Exploring an Abandoned Power Plant in the Desert

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In this episode we're in Spain to explore an abandoned coal-fired power plant that shut down over a decade ago. Inside we find a massive turbine-generator, an analog control room straight out of the 70s, and much more!
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[@TheProperPeople]

Thank you Helix for sponsoring! Visit helixsleep.com/properpeople to get 20% off your Helix mattress, plus two free pillows. Offers subject to change. #helixsleep

[@rachelredden6682]

Ok.

[@wolfviperepicdude]

Skip to 2:35 if you want to get on with the video itself and Not hear the sponsor

[@jessemazo4791]

helix should pull there support this is all illegal activity and your supporting it ..dont monetize and support theft and/or trespassing its rather disgusting!!!

[@rachelredden6682]

What?

[@jessemazo4791]

@@rachelredden6682 ignorance is bliss isnt it sweetie?

[@MWALevi]

Never and I mean NEVER change your intro music lol!

[@kevincockrell89]

For real. Every time that music plays I get goosebumps.

[@jeffshelton3018]

Yes, I love that intro tune!!!!!

[@chriscallen6897]

Same here. I love the intro 😊

[@robertschnobert9090]

They have to change it eventually haha 🌈 22:37 ​@@kevincockrell89

[@user-dl2bz9pc8r]

Concordo!!! Adoro muito a música de entrada !! Um show!!

[@CowTown]

Incredible, you wouldn't even know it was abandoned! Love seeing places untouched by vandals/scrappers.

[@McLoganator]

It also helps that it's in an arid region. There was next to no visible water damage.

[@mrgw98]

Even then, I'm amazed it looks as clean as it did and so much was still left behind.

[@jwalster9412]

Well it was up until two hours ago at least. When this video released with the name of the location.

[@keith_5584]

I feel like they struggle to even want to post videos because of that. (being afraid of people destroying the beauty they spend so much effort capturing)

[@mrgw98]

@@keith_5584 That's probably why a lot of these videos of clean buildings only come out when word comes out it is getting torn down. This video in particular was filmed back in 2022 so they've sat on it for a while.

[@dernudel1615]

11:35 In case anyone was wondering about the 'kenotometer", I found some info from the Edmonton Power Historical Foundation: "This instrument is used in steam turbine condensers which are operated at pressures below atmospheric pressure. It measures pressures approaching a perfect vacuum (0 pressure absolute). The absolute pressure is indicated by a mercury column, usually expressed in inches of mercury. This Instrument measures the very low Absolute pressure in the condenser. The pressure would be about 1.5 inches of mercury from the 0 at the bottom of the scale. Barometric pressure would be 30 inches of mercury" (Edited for some clarity.)

[@Woffy.]

You managed in your concise description of operation to describe its function very well, the company still exists in Newcastle and manufacture the same instrument but a bit more jazzed up, it is installed in practically every steam turbine installation the reason they still use this janky piece of kit s that it is incredibly reliable.

[@dernudel1615]

@@Woffy. It's not my description, I just copied it from the website of the foundation that I mentioned, and then cleaned it up a little to make it less confusing.

[@streaky81]

Steam condensing to water creates a vacuum, and it measures that, is a slightly more accurate way to describe it. Or put another way it is a device for measuring the effectiveness of that process.

[@Woffy.]

I am heartened that you were so curious to look up the device, our industrial history is built up such things. I was about to draw the comments section to it but your did a better job. I am pleased these guys take the time to record what some would miss. If the opportunity exist I recommend people visit power stations and the like to really understand the energy in the system. I can still here the machines I worked on some ten years later, also my Tinitus . Some larger paper-mils and Power stations arrange visits providing you are not called Gretta Thurburg. Best@@dernudel1615

[@creeguyvernon]

The old Rossdale PP must have had those too

[@bsbforum]

This video is 50/50: 50% dystopian movie, 50% wallpaper material. Awesome video as always 💯

[@junebarber8459]

