Wärtsilä Corporation was awarded a contract by the Belgian independent power producer Renogen S.A. in March 2007 to supply a second biomass-fuelled combined heat and power plant in the municipality of Amel in the Ardennes, the first “sustainable industrial area” in the southern part of Belgium. The new plant will have a net electrical power output of 3.29 MWe, and a thermal output of up to 10 MWth for district heating. The electrical output in condensing operation is 5.3 MWe.
Wärtsilä will deliver under this contract a BioPower 5CEX plant which will burn non-contaminated wood residues supplied by the local forestry industry. Wärtsilä will deliver the complete plant under an equipment procurement contract (EPC). There is also a full O&M contract to cover operation and maintenance after the plant is commissioned.
Due for delivery in July 2008, the new plant is a duplicate of the existing BioPower plant installed by Wärtsilä. Both plants will deliver hot water to local industrial businesses with the electricity generated being fed to the local grid. The two plants will be eligible to carbon emission credits (so called “green certificates”) applicable in Belgian Wallonia.
The new BioPower plant is based on the same well-proven modular concept as the earlier plant. “Wärtsilä’s modular approach brings several benefits to us” says Mr Yves Crits, CEO of Renogen S.A. “The site work is minimised and delivery time is short, in addition the plant can grow with the growth of heat demand on the industrial estate” he continues.
The modular approach also means consistent quality owing to the factory assembly of modules and compact, but well-considered layout arrangements requiring less floor area for the power plant building. This proven technology results in a reliable, durable plant. The plants are also highly automated, enabling unmanned operation.
About Wärtsilä BioPower plants:
Wärtsilä’s biomass-fuelled plants are clean and efficient. They are practical solutions for meeting needs for renewable energy supplies with minimum environmental impact. They incorporate patented Wärtsilä BioGrate combustion technology to burn biomass fuels with high combustion efficiency and low NOx and CO emissions. The moisture content of the fuel can be as high as 55%. The fly ash is removed from the flue gases in an electrostatic filter.
The BioPower plant operates on a closed steam-feed water cycle separate from the hot water system. Superheated steam is generated in an efficient water-tube boiler, and supplied to a high-efficiency reaction-type condensing extraction steam turbine driving an alternator. The water is heated by steam extracted from the turbine.
BioPower plants are highly modular, being based on well-proven standardised components with a conservative design approach. The plants can thus be delivered and installed quickly.
About Renogen S.A.:
Renogen S.A. is a subsidiary of 4Energy Invest S.A., a Belgian holding company which aims to develop, finance and operate cogeneration and power plants. 4Energy Invest S.A. shareholders include the company management (Yves Crits, Nico Terry, Guido Schockaert) and KBC Private Equity S.A., the equity house of KBC Group listed on Euronext. 4Energy Invest Board chairmanship is ensured by Mr Daniel Deroux, former CEO of Tractebel EGI (Electricity & Gas International). 4Energy Energy S.A. objective is to invest in projects in Belgium, in UK, in Central and Eastern Europe countries such as Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovania where KBC Group is already strongly present.
For further information, please contact:
Yves Crits
CEO of Renogen S.A. and 4Energy Invest S.A.
Direct tel: +32 80 54 01 51
Direct fax: +32 80 54 86 83
e-mail: yves.crits@renogen.be
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 14,000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä locations in close to 70 countries around the world.
For further information, please contact:
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
