New coal-fired unit is now being built at Zespół Elektrociepłowni Bielsko-Biała (CHP Bielsko Biała) owned by TAURON Group’s Południowy Koncern Energetyczny. The new unit will generate heat and power, respectively 50 MWe and 106 MWt. On 15 June the steam drum of the boiler was installed. The new unit, which is crucial for the Bielsko-Biała heating system, will be commissioned in mid 2013.
‘The Bielsko-Biała-based investment is executed as part of TAURON Group’s corporate strategy. In accordance with the plan for development of well-balanced generation portfolio, which is a strategic objective for the generation segment, the Group executes also, among others, investments in coal-based energy sources. More than 1000 MW out of 2400 MW assumed in the strategy will be based on that fuel, including 100 MW CHP. Construction of a heating unit at ZEC Bielsko-Biała is one of the investments in new CHP units. Another one is a 50 MWe and 86 MWt unit at EC Tychy whose commissioning is planned for end of 2015. The TAURON Group is also going to face the largest coal-based investment, i.e. the construction of 910 MW unit at Jaworzno III power plant’, said Joanna Schmid, vice-president of TAURON management board for strategy and development.
While choosing the technology for the coal-fired heating unit, the power policy of the EU was taken into account that promotes development of combined generation of heat and power (so-called red certificates).
‘The new heating unit will offer high performance parameters while its impact on natural environment will be significantly lower. The investment is also crucial for the Bielsko-Biała heating system. ZEC Bielsko-Biała covers almost 100% of the town and its surroundings’ demand for heat and power, so the capacity of the unit was designed to suit local needs/ adequately to local needs’ said Stanisław Tokarski, president of the management board at Południowy Koncern Energetyczny.
The basic unit in the investment is a coal-fired heating unit of 50 MWe and 106 MWt capacity. The peak units are two oil and gas water boilers with a capacity of 2 x 38 MWt. During their simultaneous operation, one of the peak boilers is fired by gas and the other is fired by light fuel oil. The unit is equipped with heat accumulator – a water container of 20 thousand cubic meters capacity, designed to maintain the heating unit in operation using basic fuel in the transition periods when the load changes at the beginning and end of the heating season.
The new heating unit will offer high performance parameters while its impact on natural environment will be significantly lower, which is in line with the objectives for the generation segment defined in corporate strategy for the TAURON Group. Reduction of CO2 emission in comparison to the current level at the CHP will be 25%. Also, the NOx emission will be three times lower (from 600 to 200 mg/Nm3), SO2 emission will be ten times lower (from 2.000 to 200 mg/Nm3) and dust emission will be over seventeen times lower (from 350 to 20 mg/Nm3).
The first pressure test of the boiler is planned for January 2012. Trial unit operation is planned for end February 2013. Investment completion is planned for mid 2013. Works related to the Bielsko-Biała based unit commenced in December 2009, when the agreement for new unit construction was signed between PKE and Polimex-Mostostal. Under the agreement, on 25 June 2010 Polimex-Mostostal signed a contract with Foster Wheeler for design, supply, assembly, trial run and commissioning of fluidized bed boiler at Elektrociepłownia Bielsko-Biała EC1. On 19 August 2010 a foundation stone was laid for the construction of the new unit.
ZEC Bielsko - Biała covers almost 100% of the town and its surroundings’ demand for heat and power from its two sources: EC1 – located in the town center, and EC2 – located on the border of Bielsko-Biała and Czechowice-Dziedzice. In December 2008 a trilateral agreement was signed between the town of Bielsko-Biała, PKE and a utililty company Therma for long term (until 2027) supply of heat for the heating system in Bielsko-Biała.
The godfather of the steam drum, called Beskid, is the President of Bielsko-Biała, Mr. Jacek Krywult.
