Energy and Power
From red ink to ROI
Bernhard Thamerus Senior Project Manager
How closure projects become investments
For most of my career, site closure and decommissioning sat in the same category as insurance—necessary, expensive, and unrecoverable. When a mine shut down or a power plant went offline, success meant minimizing loss and moving on.
Across Europe, a combination of land scarcity, stricter regulations, and net-zero ambitions are changing what’s possible—and what’s expected. We’re discovering that when you combine engineering, environmental expertise, and strategic foresight, closure can actually generate value: commercial, reputational, and environmental.
For me, decommissioning isn’t just about removing what’s left behind. It’s about preparing for what comes next. It’s an easy way to turn a liability into an asset.
But how? It’s actually a journey with multiple steps that take remediation and site closures from cost sinks to reliable sources of ROI.
From Greenfield to Brownfield
In continental Europe, untouched land is a luxury that no longer exists. That’s driving a major shift from greenfield development to the redevelopment of brownfield sites.
When we repurpose land that’s already been used, we can streamline permitting rather than start from zero. Data from existing infrastructure, zoning, and environmental data help shorten preparation times and reduce uncertainty, breathing new life into places that might otherwise sit idle. It’s faster, smarter, and far more aligned with the circular economy.
Clients increasingly come to us wanting a single partner to manage the entire process: decommissioning, remediation, and redevelopment. That one-team approach allows them to move forward confidently.
ROI insight:
Streamlined approvals, lower preparation costs, and faster reuse of valuable grid and land assets.
ROI insight:
Fewer interfaces, fewer surprises, and more predictable results.
Integrating the end from the beginning
Traditionally, decommissioning tears things down and engineering builds things up. That’s how things have always been.
But I’ve learned that, if we make them work together from day one, we can optimize material reuse, control cost, and manage the risk directly on our balance sheet. Every decision becomes an investment decision—from day one of every redevelopment project.
Engineering meets regulation
Twenty years ago, engineers rarely even spoke about decommissioning. That’s no longer true. Today, asbestos, other hazardous materials, and complex safety standards mean engineering rigor is fundamental.
I’ve seen how this technical precision reduces uncertainty. By modeling outcomes before work begins, we can anticipate risk, design out inefficiencies, and build safer, cleaner sites.
ROI insight:
Predictability reduces liability—and that predictability has measurable financial value.
Local matters matter
Europe might share a vision for sustainability, but every country writes its own rulebook for closure. I’ve learned the importance of tailoring each strategy to local regulations and cultural expectations firsthand—from the Netherlands’ legal requirements to Italy’s redevelopment incentives.
The key is combining global expertise with local knowledge. When we do that, we reduce delays, avoid costly rework, and create outcomes that fit both compliance frameworks and community needs.
ROI insight:
Local alignment seems cumbersome, but it saves time, protects reputation, and accelerates delivery.
Driven by what clients value
Every client defines value differently. Some prioritize cost and speed; others focus on sustainability or safety. Our role is to understand those drivers and build remediation strategies around them.
When we quantify the benefits—from avoided emissions to asset reuse—closure becomes something boards can invest in, not just approve reluctantly.
ROI insight:
Data-backed decisions strengthen ESG credibility and internal investment cases.
Partnership and agility
No two closure projects are alike. Some involve multiple owners; others demand new contracting models. What unites the most successful ones is partnership.
We make it a priority to adapt to how each client works—their culture, their risk appetite, and their pace. That agility builds trust and allows us to deliver results that last far beyond the project itself.
ROI insight:
Genuine partnership creates long-term returns—financial, operational, and reputational.
Proof in practice: from liability to legacy
As we reach the end of this journey, the best evidence of what ROI-positive closure looks like comes from two German sites where theory met reality.
Moorburg, Germany
From coal to hydrogen
© Hagedorn Unternehmensgruppe
Before
A decommissioned coal-fired power station on Hamburg’s waterfront.
After
Now transforming into the Moorburg Green Hydrogen Hub, a project turning fossil infrastructure into a cornerstone of the clean-energy economy. By reusing grid connections, transport links, and existing permits, the development moved faster, cleaner, and at lower risk.
Ensdorf, Saarland
From power to productivity
Before
A 50-hectare former power site: idle, complex, and environmentally sensitive.
After
Through an integrated closure and remediation program, we prepared the land for new industrial reuse. Today it’s attracting clean manufacturing and logistics operations, bringing investment and employment back to the region.
The next chapter
Asset retirement is no longer a blunt cost at the end of an asset’s life.
When we take a full-lifecycle view—integrating decommissioning, remediation, and planning for what comes next—closure becomes a platform for sustainable growth.
What once lived in the red now drives return. And for me, that’s the real story: closure isn’t the end of value creation, but an opportunity to find more.
