Gaswerk

A gaswerk, or gas works, is an industrial facility for the production and distribution of manufactured gas used for lighting, heating, and cooking in urban areas. In the classic and most widely known form, coal gas (also called town gas) was produced by gasifying coal and then purified for use in city gas networks. The term is common in German-speaking regions and is sometimes used for historical or preserved installations.

A traditional gasworks comprised gas-producing units such as retorts or gas generators, condensers and scrubbers for removing tar, oils, ammonia and sulfur compounds, and gas holders or gasometers for storing gas at low pressure before it was delivered to mains and lamps. The process began with heating coal or other feedstocks, producing a mixture that was cleaned and then sent into the distribution system.

Historically, gasworks played a central role in urban modernization during the 19th and early 20th centuries, providing street lighting and energy for households and industry. With the introduction of natural gas in the mid-20th century, many town-gas installations were converted or decommissioned, and networks were repurposed to supply methane from north sea gas or other sources. Many former gasworks sites have been repurposed as housing, business parks, or cultural venues.

In German-speaking contexts, gasworks (Gaswerk) can also refer to district names or specific building complexes and, in some cities, to preserved gasometers that remain as architectural landmarks.