FBR Summer 2023 - Flipbook - Page 11
Industry News
Hydropower plant renovation completed
U
PM Energy’s Kuusankoski
hydropower plant’s
extensive renovation
project has been
completed, except for some final
details, and the plant is now in
commercial use. With the overhaul
and modernisation that started
in 2019, the efficiency of the
power plant improved by about
six percentage points to 94% and
the turbine capacity increased by
19% to about 37 MW. The plant’s
average annual energy production
will increase from 180 GWh to
approximately 195 GWh.
“In practice, we are now able to
produce more electricity with the
same amount of water. All three
turbines at the power plant have
been renewed and the generator
units have been modernised. We
also renewed the automation and
protection systems and one of the
power plant’s main transformers.
The power plant’s own back-up
power system was also renewed to
make it more efficient,” said Pekka
Pollari, Manager, Hydropower at UPM
Energy.
The Kuusankoski hydropower
plant is located at River Kymi in
Kouvola, Finland. It was built at the
end of the 1940s and was previously
renovated at the end of the 1990s.
The latest renovation did not affect
the statutory fishery obligations set
for the power plant.
Pollari noted, “Modern hydropower
technology is significantly safer for
the environment. As an example, the
amount of hydraulic oil in the plant
has been greatly reduced because
of the high-pressure turbine control
system”.
Renewable forms of energy are
growing rapidly in Finland, with
wind power capacity increasing
by 75% last year. Hydropower is
also becoming essential as the
increase in weather-dependent
renewable energy sources needs
hydropower as an important source
of balancing power. Hydropower is at
its best when it is used to respond to
demand fluctuations and to balance
energy production when it is not
sunny or windy.
Pollari explained, “Balancing
power is needed to stabilise the
grid and, with the new automation
system, the production of this power
is now even more efficient”.
More information:
www.upmenergy.com
‘Renewables Global
Status Report Collection’
The global renewable energy
network REN21 has launched its
annual ‘Renewables Global Status
Report (GSR) Collection’ for 2023,
with the release of four new modules
exploring trends and opportunities
for renewable energy deployment
in buildings, industry, transport and
agriculture across the world. Findings
from the report show positive
renewable energy trends.
Industry had the highest share
of renewables in total final energy
consumption (TFEC) in 2020 among
demand sectors, at nearly 17%.
Modern biomass represented 8.2% of
the TFEC of industries and renewable
electricity represented 8.5%. Pulp &
paper and food & tobacco have the
highest shares of modern renewables
among all industry sub-sectors.
In addition, corporate PPAs
witnessed an uptick because of the
energy crisis.
“Industries were looking to hedge
themselves from energy prices and
price fluctuations. In 2022, corporate
PPAs witnessed a 21% yearly growth
in Europe. Many companies from
different sub-sectors are increasingly
looking for PPAs to procure their
energy. German steel-makers are
increasingly looking at PPAs and
switching to electric furnaces. In the
chemical sector, more companies,
especially in Europe, are also signing
corporate PPAs,” said Jad Baba from
REN21.
In developing countries and for
industries located in remote areas,
such as mining, the need for secure,
reliable and affordable energy is
propelling the growth of renewables,
while also benefitting the industry and
communities.
“Steel and cement companies
are investing in wind and solar
power plants from Argentina to
Egypt and India. Mining companies
have developed decentralised
renewable energy projects in Australia,
Madagascar and Mali that provide
reliable and affordable energy for both
mine sites and local communities,” he
added.
Although there is some optimism
about the rise of renewable energy,
industries are still responsible for a
quarter of global carbon emissions.
Despite a slight decrease in the use
of fossil fuels from 87% in 2010 to
83% in 2020, the industrial sector
continues to heavily rely on them.
However, the increasing use of
renewable electricity, which grew
by 80% in the past decade, and
the electrification of industrial heat
provide a reason for optimism.
Governments have an important role
to play in this context by implementing
regulatory policies to curb fossil fuel
use such as integrated policies that
bridge energy and industrial policies
while promoting renewables.
More information:
www.ren21.net
Summer 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review
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