Sweco to help TSE transform its Naantali power plant to a coal-free operator
Turun Seudun Energiantuotanto Oy (TSE) made an investment decision in May, deciding on the acquisition of receiving and processing equipment of solid recovered fuel for its Naantali power plant. The new equipment, to be completed in autumn 2021, will enable using solid recovered fuel (SRF) in its energy production instead of coal. As a long-term partner of TSE, Sweco has been involved in the project since the beginning, as a designer and a specialist in charge of the acquisitions.
As the result of this project, TSE will stop using coal in unit 4 of the Naantali power plant in 2022. This transition to recovered fuel will decrease carbon dioxide emissions by more than 60,000 tonnes on an annual level. This is a big step for the Naantali power plant, which aims to give up coal entirely by 2025.
“In energy production, solutions that reduce carbon dioxide emissions are vital to building a more sustainable society. We have been working with Sweco for several years, now, and it is great that we can take this project forward together, too,” says the Managing Director of TSE, Maija Henell.
Sweco’s Department Manager Ismo Muilu says that this cooperation is part of a continuum that has lasted for several years, now. At the end of 2018, Sweco helped build a marine biofuel line for the Naantali power plant. The plant is located far from forest regions, but wood energy deliveries to the plant were started by sea, for example from the Baltic countries. A little later, the plant introduced asphaltene, which replaced nearly half of the remaining coal use in the plant’s multi-fuel unit.
“We have always assigned the same Project Manager for these projects, which has ensured that we work smoothly together and maintain our great customer relationship. Knowing each other’s way of operating is essential to success. It makes working and communication easier,” Muilu says.
When the new equipment is ready, the power plant will be able to utilise solid recovered fuel that is generated from separately collected energy waste, such as packaging or demolition waste. This waste is e.g. plastic or cardboard that cannot be recycled. Instead of disposing of the waste in other ways, it will now provide electricity and district heat for the Turku region.
“In addition to the carbon dioxide reductions, we also put a lot of weight on the circular economy perspective. The waste will not be taken to a landfill, but sold forward so that it can be turned into fuel,” Muilu continues.
The use of solid recovered fuel has become more common in Finland and Europe, but it cannot yet completely replace coal. In the case of the Naantali power plant, too, coal will remain as a back-up fuel to secure production in case of disruptions. The use of coal, which is detrimental to the environment and often imported from far away, will conclude in Finland quite soon in any case, as the prohibition of its use will come into force in 2029. Many energy companies, including TSE, have more ambitious plans than this.
“This investment decision enables changing the fuel base of unit four of the Naantali power plant to completely coal-free, which demonstrates the owner’s intent and will to transition to coal-free energy production at the plant, implemented within the terms of circular economy. 2025 will be an important milestone for us. We want to be forerunners in the energy industry in providing sustainable solutions,” says Henell from TSE.
Picture: Turun Seudun Energiantuotanto Oy