When I was a kid about 60 years ago, my Dad worked for the Water Board (as known in those days). Weekends, he used to visit the local reservoirs, going down rickety steps right under the water. I sat in the jeep, petrified, as it was so lonely, you never saw a soul - no animals - just nothing. But the weirdest places were the 9ld water pumping stations which he also had to go and check on. These were quite large places - not huge …. They sounded like people worked there, but they didn’t, soulless but noisy - clanging and ticking and buzzing - but no people. Again, it scared the Bejesus out of me. In the middle of nowhere but noisy - I’ve had a fear of ‘still’ water ever since. These pumping stations were quite magnificent, clocks and dials etc set in beautiful wood but encircled in shiny brass. I can’t go past a water tower these days without wanting to go in, yet petrified of doing so. Sorry about the ramblings of an old woman and boring you to death ….

[@Danica_Lou]

I think this is very interesting!

[@junebarber8459]

@@Danica_Lou thank you so much xxx

[@tomahzo]

Thanks for sharing :)

[@SOOKIE42069]

Those aren't "skeleton keys". They're keys for lever locks. They're a very old style of lock that are common in settings where high wear and weathering are expected such as industrial plants. They're not super secure, but generally they're meant more to enforce things like safety lockout procedures, thus why there's 10 of the same key on a hook in those cabinets.

[@goldCrystalhaze]

I worked in a similar SIEMENS-KWU power plant, a bit newer than this. They are completely identical, even the turbine hall, the entrance to the control room, all the same. Control panel is Hartmann&Braun. Stay safe guys, nice video as always! Edit: the void space you saw in the turbine hall is for lowering turbine parts and removing them outside when needed (and the opposite, during maintainance), at least that was the case where I worked.

[@janicecopeland9083]

No scrappers or vandals, amazing!

[@jakeforrest]

Could be a stand-by power plant, that is looked after…

[@johnjimmies8256]

Or Western Europe takes care of their citizens so they don't have to resort to scrapping to survive

[@DOUGHBOY420.]

The shot of you guys climbing into the building is exactly why I watch you guys. Thank you for keeping these places unknown but also showing us What Purpose they served

[@muskheadroom]

It looks like it's next to the Mexico border

[@IdiotRace]

@@muskheadroom It's in Spain, they say it in the video and it's also in the video description Spain is a country in Europe

[@muskheadroom]

@@IdiotRace thanks for the reply I wonder how they go unnoticed and if they do have they ever gotten arrested in that country

[@nemesis2264]

@@muskheadroom They were in Spain, they said so at the beginning of the video.

[@brosch91]

Did we watch the same video? Because they revealed it as the Escucha power station and it's located in Spain. But the details don't really matter since there is plans to demolish it soon. A shame, it's in such great shape.

[@mrgw98]

13:40 Been sitting on this one for 2 years? Makes me wonder how much more amazing content you all have waiting to be released. Looking forward to what's to come!

[@marlmachine]

I wouldn't be surprised if they wait for certain area's statues of limitations to pass

[@mrgw98]

@@marlmachine I was talking to someone else in another comment about how I noticed a lot of the videos seem to come out around the same time a demolition announcement is made. It makes me think they do it help to keep places from becoming really known before scrapers and vandals can get to them. Also, they say they prioritize filming places that are soon to be demolished and those videos seem to be released sooner than those like this that are more presered and only recently announced a plan for demolition. It's just a theory I came up with after talking with the other person, so take it all with a grain of salt though. I won't deny that what you said is still a possibility as well.

[@jakeforrest]

Maybe they can’t be prosecuted for trespassing after two years.

[@eily_b]

I love that old Siemens logo that is still Siemens und Halske, the intertwined S and H above Siemens indicates that.

[@lizinwisconsin6728]

I have such appreciation for all the men who designed and built these massive plants. It boggles my mind how many it must've taken to keep these plants running. It was worth all the trouble you had getting in there. I love vintage round gauges. I can't believe they're going to destroy this wondrous place. Thank you sharing it. Love you guys!!!

[@romanmanner]

Must’ve been very different to plan and engineer before computers as well.

