Biomass conversion begins at Asnæs Power Station

On Oct. 30, DONG Energy kicked off the biomass conversion of the Asnæs Power Station in Kalundborg, Denmark. Following the two-year conversion process, the facility will take in wood chips and other forms of biomass as fuel.

"By 2023, we'll have phased out all use of coal at our power stations. With the conversion of Asnæs Power Station, we and our customers are taking an important step towards becoming coal-free," said Thomas Dalsgaard, executive vice president and CEO of Bioenergy & Thermal Power.

According to DONG Energy, the Asnæs Power Station currently consists of two coal-fired units. The first, referred to as Unit 2, was built in 1961 and has an electrical production capacity of 142 MW and a district heating and process steam production of capacity of 193 MW. The second, referred to as Unit 5, was built in 1981 and is Denmark’s largest power station unit. It has an electrical capacity of 640 MW and a district heating and process steam production capacity of 308 MW. Currently, the two units are operated alternately to produce district heating, process steam and electricity. DONG Energy said the future of the two existing units will be clarified when the new plant is commissioned.

The company noted the new biomass-fired plant will be built as a separate unit in new buildings at Asnæs Power Station. The plant will be connected to the existing district heating and process steam networks, and the electricity grid. The conversion project includes, among other things, a new conveyor system and wood chip storage.

DONG Energy indicated the new biomass-fired plant will have an electric production capacity of 25 MW and a district heating and process steam production capacity of 129 MW. The plant will run mainly on wood chips and is expected to be operational by late 2019.

The conversion from coal to biomass at the Asnæs Power Station is expected to result carbon reductions of 800,000 metric tons annually.