Kol12kärnan

Kol12kärnan is a former coal-fired power station located in the municipality of Sölvesborg in southern Sweden. The plant was commissioned in 1979 as part of a national effort to diversify Sweden’s energy supply during the 1970s energy crisis. It had a maximum electrical output of 120 megawatts and supplied power to the surrounding region, including the industrial city of Halmstad.

Coal was supplied via a dedicated rail link from the southern Swedish coalfields before gradually transitioning to imported coal as Sweden’s domestic production fell. The plant employed a floating-ventilation system designed to mitigate air pollution in accordance with Swedish environmental regulations of the 1990s. With a workforce of approximately 60 people at its peak, Kol12kärnan played a significant role in local employment and regional economic development.

In the early 2000s the Swedish government accelerated the country’s shift towards renewable energy sources. The Kol12kärnan facility was thus subject to scrutiny regarding its carbon emissions and economic viability. After a series of environmental audits, the plant was officially decommissioned in 2008. The site has since been undergoing adaptive reuse; plans include a mixed-use development featuring residential units and a community energy hub that integrates solar and wind generation.

Kol12kärnan’s history is reflective of Sweden’s broader transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The plant’s decommissioning and subsequent redevelopment have become a case study in balancing industrial heritage with contemporary environmental and economic priorities.