Grid Support Power Plant Now Operational

In Czech Republic a combined heat and power (CHP) plant designed to provide grid support officially went into operation at the beginning of January. Based on four 20-cylinder Rolls-Royce engines, the CHP plant generates a total of 37 MW of heat and power for the town of Tabor/Sezimovo Ústí roughly 100 kilometers southeast of the capital Prague. The medium-speed Type B35:40 gas engines were supplied by Bergen Engines which is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems within the Land & Sea division of Rolls-Royce.
 
“This is the first natural gas power plant based on medium-speed gas engines in the region to go into operation supplying heat and power to the local grid. This project is an additional step forward towards a green future for our region and country,” said Libor Doležal, CEO at plant operator C-Energy. Until now, electricity and heat in the region were predominantly generated by coal-fired plants. The new plant was designed and built by the Czech prime contractor PSG International.
 
The CHP plant’s medium-speed engines are flexibly designed for different operating modes. They can be used to generate base-load or peak power or can operate in combined cycle. The heat from the engines can be used to generate steam in the heat recovery steam generators. The steam is supplied to industrial customers for their technological needs. The power plant can also be used for district heating by utilizing hot water from the engines.
 
“CHP plants with Rolls-Royce natural gas engines are a reliable alternative to coal-based plants and are significantly more environmentally friendly. Our medium-speed engines enable C-Energy to operate the plant efficiently, both in terms of cost and time,” explained Dr. Michael Haidinger, CSO at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. Their quick-start capability means the engines can ramp up to their rated speed of 750 rpm within five minutes, giving the plant access to the amount of power and heat needed within just a short space of time. The plant has also been certified to provide grid balancing services, due to the stable operation of the engines and their ability to quickly respond to changes in grid parameters. “This is an extremely flexible power plant and I am proud it is based on Rolls-Royce medium-speed engines,” added Dr. Michael Haidinger.
 
Additionally C-Energy and Bergen Engines signed a two-year service agreement which covers scheduled maintenance, spare parts and technical support. The four gas engines were handed over to PSG in November 2014 and a series of certification procedures was then successfully completed before the plant officially went into operation at the beginning of January.