Zolling to strengthen reserve capacities

11.05.2026

Source: E & M powernews

A new hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plant is to secure the electricity supply in Zolling (Bavaria). The plant is primarily intended to step in during dark doldrums.

Plans for a new hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plant are taking shape in the south of Bavaria. Power plant operator Onyx Power, based in Dallas (Texas), wants to build a gas and steam turbine power plant with an output of around 800 MW at the Zolling site near Freising (Bavaria). In future, the plant will primarily supply electricity when wind and solar plants are not feeding in enough power. This is according to information from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Onyx Power.

The project is one of the first concrete plans in connection with the Electricity Supply Security and Capacity Act (StromVKG). The German government wants to use this law to promote new controllable power plant capacities. They are intended to close supply gaps caused by the nuclear phase-out and the planned coal phase-out.

According to Onyx Power, the new plant will be technically designed in such a way that it will also be able to use hydrogen in the future. Such H2-ready power plants are considered an important component of the future energy system. They can be flexibly regulated and should be operated in a more climate-friendly way than conventional gas-fired power plants in the long term.

Contribution to security of supply in southern Germany

The Zolling power plant site is one of the traditional energy locations in Bavaria. The hard coal-fired power plant there ceased regular operations in February 2025. The unit will remain part of the grid reserve until at least March 31, 2031 and can be restarted in the event of grid bottlenecks or dark doldrums. In addition to the coal-fired unit, Onyx Power will continue to operate a biomass cogeneration plant and gas turbines at the Zolling site. According to the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, the planned CCGT power plant is intended to secure the long-term importance of the site. The state government also sees this as a contribution to security of supply in southern Germany.

Power plant manager Roman Ritter described the planned plant as a key future project for the Zolling site, according to a company press release. Modern flexible power plants would play an important role in the electricity system in the future. At the same time, Ritter pointed out that implementation would depend on reliable legal framework conditions and functioning tenders.

According to Onyx Power, the plant is intended to step in at times of low feed-in from renewable energies in particular. The power plant would therefore primarily provide reserve capacity and secure peak loads in the electricity grid. The need for such controllable power plants is growing, particularly in southern Germany.

Support from the state ministry

The project is now also receiving political support from the Bavarian state government. Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) signed a letter of intent for the project together with Onyx Power. According to the ministry, the letter of intent documents the joint interest in the construction of the power plant. Aiwanger explained that new gas-fired power plants are necessary to ensure a secure and affordable energy supply in Bavaria.

However, whether and when the power plant will actually be built depends on several factors. The decisive factor is likely to be how the tenders under the StromVKG are structured and whether the project is awarded a contract. Further approvals and detailed technical planning are also pending. Onyx Power has announced that it will now press ahead with preparations for the project.

Author: Davina Spohn