Imtech Selected to Develop Sustainable Power Plants in Netherlands

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Netherlands-based technical services provider Imtech NV (AMS:IM) (Gouda, Netherlands) recently announced that the nation's southern province of Limburg has selected the company to develop two sustainable power plants at the Belvedere site in the provincial capital city of Maastricht and the Greenport/Klavertje 4 site in the city of Venlo. The two projects will together form the Sustainable Power Plant Limburg. Limburg's provincial executive has awarded the projects to Imtech on a provisional basis. The estimated combined total investment for the two projects is 140 million euros ($176 million).

The power plants will operate on a unique combination of high-tech energy solutions based on wind, water and sun. The energy sources will include solar energy, hydroelectricity, fermentation products, biomass and a cogeneration plant. Such technology is completely CO2- and Nox-neutral. Imtech will develop the projects and provide future maintenance. The company will also ensure the province of a long-term energy supply.

Imtech was selected from among six tenders that were submitted in April 2010. The province found Imtech's Venlo tender to be the most economic of the other tenders. The province then decided to provisionally award the Maastricht site to Imtech, effectively moving a step closer to achieving its sustainability target.

The two projects are expected to generate enough sustainable electricity to meet the requirements of 65,000 households. The sustainable-energy target of the province includes the generation of 20% sustainable energy, a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, and 20% energy savings by 2020. With the completion of the two projects, Limburg will establish itself as a center of large-scale sustainable energy, as the projects will utilize at least three sources of sustainable energy at each site.

While speaking about the projects, Imtech CEO René van der Bruggen said that the selection of Imtech by the province demonstrates Imtech's ability to efficiently combine sustainable-energy technologies to create economic energy solutions.

Imtech's role as a technology partner in the European renewable energy market is growing. The company is currently involved in more than 100 energy projects at different locations. In the Netherlands, Imtech is constructing a biomass plant in Eindhoven, a sustainable total energy plant in Amsterdam, and a power plant in Eemshaven. The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport recently selected Imtech to develop a sustainable energy project for the facility.

In early May, Imtech announced its role as a technology partner of PlanetSolar, the world's largest solar-powered ship. In 2011, the ship will begin a 50,000-kilometre cruise to promote the use of solar energy as an alternative fuel. An initiative of Skipper Raphaël Domjan, PlanetSolar is a high-tech 31-metre-long, 15-metre-wide, and 85-ton catamaran that is covered by 537 square meters of solar panels.

As a frontrunner in providing green infrastructure for ships, Imtech has made a significant technological contribution to Rainbow Warrior III, the new flagship of Greenpeace. The company is also involved in an ecological sightseeing boat that is driven by sustainable electrical propulsion and solar power. Imtech is also collaborating with ship engine builder MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (Friedrichshafen, Germany) and luxury yacht designer and builder Feadship (Haarlem, Netherlands) to study the possibilities of building green luxury yachts.

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