[@ericgiroux320]

This plant has an Air Cooled Condenser. The steam is directly converted back to water via the radiators over the turbine hall. A good choice in the desert where water to evaporate is harder to find.

[@frankschultz4170]

It's sad to see power plant generators not rotating as they are most certainly scrap. Because of the long turbine and generator shafts, they have to be kept rotating with a "turning gear" - a small 3-or-so-horse motor and deep reduction gearbox that keeps the unit rotating at 10-20 rpm to prevent the shafts from sagging and taking a set because they are so long and heavy. Once they've taken a set, they can never be run again.

[@robertmailhos8159]

No matter where Michael and Brian are finding the abandoned power plants that I love to see them in what ever condition they are in thank you for your.posting this video

[@johnstup4479]

This power plant is in pristine condition for being shut down for over nine years. No graffiti. No leaking roof. Just a bit dusty. Great exploration guys!

[@FishFind3000]

It’s in the desert so not many people wanna go there.

[@codyconnor8353]

Good job, ya gone and jinxed it! Now there WILL be graffiti

[@175hnb175]

Pristine... I love this word. :D

[@odbo_One]

Rare, everywhere I visit in America is trashed.

[@eftalanquest]

the "weird" keys you're handling at 18:22 are usually used to lock up storage mediums in data logging units. at least that's how i came in contact with them.

[@doel_the_daring]

LOL 😂 That black plastic key is used to open the plastic cover over the toilet rolls so they can change them once empty but also stop people stealing them! Lol in Australia we would call that a DUNNY ROLL KEY 😅

[@hi.panorama]

Jeez, does anyone really steal toilet paper? :O

[@doel_the_daring]

@hi.panorama LOL maybe or full rolls just disappear. I don't know anyone or have I ever stolen toilet paper but I have heard the rumours 😆

[@man350z]

It amazes me how much material that can be recycled in these old power stations around the world and it's all left to rot.

[@mikesadventures3605]

Man i cant believe we are almost at a decade with proper people. Ive been a loooong time follower your videos are still awesome and I thank you guys (and periodic guests) for the years of entertainment and awesome exploration. Its a dream of mine to one day find an awesome location like you always find. Maybe one day

[@orbitaaltube]

The control room reminds me more of a mission control desk than a power plant desk. Amazing as always guys.

[@gazzafloss]

I was a fitter in a crew building power stations in Australia using English Electric , General Electric and later on, Toshiba equipment from 1970 then maintaining them until leaving the power industry in 1990. Very familiar machinery and landscape there. A wasted resource in all that great machinery.Thanks for taking us along, interesting.

[@MrSilence99]

Would be great to see all these old plants fired back up but that's never going to happen sadly.

[@gazzafloss]

@@MrSilence99 some call it progress.

[@Astrolab.insights]

I always think about how some of yalls videos are the last record of some places. They hold historical value.

[@charelevation5994]

@TheProperPeople I found this really cool abandoned building in Hampstead Maryland with the door open and the power was on. I wonder if it was an old factory but I also noticed it was over 5 floors tall.

[@jlwine]

Another interesting video. That up at the beginning was pretty sketchy! The turbine hall was so very utilitarian compared to others you have visited, built just 20 years earlier.

[@Proof928]

It is sad that this plant will not be a museum. Most abandoned places have way more dust, maybe since they wanted to create a museum is why this was well preserved. Unfortunately, this will become ruble like many other old plants.

[@forceawakens4449]

Thats what makes the Chernobyl exclusion zone so interesting. Companies aren't allowed to do anything there without the Ukrainian government's permission, so the whole area is frozen in time in 1980s soviet style.

[@Richy.Boi.]

Where there is a will to gain entry there is always a way for the Props. Appreciate the effort boys

[@DuchessandHammer]

Nothing gives me the fear more than you guys exploring the back of boards. 😂

[@JimDog794]

DC capacitor will fry you.

[@LL.bean123]

Thank you proper people for taking your time and explaining the history of the power plant before you get on to it and not leaving us with that suspense on what happened.

