Work on the construction of a new 496 MW power unit at the Turów Power Plant, owned by PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna, is entering the final phase of implementation. December 21 at 15:36 The unit was synchronized with the National Power System (PPS) for the first time. Thus, the process of conducting the control operation of technological systems and their optimization as well as the production of electricity in the newly built power unit began. The general contractor of the investment is a consortium of Mitsubishi Power Europe, Tecnicas Reunidas and Budimex.
The process of first synchronization of the generator of unit No. 7 with the National Power System was carried out as planned and with the first synchronization program agreed with Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne. This is the final stage of one
of the largest and most modern investment projects in the Polish energy sector in recent decades,” says Wioletta Czemiel-Grzybowska, President of the Management Board of PGE GiEK.
On the installations of unit No. 7, before the commencement of synchronization, the commissioning of the entire auxiliary power system of the unit (m.in.: MV and LV switchgear, guaranteed voltage supply system, emergency power supply system and equipment drive systems) and the power output power system from unit No. 7 to the Mikułów power station (m.in. generator, 21 kV system with generator circuit breaker, unit transformers, a tap transformer and a standby-start transformer, a 400 kV switchgear with a block circuit breaker and the protection systems of these devices). These activities were preceded by the preparation of electrical systems and Unit No. 7. Detailed arrangements were also made with Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne, which allowed the decisive phase of the start-up of unit No. 7 to begin – the boiler was ignited, the appropriate steam parameters were obtained, and then the turbine set speed of 3000 rpm was obtained, allowing for the first synchronization of the generator of unit No. 7 with the National Power System.
In the first period, after the unit is synchronised with the grid, the production of electricity of the generator of unit No. 7 will be carried out at the level of approx. 40-45% of its rated power, i.e.: about 200 MW. The use of the latest technologies will allow to obtain a high rate of over 43 percent. efficiency of electricity production. In its current form, the Turów Power Plant is able to supply electricity to about 2.3 million households. After the completion of the construction, the Turów energy complex will be able to supply electricity to an additional million households,” he said Oktawian Leśniewski, acting director of the Turów Power Plant.
The new unit will meet strict environmental protection standards. Sulphur dioxide emissions, compared to the previously shut down units No. 8, 9 and 10, will be almost 20 times lower, and dust emissions about 10 times lower. In addition, the unit will be characterized by CO2 emissions of approx. 15 per cent. lower than the currently operating power units at the Turów Power Plant. The new unit is also adapted to the emission rigors resulting from the BAT conclusions, which will come into force in 2021 and assume the implementation of the best and most environmentally friendly technologies available.
The investment is being carried out by a consortium of Mitsubishi Power Europe, Tecnicas Reunidas and Budimex. The commencement of works on the construction site, i.e. the implementation phase of the investment, began in December 2014. The unit with a gross electrical capacity of 496 MW, with a pulverized steam boiler with supercritical parameters, will be fired with lignite from the nearby Turów Mine. The new unit, after its commissioning, will allow to completely rebuild the capacity of the Turów Power Plant. The seven power units operating at that time, including the completely modernized units No. 1-3, will have a capacity of over 2,000 MW. The parameters of the new unit have been selected in such a way as to fully and effectively use the lignite resources in the deposit of the Turów Lignite Mine by the end of its operation in 2044, while maintaining all environmental norms and standards.
The contract in Turów is Budimex’s key energy contract and currently the largest ongoing energy investment in Poland. The construction, which has been carried out for seven years, is being completed during the difficult time of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, we will complete the contract to the end, in accordance with the investor’s expectations. The technologies used in the implementation of the investment use the latest solutions of conventional energy m.in. from Polish, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy and Canada. The commissioning of the unit and connection to the national power grid is a confirmation of the high competence of the consortium and the entire team of consortium engineers and our subcontractors – says Dariusz Blocher, President of Budimex SA.
The Turów complex is an important element of the Polish power system, contributing to ensuring Polish’s energy security and stable electricity supply. It is responsible for approx. 5 per cent. domestic energy production. The mine and power plant are also one of the most important and largest industrial plants in this part of Lower Silesia and the largest employer in the region. Employment directly in the Mine and Power Plant, in subsidiaries and cooperating entities provides a stable existence for about 60-80 thousand people, including the families of employees.
