Image source & copyright: Stadt Bergheim
Written by Michaela Lentz
Participant LMU Engineering Program 2010
Our last Engineering Field trip was to the Power Plant Niederaußem and the city of Aachen. The power plant is a lignite-fired power station. The Rhineland region is full of lignite mining. First we stopped at “Hambacher Loch” which is a large mining area and from the viewpoint we are able to see the vast mine. Then we took a tour of the power plant where they turn the mined lignite into energy. Unfortunately the power plant was not up and running because of scheduled maintenance, but our tour guide showed us throughout the entire plant. It was neat to see the whole process of how they turn lignite into energy and see all the big equipment that make that transformation possible.
After the power plant we went to the city of Aachen. Aachen was a very cute town, but one of the most fascinating parts of Aachen was the Cathedral. The Cathedral is so large and has beautiful Romanesque style architecture. The Aachen Cathedral is most famous for the four “Great Relics” which are the Cloak of the Blessed Virgin, the swaddling-clothes of the infant Jesus, the loin-cloth worn by Jesus on the cross, and the cloth where St. John the Baptist’s head lay after his beheading.
Overall the excursion was very fun! We got to see an operating power plant and then we got to stroll about a beautiful city.
