Four low-emission peak-reserve boilers were launched for the first time as part of the start-up plan for the installation at the newly built gas-fired CHP plant in Siechnice, Kogeneracja, owned by PGE Energia Ciepła from the PGE Group, announced. After the first start-up, each of the boilers must undergo optimization and tests of control and protection systems. Only after meeting all the necessary criteria will they be allowed to operate. The unit will start operation in 2024.
The new, low-emission, environmentally friendly investment will consist of a gas and steam unit and four peak-load reserve boilers (KSR) and will replace a 120-year-old coal-fired plant. The power source will be natural gas, thanks to which the annual CO2 emission will decrease by 622 thousand tons, i.e. by 61%. This also means primary energy savings of nearly 600,000 MWh per year.
“Commissioning peak-reserve boilers is another important stage of works carried out as part of this key investment for the Wrocław heat market. The construction of the new production unit in Siechnice is part of the decarbonisation process implemented in PGE Group companies and will significantly contribute to Kogeneracja’s planned reduction of CO2 emissions by 15% by 2026, said Dominik Wadecki, president of Kogeneracja, quoted in the release.
The role of peak-standby boilers (KSR) is to operate at the peak of heat demand, when the functioning of the gas-steam unit operating in the base is insufficient. The CRS is also used as a reserve in case of failure of basic production equipment, it was explained.
The team of Elektrociepłowni Wrocławskie Kogeneracja consists of 3 production plants: EC Wrocław, EC Czechnica, EC Zawidawie. The majority stake of the company’s shares belongs to Polska Grupa Energetyczna.
The PGE Group generates 41% of net electricity production in Poland, and its share in the heat market is 18%. The Group estimates its share in the renewable energy market at 10%. In a distribution area of approx. 123,000 sq. km2 PGE serves 5.5 million customers. Its market share in terms of the volume of distributed electricity is 25%, and sales to end users – 33%. The company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2009.