The Triphönix project is currently being implemented in Schwandorf, Bavaria (Germany). By 2031, three ageing furnace lines will be replaced by two new, higher-capacity lines. However, this is not a greenfield development. The new facilities are being constructed within the existing plant while operations continue uninterrupted. One previously upgraded furnace line will remain in service.

The Schwandorf waste-to-energy plant plays a vital role in the region’s waste management as well as its electricity and district heating supply. A complete shutdown is therefore not an option.

Since 2022, TBF + Partner has been providing planning and engineering services for the Schwandorf Waste Management Association. Among other responsibilities, TBF is overseeing the replacement of the furnace lines, including the flue gas treatment systems, temporary installations, structural stabilisation during the conversion works, as well as the demolition, heightening and reconstruction of the boiler house.

Together with Andreas Münzmay, Christian Sawall, Ralf Wellhäuser and Stefan Biland, we visited the site and gained fascinating insights into the ongoing demolition and conversion works.

Demolition, construction and ongoing plant operation must be coordinated and monitored with utmost precision.

More than 230 interfaces – points where these three areas directly interact – have been identified and defined. Numerous temporary installations ensure the continued operation of the remaining furnace lines throughout the conversion phase and must be iteratively adapted with each new construction stage.

“They have to be just as reliable as the final plant,” emphasises Ralf Wellhäuser.

In addition, the project involves significant structural interventions. Load-bearing elements are being modified, loads redistributed and transferred to deep foundations using micropiles.

The conversion works are being carried out in stages and are expected to continue until 2031.

The result will be a future-ready facility that continuously fulfils the region’s waste management and energy supply requirements.

Projects such as TRIPHÖNIX demonstrate what TBF stands for: reliable, forward-looking solutions, particularly where standard approaches are not feasible.

A conversion project carried out during ongoing operations requires more than technical expertise. It demands a team that is willing to think beyond conventional solutions, communicates effectively and collaborates closely.

At TBF, both young and experienced specialists bring exactly this combination of skills. Together, they develop solutions that are as individual as the challenges themselves.

Stefan Biland – Electrical and Control Systems Supervision