Újpesti Erőmű
THE ABANDONED POWER PLANT IN HUNGARY
The ‘Újpesti Erőmű’ power plant was established in the early 20th century in response to the power needs of the railway electrification. The Újpest power plant was started up in 1910.
In the early days, the Újpest Power Plant used alternators driven by piston-type steam engines to produce electricity. As demand grew, the plant expanded. In 1914, two new power units were added, followed by two steam boilers in 1917. After World War II, when the Kelenföld Power Plant could not operate, Újpest had to supply electricity to more distant areas. From 1953, the plant started using heavy oil to compensate for low-quality coal.
By 1978, the plant also began providing district heating. Growing industrial steam demand and the needs of nearby housing estates made it necessary to supply hot water and steam alongside electricity.
Silent machines
Today, the Újpest Power Plant has an electrical capacity of 111 MWe, a hot water capacity of 342 MWth, and can deliver 40 tons of steam per hour. During my visit, I explored the oldest part of the plant. This area once housed several steam engines, but now only one remains, standing by for peak demand. The silent machines, worn floors, and towering boilers make this part of the plant a haunting reminder of the industrial past.
I visited ‘Újpesti Erőmű’ in 2015. Read more reports of abandoned power plants in Belgium, The Netherlands and on the Canary Islands.
