Veolia Energia Poland has selected GE to modernise of one of three Zamech-made turbine genset at a 275 MW district-heating plant at Poznań. Takeover and integration of Alstom Power's technology portfolio helped GE to expand its service capability for such equipment.
The power station at Poznań is driven by one 65-MW Zamech generator set and two 105-MW Zamech units. Following the upgrade, the output of Unit 3 is meant to be increased by around 6 MW – any extra power will be sent to the local grid – as GE seeks to improve turbine efficiency by up to 6%.
The steam turbine modernization works are set to start in May 2017, for the commissioning of the upgraded Poznań CHP to take place in August that year.
LP disconnect to harness thermal heat only
At times when there is no demand for electrical power, the revamped power plant operator will be able to disconnect the low-pressure (LP) part of the steam turbine – while staying in full district-heating mode. This will allow harnessing the plant’s thermal energy for the preheating of district-heating water only.
Jan Pic, operational director of Veolia Energia Poznań said the upgrade project will “help the station operate more efficiently,” suggesting the operator seeks to strengthen its competitive position in the market.
In Poland, Veolia provides services around energy, water and wastewater as well as waste management in 74 towns and cities including Warsaw, Łódź and Poznań. The French group is the largest private operator of district heating networks across Poland and also the country’s third largest CHP plant operator.
GE taps post-Alstom acquisition know-how
Making use of its post–Alstom acquisition capabilities to service equipment, GE is keen to showcase its clean energy credentials not only for gas power but also for thermal cogeneration plants such as one in Poznań.
Pascal Schweitzer head of GE Power Services in Europe pointed out that when GE acquired Alstom Power’s technology portfolio in 2015, it absorbed the ability to service generation equipment from other manufacturers, including the Zamech turbines.