Hoppenbruch heap

Hoppenbruch dump with Enercon E-66 seen from the Hoheward dump, behind it the Emscherbruch landfill and the industrial backdrop of the Emschertal . In 2016 the wind turbine was replaced by a newer model.

the dump from above

The Hoppenbruch heap is a mining heap on the Im Emscherbruch road in Herten . It was created between 1978 and 1992 from the excavations of the Ewald / Schlägel & Eisen and General Blumenthal / Haard collieries and has a volume of 34 million tons at a height of a little more than 70 meters above the surrounding level. From 1983 it was partially open to the public, since 1992 it has been released from mining supervision and is completely open. From above you have a wide view over the Ruhr area.

Together with the Hoheward dump , it forms the largest dump landscape in the Ruhr area . Hoppenbruch and Hoheward together form a large part of the Hoheward Landscape Park and are also a station on the Route of Industrial Culture .

The Hoppenbruch heap is now used as a local recreation area after renovation work. As part of the renaturation , black pines were planted on the dump and many serpentine paths were created, which are suitable for long walks and diverse mountain bike rides. Including a technically demanding enduro circuit (approx. 4400 meters long with approx. 100 meters difference in altitude) which includes 3 official downhill routes (the routes are public and are maintained and operated by a local cycling club). In 2009, the Vest Cup for mountain bikers and races for the NRW Cup with around 400 athletes took place on the dump and the nearby site of the former Ewald colliery in Herten .

A wind turbine serves as the landmark of the heap . In 1997, an Enercon E-66 with an output of 1.5 MW was installed there, which was replaced in 2016 as part of a repowering project by a larger Enercon E-101 with twice the nominal output. With a generation of around 2.5 million kWh per year, this increases to around 6.7 million kWh. The E-66 delivered around 43 million kWh by 2015, saving 32,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

To the south of this is the wind power sculpture garden . The spirally arranged stainless steel elements take up various wind themes in form and applied description: from the creation (wind birth) to fairy tales and myths to the use of wind for shipping and power generation. The wind turbine operated here is also described in detail.

The stainless steel sculptures on the heap height with explanations on the phenomenon of wind power
View from the dump to the southeast with the RZR and the Herne power plant of STEAG in Herne , behind it the city center of Herne, on the horizon Bochum and the Ruhr valley heights
View in easterly direction over the Emschertal, on the left the Hohewardhalde with conveyor systems, then Recklinghausen- Süd, in the middle the Knepper power plant in Dortmund , in front of it Castrop-Rauxel and Herne
Bridge in the access area to the dump on Im Emscherbruch road