Wärtsilä BioPower plant inaugurated in Trollhättan, Sweden

Today, 5 April, the Lextorp combined heat and power plant in the municipality of Trollhättan in Sweden, some 70 km northeast of Gothenburg, was inaugurated. This BioPower plant delivered by Wärtsilä Corporation began supplying heat to the district heating network of Trollhättan Energi, a municipal company, on 19 December 2005 and on 12 January 2006, the first electricity was delivered.

The inauguration was performed by students of alternative energy sources at the local high school. The plant was first presented by Jussi Kuusela, Area Sales Manager of Wärtsilä BioPower and the invited guests then received a tour of the plant.

“This biomass-fuelled plant strengthens our aim to deliver positive environmental benefits. Approximately 95% of the district heating in Trollhättan now comes from biomass fuel in the form of wood chips, a renewable energy source. Trollhättan is a growing municipality, which emphasizes the importance of this change of fuel source for future district heating needs. The investment is also economically sound, both for us and our customers” says Mr Mats Johansson, Managing Director of Trollhättan Energi.

The combined heat and power plant comprises a Wärtsilä BioPower 5 DH plant that burns byproducts from the local forestry industry. It has a thermal output of 17 MWth for district heating, and an electrical output of 3.5 MWe. The thermal output corresponds to 30% of Trollhättan’s district heating needs.

“In February 2005 the construction of the BioPower plant started”, continues Mats Johansson “and the first delivery of heat was in December the same year which confirms that the project has proceeded well.”

Wärtsilä’s biomass-fuelled plants are clean and efficient. They are a practical solution for the need for renewable energy supplies 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 technology and standardised 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.

Link to picture: www.datahotelli.com/wpr/g.jsp?id=2006_04_05

Caption: The new biomass-fuelled plant in Trollhättan, Sweden, is powered by a Wärtsilä BioPower 5 DH unit.

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 12,000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä offices in over 60 countries around the world.

For more information on Wärtsilä, visit the website at www.wartsila.com

Contact Information

Maria Nystrand

Public Relations Manager, Power Plants

Wärtsilä Corporation

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