[@MatthewCicanese]

The large print in the Control Room appears pixelated because it’s a billboard-style print (not meant to be “sharp” up close). Loving this episode! More like TRW please! ❤

[@dougtaylor8735]

I spent 47 years designing, building, operating and maintaining large steam power plants. All of them operate on the same principle, just with different numbers of stages and sizes of equipment. When they are shut down, they leave them standing for a number of years but have to tear them down as part of the closing of the financials. Most of ours were severely vandalized mostly for scrap copper. This was despite security systems that the insurance company demanded. Because of safety concerns, you probably shouldn’t have gone in there but thank you that you were respectful while there.

[@MrSilence99]

Now they are all going to waste. Sad.

[@AndyPue]

Wow, it is in amazing condition for 10 years of being out of service. Low humidity, should increase static charge and make stuff dust magnets, so interesting that the window to the control room was THAT clean. Almost no rust in the boiler area, outstanding and unique. And 19:19 shows a marshalling distributor. High-wire count cables are run to a central place. The generator would get a big 50-pair cable to connect all measurements and signals to that central area - close to the control room, so you can split and loop signals through instruments. And from those static endpoints, they wire up the controls and sometimes even logic systems. And if you add any measurement or equipment to the plant, you only need to get wires to one of the nearest backbone wires and pick up the signal at the other end below the control room. Smart way to do it before digital I/O was a thing and pretty much every single display in the control room needed a physical wire to the field equipment to exchange signals. The condenser could be a pure air-cooled condenser - common in desert-like areas. So the fans above the turbine-hall could have actually been the condenser.

[@USMC1984]

11:38 The kenotometer is a particular type of hydrostatic gauge, typically used in power plants using steam turbines. The kenotometer measures the vacuum in the steam space of the condenser, that is, the exhaust of the last stage of the turbine.

[@shaggytallboy4982]

That place is in such good condition, it looks like it could make power tomorrow. Thank you for showing us before it's destroyed.

[@TrimeshSZ]

It probably could - what typically sets the life of a thermal power plant is the boilers and there are some pretty stringent safety rules surrounding them - but in most cases you never hit the actual end of life because as the boilers get older you have to derate them for safety reasons and this reduces efficiency. On top of this, replacing boilers is the sort of major change that normally results in the plant having to be updated to meet current date emission standards - and this stuff can be very complex and expensive to integrate into an existing plant. So a lot of the time the most cost effective approach is simply to build a new plant then shut down the old one once the new one is on the grid, so you end up shutting down a plant that's fully functional and even has some life left.

[@MynameisChris_72]

You guys never disappoint. Thanks for the video

[@SharkDude1]

And now, because of this video, the power plant will be preserved in history forever. Beautiful setup in there.

[@bobscott9253]

That triangle thing on the roof on top of the towers looks kinda like a scrubber possibly to clean the last bit exhaust/flue gas?

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I expected to see an ESP (electrostatic precipitator) of some sort, like here in the states, but there would've been hoppers underneath to collect fly ash.

[@IKS-Exploration]

Love your videos !! ❤❤❤❤❤ keep up the great work 😊

[@mayeskyj]

That was a Navy seal/Kitty cat entrance LoL. Good video!

[@patrickbrookings]

Wow, amazing! It always baffles me how complex these power plants are and what it must have taken to engineer them! Just a shame that the plan for the museum fell through and another piece of history will be lost.

[@dalekrohse1871]

In arid dry areas, air heat exchangers (rather than water spray cooling towers) are used to get rid of heat. I think that the bank of fans is one such dry air exchangers. I visited the WyoDak generation plant at Gillette Wyoming decades ago. The fans were 30' in diameter each and 30' above ground. Good video guys.

[@michellelasher280]

That place seems to have been maintained.....at least to a point. Looks like you could flip a switch and start things right back up.

[@tylerthompson8241]

Been watching older videos lately, so it was nice to see this pop up. Another great vid

[@spencerbeales8965]

Looks like it was in use last week. Still in good shape for being abandoned.

