Energy transition through fuel switch
Essen/Duisburg. Mitsubishi Power Europe received an order from STEAG Fernwärme GmbH, the largest district heating company in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, for switching two existing plants from fossile fuel-fired to natural gas.
The combined heat and power plants, Essen-Nord and Essen-Rüttenscheid, will benefit from Mitsubishi Power Europe’s fuel switch solutions, changing operations from oil to gas and coal to gas respectively. Energy generation from natural gas represents an important bridging technology in the coming decades to achieve the agreed climate goals and to ensure security of supply as long as renewable energies are not available in fully sufficient quantities.
Plants cover peak loads or supply hospitals
While the Essen-Nord heating plant serves in particular to cover peak load requirements for the district heating supply, especially during the heating period in the fall and winter months, the STEAG plant in Essen-Rüttenscheid primarily supplies the local university hospital as well as the Alfried Krupp Hospital with district heating all year round.
The scope of service includes a partial conversion of the boilers during the change from coal to gas, replacement of the existing control system at the Rüttenscheid site, dismantling and disposal of the existing components, and installation, commissioning and trial operation of the new components. Both plants will comply with the latest emission requirements in accordance with the Federal Emission Control Act (13.BlmSchV) and will be upgraded for operation in so called BOP mode (operation without permanent supervision). The fuel switch solution particularly contributes to reducing carbon emissions.
Fuel switch significantly reduces CO2 emissions
“Whenever we think of effective means of energy transformation, we should also think of fuel switch. It is a very efficient way to help existing plants reduce their emissions, especially given the time to achieve global decarbonization goals. We have been successfully driving conversion projects over the past years, helping our clients to make use of less emissions-intensive fuels”, comments Andreas Rupp, Head of Sales Business Unit Service at Mitsubishi Power Europe.
STEAG relies on engineering expertise from Mitsubishi Power
"The goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2045 can only be achieved by using the latest technical options. Particularly with respect to maintaining security of supply, this includes switching from coal or oil to natural gas, which is a much less CO2-intensive energy source. We are pleased to be working with Mitsubishi Power Europe and to be able to draw on their excellent engineering expertise on these important projects for the climate-friendly supply of heat to our customers," adds Dirk-Michael Fabinger, Head of Heating Plants and Supraregional Networks at STEAG Fernwärme.
