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Investment project, worth a billion litas, in the second largest Lithuanian city is implemented by the company KAUNO ELEKTRINĖ, managed by Kaunas Heat and Power Plant (KHPP). Forty nine percent of shares of KAUNO ELEKTRINĖ will belong to the European Union and Lithuanian investors. The major manager of KHPP is the Russian gas concern GAZPROM.

 

 

Project of the power plant construction is gaining momentum as environmental impact assessment has already been carried out, the permit for the development has been obtained from the Ministry of Economy and the study of the cable connection selection has been conducted. Shortly the engineering technical supervisor for the power plant construction will be selected.

 

“The current power plant, which distributes heat to Kaunas, produces about 95 % of overall heat demand to the integrated heat network of the city, whereas equipment of the plant is 34 years old already. Two Russian turbines, which generate the energy and heat, demonstrate quite satisfactory performance considering their age. Nevertheless, taking into account technical specifications, the given turbines are hardly efficient, thus, we were obliged to search for a more efficient solution”, said Rimandas Stonys, the Head of KAUNO ELEKTRINĖ and the Member of KHPP Board, talking about the development of the power plant.

 

Under the order of KHPP, several feasibility studies were carried out, the analysis of which was focused on determining which power plant would demonstrate the most efficient performance. It was resolved to construct a combined cycle combined heat and power plant in the capacity of 350 megawatts. In the beginning of 2013 after the construction of the new power plant, which will produce both heat and electricity, the heat generation prices in Kaunas will be at the lowest level throughout the country. This will be predetermined by the modern heat generation technology. It is estimated that energy production costs would demonstrate a decline by more than 20 %.

 

 

Energy experts assert that the construction of a new combined heat and power plant in Kaunas would bring benefit both to the residents of Kaunas and the people of entire Lithuania.

Energy expert Rimantas Zabarauskas says that it is really useful to Kaunas residents that the city power plant will produce electricity alongside with heat. Vilnius and Kaunas have combined heat and power plants of huge capacity. Cogeneration allows to generate heat and electricity during the combined cycle and, once sold, to cheapen the heat to consumers.

 

“Mere heat production in water boilers does not have such an advantage. For example, ŠIAULIAI ENERGIJA produces heat from natural gas only and, practically, has no combined heat and power equipment. Heat price in Šiauliai is approximately 10 % higher than that in Kaunas and Vilnius”, said Mr Zabarauskas.

 

Academician Jurgis Vilemas, the Chairman of the Council of Lithuanian Energy Institute, is sure that the owners of KAUNO ELEKTRINĖ express their concern not only with Kaunas City. They expect the major profit to be gained from the sales in electric power after the shutdown of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. A new powerful power plant in Kaunas would bring benefit to the inhabitants of the whole country.

 

“Higher competition among the electric energy suppliers will appear after the closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. It may be expected that the new thermal power plant will demonstrate economically more efficient performance as compared to the new block under construction in Elektrėnai. Foreign enterprises will offer electric energy to Lithuania, but GAZPROM will be able to offer to its company in Kaunas cheaper fuel and, consequently, contribute to lower electricity prices in Lithuania”, asserted Mr Vilemas.

 

It is planned that production of one unit of electric power at the new power plant would generate one unit or even less of heat power, which would allow to reduce the regular part of costs attributed to heat generation.

 

One of the ways of reducing heat production costs, similarly as the residents’ expenses on heating, is minimisation of pollution as a result of implementing the European Union (EU) policy. The new power plant is planned to be equipped with a modern energy production technology in compliance with the strict EU environmental requirements.

 

Air emission controls are to be performed by an automated continuous monitoring system. Water preparation equipment will be used that require the quantity of chemical means to be several times lower as compared to the technologies currently employed in Lithuania. It is planned to equip efficient cooling systems, whereas low nitrogen oxide burners will be used in gas turbines and boilers.

 

“By use of the most advanced accessible technologies the minimization of air pollution and noise will be ensured. Our work is based on the principle: Clean Environment for Future Generations”, said Antanas Pranculis, the Director General of KHPP.

 

 

Energy producers, who are executing an enormous investment project, are also active members of Kaunas City community. Presently, KHPP is carrying out a social project “Most Advanced Class” at all the comprehensive schools of Kaunas.

 

“Our activity is based on the most advanced and modern ideas and constant search of innovative solutions. We have decided to promote the idea of progress also in the schools of Kaunas; therefore, we announced a competition to encourage the schoolchildren to pursue higher study results”, stated Mr Pranculis, the Head of KHPP.

 

Project “Most Advanced Class” is meant for the 5th to 11th graders from the comprehensive schools of Kaunas. The winner of the competition will be the class that would demonstrate the highest improvement of its study results over the current trimester/semester as compared to the previous one. The winning class will be awarded the progress-symbolizing prize, namely a trip to the Swedish capital and the visit to the Nobel Museum.

 

Competition “Most Advanced Class” gives you a stimulus to outbrave yourself, as well as improve and pursue higher results. “Generation of heat and electric power is the team work. We are convinced that team work would lead to the achievement of highest results and greatest victories. This social project also proves this “, stated Mr Pranculis.

 

Stages of the implementation of the new Kaunas thermal power plant
Date	Planned project stage
July 2009	Selection of engineering technical supervisor
December 2009 – January 2010	Call for tender for the construction of power plant
Summer of 2010	Signing of the contract for the construction of power plant
Summer of 2010 – end of 2012	Construction of power plant
End of 2012	Testing and adjustment works
From the beginning of 2013	Operation of power plant

 

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