[@brosch91]

Keep up the great videos! I can't believe it's almost been a decade since I originally found your channel. May the Proper People reach 2 million subscribers! It's a shame to see a power plant in such great shape like this being demolished. I imagine it probably won't take much to restart this power plant if they needed to. But you never know, a decade of abandonment would leave a lot of concerns I'm sure.

[@redsquirrelftw]

Power plants are always so cool. I can just picture it being active and noisy and having people working in the control room and in turbine hall and the big bosses in the offices. This could be someone's workplace for decades and they know the systems inside out, then one day, it's shut down for the last time and abandoned.

[@silsies5429]

Yay! Always happy to get your notifications!

[@HorrorWorldx]

Same here!

[@DavidVerch]

The condenser is on the roof of the turbine hall with all the fans. The weird looking condenser is the steam duct to send the steam up to the roof. The water treatment plan is a resin demineralizer it looks like.

[@rael5469]

One of my all time favorites was the walk through the fully powered but abandoned TRW building.

[@wildwheelsdarin]

You know you've been to one too many power plants when you start critiquing the decor at 11:46 😆 I know which clock you mean though, at the Ashtabula station, right? Yeah, that was a classy wall!

[@blayniac]

It's almost as if they could fire it up tomorrow if needed. Amazing!

[@christopherharris6005]

Awesome video as always it so incredible to see a power Plant untouched my vandals and scrappers so sad to see this place be torn down keep up the great work guys.

[@mxslick50]

I was told some time ago that those turbines and generators are often so well balanced, it is possible with some strong effort to turn them......by hand! I do wonder though, if it is possible after sitting idle for so long.

[@corystansbury]

They have lubrication "jacking" pumps to float the shaft on the bearings prior to any movement. At that point, they could be turned by hand. But when they're sitting, metal-to-metal, they'd be quite stuck.

[@rtrobinson88321]

I love old powerplants like this. Thanks for the video. You guys do a great job

[@tylerluraas1367]

@TheProperPeople The structure on the roof of the turbine hall is an air cooled condenser. This plant likely has an air cooled condenser because there isn't enough water in the region to support a traditional water cooled condenser. Air cooled condensers essentially work like a radiator on your car. They use fans to cool the steam back to condensate to be reused in the boiler. Most plants use traditional water cooled condensers because they are cheaper to run and maintain. However in this plant's case it was likely built in an area with little water but very near coal mines as a trade off for the extra power needed to run the condenser vs the cost of shipping large amounts of coal long distances.

[@scottpittsinger1654]

very RESPECTFUL and INTUITIVE! GOOD JOB!

[@ScottyRules33]

That was really interesting. Thanks!

[@aussiedingo5118]

Greetings from Perth, Western Australia. Have watched you for a number of years now and love the fact that in all your vids, you are respectful and show everything. The power plant was a lot cleaner than I expected. Are there any closed nuclear power plants or hospitals in Spain that you have visited. Unfortunately I can't afford to join up to your channel, due to breakup. So looking forward to seeing more of your exploring abandoned places. Best of luck that you never get security busting you. 😃😃

[@seangc4763]

Another round of quality content! I wonder if other countries try to prosecute for trespassing on properties there, seeing different laws?

[@slvncore5111]

These first person survival games are getting more and more realistic lately 🙃

[@orangemonsoon1883]

You guys are incredible, best urban exploration imo, keep it up👍🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@paulvamos7319]

Thank you for the tour guys! Love from Oklahoma! 😊

[@tomahzo]

Two videos in short succession? It's like xmas came early this year ;D

[@capicolaspicy]

So beautiful to see an old plant like that with no vandalism! You can tell right away it is NOT in the US sadly.

[@seabee73]

Another great untouched power plant. Great find. Thanks for another great video guys.

[@GitnGo]

Very cool place to investigate. It's amazing how clean and well kept this place is...thanks for sharing!

[@ocsrc]

Massive amounts of steam pressure going through those pipes

[@keithgabbard3539]

Been watching the content from this channel for a couple of years now . What you guys do is very special .

