Flexible combined heat and power plant (CHP) enabling energy transition in Germany

DREWAG, the local utility company in Dresden, is taking on the German energy transition by investing in a flexible 94-MW combined heat and power (CHP) engine power plant from Wärtsilä. In line with DREWAG’s commitment to both renewable energy and security of supply, the new plant offers the company both high deployment flexibility and black start capability.

Preventing blackouts through sustainable power generation

DREWAG supplies nearly 300,000 household and industrial customers with electricity, natural gas, drinking water and district heat in the Dresden area.

The new flexible CHP gas engine power plant will produce electricity and district heating simultaneously and will be very important for the start-up of the Dresden grid in case of a blackout. It has no need for a separate emergency generator, as power for the plant’s necessary auxiliaries is supplied by a dedicated uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system. The plant enables DREWAG also to participate in the day-ahead, intra-day and balancing power markets.

A flexible balancing solution for a renewable energy system

The Dresden-Reick balancing power plant features eight Wärtsilä 31SG engines, that operate on natural gas, are extremely flexible and have the highest efficiency on the market. These gas engines are capable of reaching full output from start-up in approximately two minutes and can provide immediate grid stability. The plant can operate on the secondary balancing market in Germany even from standstill and synchronize to the grid in less than 30 seconds.

The Dresden-Reick facility is delivered on an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis. Wärtsilä will also provide power plant maintenance under a Guaranteed Asset Performance Agreement for ten years, with a five-year extension option. The agreement guarantees the plant availability and starting reliability as well as safe operation of the power plant.

Who	Sachsen energie
What	94 MW flexible CHP power plant
Where	Germany
How	EPC (Engineering, procurement & construction)

This is what we are achieving

MW of electrical output

MW of district heating output

30s

and less to synchronise the plant to the grid

The state-of-the-art gas engine technology provided by Wärtsilä is designed to produce minute-to-minute power when it is most valuable. It is equipped with the highest level of efficiency and emission control systems to supply safe, clean, and affordable energy for the state capital for the coming decades.
Dr. Frank Brinkmann, Managing Director, DREWAG

How we did it

Challenge

Need for continuous and reliable electricity and district heating to Dresden city
Need to increase the share of renewables in the power system and balance the intermittency of renewable energy
Need to ensure that the plant will start and operate reliably in a matter of minutes

Solution

Wärtsilä 31SG based combined heat and power engine power plant
Extremely flexible and efficient Wärtsilä 31SG engines operating on natural gas and reaching full output from start-up in a matter of only a couple of minutes
Professional maintenance of the power plant with 10-year maintenance agreement

Benefit

Efficient electricity and heat generation. Safe, reliable, clean, and affordable energy
Minute-by-minute power production providing a perfect balance to renewables
Guaranteed maximised asset performance, availability and profitability, extremely high starting reliability and safe operation of the power plant

Questions? Contact us

The main details

Customer	SachshenEnergie
Type	Wärtsilä 31SG based combined heat and power (CHP) engine power plant
Operating mode	Flexible, power oriented production with district heating production, also supply for balancing power in different markets
Gensets	8 x Wärtsilä 31SG
Total output	94 MW electrical and 84 MW of district heating
Fuel	Natural gas
Scope	EPC
Lifecycle solution	A 10-year guaranteed asset performance agreement, with a five-year extension option
Delivery	Operational in 2022