HELSINKI,
Sept. 8, 2011
(Press Release) -
Metso will supply Kotka Energy Ltd a biomass-fired heating plant for the production of district heat in the township of Kotka in Finland. The turn-key heating plant will be delivered by the Metso-Wärtsilä joint venture MW Power. The value of the order is not disclosed.
Once completed, the plant will produce hot water for district heating network in Kotka. The plant will serve network as peak-load and reserve heating plant during the winter season. It replaces old oil and natural gas fired thermal energy generation and improves overall heat supply security. Bioheat heating plants are based on a patented BioGrate combustion technology, which is well-suited for moist wood-based fuels, such as the use of wood chips. Fuel moisture percentage can be as high as 67 %. Combustion process has a very high efficiency and the level of nitric oxide and carbon dioxide emissions is extremely low.
Plant's thermal output is 18 MW and will be fuelled by locally sourced wood-based biomass such as wood chips and bark. The received order is a complete turn-key solution, including process equipment, buildings and installations.
"New local heating plant improves the heat supply in Karhula area, in Kotka and enables larger use of renewable fuels in district heat generation. In addition, dependence on ever more expensive oil and natural gas in district heat generation is reduced. As CO2 emissions go down, we also save in emission permit costs", says Sami Markkanen from Kotka Energy Ltd. "MW Power's solution turned out to be the most economically advantageous. Several issues contributed to selection of plant supplier. We looked at not only actual plant investment costs but also other things, such as benefits of the technical solution, plant efficiency, operational usability, estimated operating costs as well as previous references of the supplier and the expertise of people", Sami Markkanen continues.
The heating plant is scheduled to begin its operation in late 2012. The order is included in Energy and Environmental Technology's third quarter 2011 orders received.
MW Power is currently constructing nine heat or power plants in Europe. Similar plants as Kotka are on final installation phase in Suonenjoki and Virrat in Finland. MW Power has delivered similar types of heating plants in northern Europe and Russia since 1994.
Technical information
MW Power's latest version of the patented BioGrate combustion will be in use in Kotka. Continuous customer-driven product development on BioGrate solution enables wider range of fuels. The basic idea of product development has been the best possible energy efficiency, low costs during commercial operation, easy maintenance, and ensuring the possibility to combust the most economically viable fuels.
Kotka Energy Ltd is 100 % owned by the city of Kotka. Today Kotka Energy focuses on energy as well as district heating services. Company's main products are district heat, industrial steam and electricity as well as the waste-to-energy utilization.
