Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release 15 November 2001
In a drive to increase the energy supply capacity for the city of Tranås in Sweden, Tranås Energi AB, a Swedish energy company, has awarded a contract for a new 10 MW bio-fuel boiler plant to Sermet Oy, Finland. This is the first contract, to be awarded to Sermet, since the recent acquisition of Sermet by Wärtsilä in October 2001.
The new bio-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plant will be built alongside an existing boiler plant and will provide much needed district heating to the city of Tranås to satisfy increasing energy needs and will replace district heating previously produced by oil and electricity. The plant will produce steam for district heating; it is also planned to use the steam cycle for electricity generation at a later date.
The plant design utilises Sermet’s unique Biograte combustion technology, which is especially suitable for burning wood waste, bark and sawdust. It was this proven combustion method and the compact and efficient plant solution that won the contract in the face of tough competition.
The plant will be located next to an existing heating plant and will utilise the sawdust and bark from a nearby saw mills as bio-fuel for the new CHP plant. The city of Tranås is located in the middle of a large forest zone in central Sweden, where major forest industries exist. The new plant will burn local bio-fuels from local forest companies to produce steam, and from the steam electricity and hot water for district heating. The “Södra Vakten” CHP power plant will commence heat production during July 2002 and the customer will take over the plant in August 2002. The electricity production is planned to start by the end of 2002.
Recent bio-favourable legislation in Sweden has made this type of bio-fuel plant an attractive proposition for energy companies. In addition a short payback time and increased profitability were also important factors.
Jussi Kuusela
Area Sales Manager
Sermet Oy
Direct tel: +358 17 768 811
e-mail:jussi.kuusela@wartsila.com
