Abstract Vattenfall is presently taking an experimental large-scale pilot test facility into operation for the detailed investigation of the oxyfuel firing process. The plant is located southeast of Berlin in Germany in the vicinity of the existing lignite-fired power plant Schwarze Pumpe. The oxyfuel pilot plant consists of a single 30MWth, top-mounted, PF burner and the subsequent flue gas cleaning equipment, electrostatic precipitator, wet flue gas desulpherization and the flue gas condenser. In addition to these components, a CO 2 separation plant is placed downstream of the flue gas condenser to produce liquid CO 2 . A cryogenic air separation unit located at the site will supply gaseous oxygen with a minimum purity of 99,5% needed for the combustion. The burner is designed for both pre-dried lignite and bituminous coal which will be tested in a later phase. The construction started in January 2007 and the first major test phase is planned to start in November 2008. The liquid CO 2 is planned to be used for test injections to qualify the Altmark gas field in Germany as a storage site for CO 2 for up-coming carbon capture and storage projects and to investigate opportunities for enhanced gas recovery. This paper will present some background information and describe the planned measurements. Initial experiences from the commissioning of the pilot plant will be presented.