History of GKS
1985
Due to the foreseeable tightening of legal requirements in 1986, technical upgrades to the energy generation plants of the major Schweinfurt companies FAG (today: Schaeffler Technologies), SKF and Fichtel & Sachs (today: ZF Friedrichshafen) become necessary. A planning office determines that a central coal-fired power plant is economically viable for industry and the Schweinfurt municipal utility company. Emissions in and around Schweinfurt could also be reduced by around 75%.
1986 - 1987
Thermal waste treatment for the waste generated by industry and the city of Schweinfurt is discussed for the first time. A preliminary contract is concluded, which determines the continuation of the planning. 1987 GKS-Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Schweinfurt GmbH is founded by FAG, SKF, Fichtel & Sachs and the City of Schweinfurt.
1988 - 1990
The start of construction of the coal section is heralded with a ground-breaking ceremony by Minister of State Dick on 30.06.1988. On June 1, 1990, after a construction phase of around two years, the coal section is put into operation. A few months later, on October 25, 1990, the construction phase of the waste section begins.
1991- 1994
After almost three years of construction, the waste part of the Schweinfurt joint power plant is put into operation on July 4, 1994. On April 1, 1994, the city and district of Aschaffenburg and the districts of Schweinfurt, Miltenberg and Main-Spessart join the GKS as "new shareholders".
1996
On January 1, 1996, the district of Main-Tauber-Kreis joins the GKS as a new shareholder.
1999
On December 8, 1999, Stadtwerke Schweinfurt GmbH joins the GKS as a “new shareholder”.
2005
GKS is subject to European emissions trading for the first time with its energy section. The aim of emissions trading is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy industry.
2015
On September 2, 2015, GKS is validated for the first time according to the European environmental management system “Eco Management and Audit Scheme” (EMAS). The certification has been continued since then.
2017
In 2017, GKS draws up a “sustainability business card” in accordance with the German Sustainability Code (DNK) for the first time in collaboration with the Institute for Sustainability Education. GKS subsequently draws up a DNK declaration, the conformity of which with the DNK standard is confirmed by the DNK office on July 4, 2018. Sustainability reporting has been continued since then.
2020
On 13.10.2020, municipal dried sewage sludge was co-incinerated in the coal section for the first time. The co-incineration of dried sewage sludge replaces fossil coal and thus saves fossil CO2 emissions. The coal section is subsequently renamed the energy section.
2023
As the previous interim waste storage facility is no longer available due to the ongoing construction of the Rothmühle landfill, GKS is building a new interim waste storage facility on a section of the Rothmühle waste management center in Bergrheinfeld. The interim storage facility will be used by GKS for the interim storage of household and shredded bulky waste in the event of plant malfunctions or to compensate for seasonal fluctuations in waste deliveries.
2024
From January 1, 2024, a CO2 price for greenhouse gas emissions from waste incineration will be introduced in Germany for the first time as part of the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG). GKS is therefore subject to German emissions trading for the first time with the waste part.