In June 2007, Wärtsilä and EuroPower SpA commenced operation of a 24 MWe combined heat and power (CHP) plant at Linate airport, Milan in Italy. The plant is built for Malpensa Energia Srl, whose shareholders are the Milan airport management company SEA Aeroporti Milano and the Milan multi-utilities company AEM Milano.
The combined heat and power plant is equipped with three Wärtsilä 20V34SG gas-fuelled generating sets, together with their ancillary equipment, exhaust heat recovery economizers and two gas-fired boilers. The plant is located inside Linate airport.
The plant operates on baseload but, by providing both heating and electricity, it is designed to flexibly and economically meet the variations in heat demand in summer and winter. The heat output of the plant is 82 MWth in winter and 72 MWth in summer, with a year-round electrical power output of 24 MWe.
The heat recovery system for the three engines is designed for maximum heat recovery for heating services and in the future for the air conditioning of airport buildings. This full climate control system is typically referred to as a trigeneration installation. Trigeneration is generally understood to mean simultaneous conversion of a fuel into three useful energy products: electricity, hot water for heating and chilled water for cooling.
The heat is delivered as hot water at 125°C and 70°C to the airport buildings and also to a small village close to the airport. The plant also delivers electricity to the Italian national grid. Normally the generating sets run in parallel with the grid but they also serve as emergency sets to maintain airport services in the event of a break in the grid supply.
Power and thermal energy needs are huge in new air terminal buildings. At an airport it is of utmost importance that power and thermal energy is available at all times of the year, independent of external factors. A trigeneration plant can provide electrical power as well as heating and chilling for these buildings in a single power and energy source on-site, providing significant operational and efficiency advantages since separate systems are not necessary.
Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 15,000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä locations in close to 70 countries around the world.
For further information, please contact:
Maria Nystrand
Public Relations Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1456
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail: maria.nystrand@wartsila.com
Internet: www.wartsila.com
