The Cooling Tower - Power Plant IM Belgium
Power Plant IM
The cooling tower was designed to remove waste heat from the power station's cooling-water system. After passing through the condenser, the water was sent to the tower, where it could cool down before being circulated back through the system.
Inside the tower, water was distributed over a large area to increase contact with the air. Wooden structures, known as fill, helped slow the water's descent and increase the surface area available for heat transfer. As the water cooled, some of it evaporated, carrying heat into the air. The warm, humid air rose naturally through the tower and escaped at the top.
This type of cooling tower is known as a natural-draft cooling tower. Its distinctive shape helps create the airflow needed for the process without relying on large mechanical fans. The tower could therefore continue to function as part of the power station's cooling system without having to force air through it mechanically.
Why the Power Plant Closed
Power Plant IM's history is closely connected to Belgium's industrial development and the environmental costs of coal-fired electricity generation. Built in 1921, the station was expanded and modernised as electricity demand increased. By the late 1970s, it had become a major electricity supplier for the Charleroi region.
The plant's environmental impact eventually became a major point of controversy. In 2006, Greenpeace protested against Electrabel's coal-fired power stations in Belgium. Reports at the time attributed around 10% of Belgium's total carbon dioxide emissions to the Monceau-sur-Sambre plant, making it a prominent example in the debate over coal and climate change.
Electricity production ended in 2007. The closure marked the end of the site's original purpose, although some equipment reportedly remained in operation for a few more years. The plant's history illustrates the difficult balance between supplying energy to an industrial region and reducing the environmental impact of electricity generation.
Exploring the Cooling Tower
When I returned a few years later, the stairs were gone. Someone had placed a ladder against the wooden planks and metal structure underneath the tower, which allowed us to climb up.
From there, we still had to climb around 5 meters to reach the entrance of the tower.
The size of this place is truly impressive and it's definitely on of my favorites.
Another fascinating piece of Belgium's industrial past is the former Cockerill-Sambre steelworks in Liège, which I explored in my post Heavy Metal.
