Wärtsilä has been awarded two contracts by Scottish and Newcastle (S&N), the major international brewing group, to supply and install equipment for two biomass-fuelled combined heat and power plants (CHP). The contracts are for two CHP plants to be located on the premises of the company’s UK breweries in Manchester, for which the order was received in the end of 2007, and Tadcaster, for which the order was received in the beginning of 2008.
These Wärtsilä BioPower plants will be the first power plants in the world ever to produce, with high efficiency, both electricity and heat using spent grain as fuel. The plants will supply the energy needs of the breweries. The Wärtsilä solution represents a major step towards sustainable energy self-sufficiency for the brewing industry. At the same time, these BioPower plants will help the UK meet its target of having renewables power 10% of the country’s electric supply by 2010.
The CHP plants will each have a thermal output of 7.4 MWth and an electrical output of 3.1 MWe. The plants are due to start operations in the first and second quarters of 2009, producing steam and electricity for the breweries’ processes and exporting excess electricity to the local electricity network. S&N will earn Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC’s) for its production of renewable electricity.
“These projects are extremely important to our company in that they are a real demonstration of our commitment to improve our environmental footprint. Additionally, we believe the investments make good commercial sense, providing some protection from the volatility of the energy markets, as well offering additional security of supply,” says Andrew McMurtrie, Project Manager, Scottish & Newcastle.
“The Wärtsilä BioPower plants will enable Scottish & Newcastle to make more efficient use of residue from its beer production, cut down on waste handling and energy costs, as well as reducing CO2 emissions,” says Tauno Kuitunen, Regional Sales Director, Wärtsilä Biopower Plants.
When installed, the Wärtsilä BioPower plants will burn a mixture of spent grain and wood chips from local sources. Spent grain is a by-product of the brewing process, consisting of solid residue after mashing and lautering. It consists of the grain remaining after the fermentable sugars have been extracted during the mashing process. The spent grain is delivered from the brew house with a moisture content of approximately 80%. It is then passed through a belt press, which reduces the moisture to 58 - 60%, a level suitable for the BioGrate without requiring any additional drying.
Scottish &Newcastle is one of the world’s leading beer-led beverages companies with some of Europe's top beer brands like Baltika, Foster’s, and Kronenbourg 1664, as well as several major national beer brands such as Lapin Kulta and Karjala in Finland, John Smith’s and Strongbow in the UK, Kronenbourg Red&White in France, Sagres in Portugal, and Kingfisher in India.
Wärtsilä BioPower plants
Wärtsilä’s biomass-fuelled plants are clean and efficient. They are a practical solution to the need for renewable energy supply with minimum environmental impact. They incorporate patented Wärtsilä BioGrate combustion technology to burn biofuels with high combustion efficiency and low NOx and CO emissions.
The BioPower plant operates on a closed steam-feed water system separate from the district heating water system. Steam is generated in an efficient water-tube boiler, and supplied to a back-pressure steam turbine driving an alternator. Turbine exhaust steam then heats the district heating water and the condensate is returned as feed water to the boiler.
BioPower plants are highly modular, being based on well-proven standardized components with a conservative design approach. The plants can thus be delivered and installed quickly. Their proven technology results in a reliable, durable plant. They are also highly automated, enabling unmanned operation.
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 16,000 professionals manning 150 Wärtsilä locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on The Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland. www.wartsila.com
Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) in brief
S&N operate in the international brewing sector and currently rank number seven by volume sales in the world’s top ten brewers. S&N owns or has an interest in over 50 breweries internationally, producing more than 50 million hectolitres (mhl) per annum. S&N has more than 15,000 employees based in its direct operations in Europe, with a further 15,000 in the joint venture business in Eastern Europe and more than 7,000 in the investment and JV companies in Asia. S&N has market leading positions in 15 countries across Europe and Asia, including market leadership in the UK, France, Russia, Baltic Countries, Kazakhstan and India and number two positions in Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Greece and the Ukraine. In addition to international and national brands, S&N has a portfolio of other beverages including mineral water, cider and soft drinks.
For further information, please contact:
Tauno Kuitunen
Regional Sales Director, Wärtsilä BioPower Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel. +358-40-7170115
Tauno.kuitunen@wartsila.com
Maria Nystrand
Public Relations Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1456
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail: maria.nystrand@wartsila.com
Internet: www.wartsila.com
