In the early 20th century, a power plant was built in Bochum to supply electricity to the Prinz Regent coal mine. During the 1940s and 1950s it expanded into a key provider of electricity and district heating for the city, the Opel factory, and later the Ruhr University. In the 1970s the site switched from coal to natural gas, transforming into a modern combined heat and power plant.

After more than a century of operation, the Bochum Power Plant lost its purpose when Opel closed and major heating contracts ended. The plant was shut down in 2018 and partially demolished soon after. Today, the site is recognized as part of the Route of Industrial Heritage, with parts of the halls used for innovative projects such as the underground transport system CargoCap.

The last iconic chimney was demolished in 2023, but the story of the power plant remains a significant chapter in Bochum’s industrial past.