 2031.
- ZMS ensures operational continuity during this phase, securing waste processing without disruption.
- The project represents a significant investment in waste recovery and regional energy strategy for Eastern Bavaria.
On 14 December 2025, the Zweckverband Müllverwertung Schwandorf (ZMS) decommissioned furnace line 3 at its Waste-to-Energy plant, marking a significant step in the ‘triphönix’ modernisation project. The shutdown was initiated by the association’s chairman, Thomas Ebeling.
The furnace line, which had been in operation since October 1982, processed approximately 4 million tonnes of residual waste over its 43-year lifespan. From this input, it generated around 10,39 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy, an amount that would have required approximately one billion litres of oil to produce.
A strategic investment in the future
The shutdown is a key phase of the ‘triphönix’ project, the largest investment in the history of ZMS. The project includes the retrofitting and new construction of a flue gas cleaning system for furnace line 4 and the gradual dismantling of furnace lines 1-3, which have been in operation since 1982. The entire project is scheduled for completion by 2031.
According to Thomas Ebeling, ZMS Association Chairman and District Administrator of Schwandorf, “‘triphönix’ is an investment in the future – a project that secures waste recovery in Eastern Bavaria in the long term and at the same time makes an important contribution to the regional energy and climate strategy”.
Ensuring operational continuity
Throughout the entire conversion phase, waste disposal security remains fully guaranteed. The remaining operational furnace lines and established cooperation structures ensure that the waste volumes from the association’s members can be processed without restriction, the German organisation announced.
Konrad Rieger, Technical Manager of ZMS, stated: “One generation builds, one operates, and the next tears down to rebuild and make the whole thing future-proof.” ZMS Association Director Thomas Knoll added that the shutdown marks the end of a plant era and the beginning of a modern, sustainable future for waste recovery.
Technical specifications of line 3
The technical data for the decommissioned line 3 are as follows:
- Commissioning: October 1982
- Throughput: 12.5 t/h
- Steam volume: 42.8 t/h
- Steam parameters: 72 bar / 410° C
- Combustion chamber temperature: 850° C – 1000° C
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