Poland's PGE To Retrofit Belchatow in $210 Million Deal

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Poland's largest energy group, PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka (Warsaw), has signed a $210 million contract with Alstom SA (EPA:ALO) (Levallois-Perret, France) to retrofit Unit 6 at the Belchatow Power Station, Europe's largest fossil power plant.

The Belchatow coal-fired power plant consists of 12 units of 370 megawatts (MW) each, producing 4,440 MW of power. The plant has been undergoing a major overhaul of its units to comply with European Union regulations (Directive 2001/80/EC). The work on Unit 6 will result in a 50% reduction of nitrogen-oxide emissions and a reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions of more than 400,000 metric tons per year. The project will also enable a power-generation boost of 20 MW, while the unit's efficiency is predicted to rise to 41%. The modernization and improvements are expected to add 20 years to the lifetime of the unit. Belchatow currently supplies almost 20% of Poland's power needs.

Specific work will include the reconstruction of the boiler and its auxiliary equipment, the replacement of high-pressure and intermediate-pressure parts of the turbine, increasing power output of the generator and installation of new high-pressure heaters.

"It is an essential project both for PGE Belchatow Power Plant S.A. and for the entire Polish Energy Group," said Krzysztof Domagala, President of PGE. "It will allow for a considerable modernization of infrastructure in Unit 6, which will not only increase its power output and efficiency, but will also extend lifetime. In addition, a very important point is that the emissions of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide will be limited."

"This is the first major integrated retrofit project in Poland, and we are very pleased to be able to work on this unique opportunity", said Philippe Joubert, President of Alstom Power. "This project will benefit from Alstom's expert knowledge of turbine and boiler technology, our proven track record in integrated retrofit projects, as well as our position as leaders in clean power production."

Between 1997 and 2004, Alstom carried out work to modernize the low pressure parts of Belchatow's 12 turbines, the first step to boost power output from the plant. Additional work has been carried out since then to bring units 3 through 12 up to EU standards, a process that should be complete by 2013. For additional information, see related news item from February 13, 2009 - Poland's Belchatow Power Station Continues Unit Modernization, Expected to be Complete by 2013.

Last August, Alstom was commissioned to build a new 858-MW unit, Belchatow II, by 2010. The plant's block construction began in 2006, and when complete it will use a five-casing STF100 steam turbine, a tower-type boiler and a Gigatop generator. The new unit will more than offset the closure of units 1 and 2 in 2016. For additional information, see related news item from August 22, 2008 - Construction of New Block Belchatow II Underway, Scheduled for Commissioning in 2010.

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