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Verbund discontinues last coal-fired energy plant in Austria; eyes hydrogen

By District Energy posted 04-23-2020 10:56

  

Balkan Green Energy News

Summary

Government-owned Verbund switched the Mellach coal-fired heat and power unit to a backup role, ending all regular electricity supply from the fossil fuel to the grid in Austria as it studies applications for green hydrogen.

As high temperatures shortened the heating season, the Mellach cogeneration facility, which covered most of the district heating in Graz, went offline sooner than planned. Verbund AG unit was the only coal-fired facility remaining in Austria on a regular basis, and the utility controlled by the government is turning to hydrogen to replace the harmful fossil fuel to some extent.

The system built in 1986 has the capacity of up to 225 MW for power and 230 MW in heat. Water from the river Mur or Mura is used for cooling. Mellach will remain as backup for now. It used to be active from September to May. The combined heat and power plant is supposed to be decommissioned in five years.

The company’s adjacent combined cycle gas cogeneration plant has been switched to a support role three years ago after being dormant for several years. The two blocks, with a total maximum electricity generation potential of 838 MW and efficiency of 59.2% and heating capacity of 400 MW, have been unprofitable.

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#News
#Cogeneration
#CHP
#Austria
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