[@Bomhilsnotcountries]

Watching the proper people helps decrease my stress and anxiety ❤ So calming and informative.

[@ScottFerreira]

Wow! Loved this! Watching on the Apple Vision Pro made my legs a little weak haha. Kudos! Can't wait for spatial videos from you all! haha

[@danieldking]

Amazing as always guys you bring exploring to another level always love you videos they are both exciting and you get to take part in the old history of these buildings or caves that you show. Here in Sweden, I can't find anything to explore, indeed some defens line but nothing big and abandoned as such keep it safe guys and keep up the good work..

[@MrLukasbigfoot]

Such big wide spaces with huge machinery and this deep thick silence expanding all over except for the sound of wind…that’s what I love when you guys explore buildings like this. ❤️

[@EphemeralProductions]

This one is REALLY cool lookin! Love it! Thanks much you two!

[@Just_TomUK]

That Kenotometer with ‘Newcastle upon Tyne’ is from literally down the road from me. To think that it was made miles away in the north east of the UK, and it’s sat in Spain is amazing.

[@MikeBaxterABC]

17:35 While you guys are looking at the pin up girl, I notice what appears to be an Antique Wilton Bench vice, probably worth over $500 :)

[@mtnman1984]

Same vintage as the one just demolished in my home town. Cool to see.

[@denisduchesne2899]

please bring Wd-40 for that door hinges!!! :)

[@Peter_Tissot]

When I told my friend that there are other things to visit in Spain beside La Rambla, Something de Familia Church and Tibidabo amusement park, he said I was crazy... There is no way he would enjoy this great show.

[@AriannaEvann]

Your videos help me sleep and they calm me down. Plus they’re always fun to watch. Interesting sht always thank you guys ❤

[@TimFilmsCars]

That Lowepro bag at 5:00 is a legend. Mine has suffered similar "usage" and it keeps on tickin'!

[@Jimbooo666]

I wish i could go to places like this, the last time i went to abandoned place was one building near a daycare, we had to climb trough the window

[@Mental_Illboy]

Thank you for your service powerplant.

[@Txepsiyu]

That's a lot of building for that one modest generator. They really must have anticipated a lot of growth.

[@derrenleepoole]

Quality explore. Lovely to see a place clean and untouched.

[@davidhudson5452]

Glad you got pics

[@quietanonymous]

they never disappoint

[@TheLukeExplores]

Incredible video guys! I hope to one day reach 1/10 of your level, awesome stuff 🔥🔥

[@TheRibsRibs_]

The intro is firee.

[@maurusluctum8886]

Still the best Intro Song on KZbin. Please never change that! And keep making that kind of videos. I enjoy every single one multiple times over the years

[@user-wy5ot5zt1t]

Great video 📸

[@paulzimmerman6058]

Was excited to see the turbine hall and the control room, super clean. Access was a little different. Good job, awesome video.

[@henkdouma8448]

Strange. The note in the controlroom sais 31-12-2012 yet the calender is from the year 2013 and set on December of that year.

[@forceawakens4449]

New years inspection probably

[@henkdouma8448]

Inspections can be done (of a non functioning powerplant) can be done at any moment (and 31st of December is usually a day off). Working in a functioning powerplant however is 24/7/365 so there's that. By the way there was a second calender of the same year in the changing room).@@forceawakens4449

[@ryandariushwood225]

It's good to see you guys in a less toxic interior than usual. Excellent ASMR-ish video btw OXOXOXOXOXO

[@notarealdruglord]

y'all should totally invest in one of those telescopic ladders. Very compact and could easily MOLLE to the back of your pack. Paint it black or use a drape, boom.

[@sussngardner5059]

Love this video!!!

[@tonyvn5817]

Thank you guys for another awesome upload. you guys are like brothers to me.

[@HeadcrabPie]

21:52 the cut from you discussing security to opening the noisiest door in the world was magical

[@Spokaneexploration]

Great episode

[@TheCORC964]

Absolute banger as usual amazing work guys!