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New Power Plants / Two Power Plants to Rise in Kaunas
2010-05-11
How to heat the city and at the same time avoid exceeding emission norms that are likely to get much tighter in 2016? Reply to this question is sought also by Vilnius and Kaunas heat suppliers. Kaunas suppliers promise to construct two new power plants.
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How to heat the city and at the same time avoid exceeding emission norms that are likely to get much tighter in 2016? Reply to this question is sought also by Vilnius and Kaunas heat suppliers. The latter city has a less complicated situation because the thermal power plant is a private property.
Heat suppliers are now forced to make the decision: to invest into new companies or equip expensive filters in the old ones.
Kaunas started showing its concern two years ago. It is planned to construct two new power plants here, which would cause no troubles in terms of emission norms.
Decision – New Power Plant
“The future European Union environmental requirements were known to us several years before. Therefore, we started preparing for them in advance”, said Antanas Pranculis, the Director General of Kaunas Heat and Power Plant (KHPP), to which operator services are provide by Energy systems service. A new powerful power plant should rise in Kaunas. The power plant is planned to be equipped with a modern energy production technology in compliance with the strict EU environmental requirements.
According to Mr Pranculis, 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.
Moreover, it is planned to equip efficient cooling systems.
To Cost 400 Million Litas
The current KHPP equipment is not in compliance with environmental protection norms that are going to be binding from 2016. The power plant should search for the means to reduce emissions by more than a half.
“Technologically, this is possible but not reasonable after evaluating the value of required investment and the age of existing equipment”, assuredly says Mr Pranculis.
In pursuance of the reconstruction of power plant facilities and their adjustment to the EU requirements, 400 million litas is required.
“However, these investments would be worthless because they would fail to guarantee higher generation efficiency, thus, the final price would be only likely to rise”, explained Head of KHPP Antanas Pranculis.
Possibility to Cheapen Heat
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. According to Mr Pranculis, the fact that it is worthwhile constructing a new power plant instead of trying to follow up with the performance of an outdated power plant is well illustrated by several figures.
It would cost around 5 million litas less for the annual maintenance of a new power plant than doing this at the current one.
Generating the same heat quantity, the new power plant would produce a much more significant amount of electricity, which would allow to cheapen heat to Kaunas residents.
Mr Pranculis reminded that Kaunas Power Plant is a private undertaking. Thus, Kaunas City Municipality would not be able to influence its decisions, as done by the municipalities in other towns.
“However, there is no doubt that municipality representatives must perceive the problem and approve of the project implementation”, stated the head of the power plant.
The company intends to design a power plant with the possibility to burn several types of fuel, as well as biomass.
However, this will be possibly implemented at the second stage of development with reference to the national green energy support policy and the proportion between gas and timber prices.
To Construct by the Finns Too
In 2013 Kaunas should see the rise of another power plant, which would satisfy up to 10 % of urban heat demand. At Petrašiūnai or another location the Finnish company Fortum Heat Lietuva proposed equipping a new biofuel- and peat-fired power plant in the capacity of 30 megawatts in terms of electricity generation and 60 megawatts as regards the production of heat.
Kaunas Municipality favours this project and has already initiated negotiations with the Finns. Fortum Heat Lietuva plans to invest around LTL 230 million, whereas municipality-owned Kauno energija should inject about EUR 28.5 million (LTL 98.325).
Fortum Heat Lietuva would like to get control of up to 70 % of shares of the joint venture, Kauno energija – up to 30 %.
Heat, generated by the new power plant, may cost at least 10 % less as compared to the current price.
Fortum Heat Lietuva would be pleased the project to be started implemented immediately, once the decision is adopted.
The project is planned to be completed in the beginning of 2013.
© Lietuvos rytas