World's largest CFB biomass power plant opens in Poland

Foster Wheeler AG has announced that the GDF Suez power plant located in Polaniec, Poland, is now in commercial operation, delivering over 200 MW of electricity to the country’s electricity grid solely from biomass.

The plant is powered by the world’s largest and most advanced biomass circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) boiler, which was supplied by Foster Wheeler. CFB technology is capable of fully firing a wide range of biomasses and other fuels, including those derived from agricultural crops. “Agro” biomass can be produced much faster and on a larger scale than longer growth wood-based biomasses, thus improving the economics and sustainability of biomass power.

“The challenge has always been to design a boiler capable of reliably firing difficult-to-burn agro biomass while at the same time increasing steam temperatures to achieve high power plant efficiency,” said Jaroslaw Mlonka, president and CEO of Foster Wheeler Energia Polska. “This particular CFB incorporates many advanced design features that enable the Polaniec plant to achieve a net plant efficiency of over 36 percent, based on the fuels lower heating value, while firing solely biomass containing up to a 20 percent agro component.”

 “This Advanced Bio CFB—or ABC—is the largest and most advanced biomass CFB steam generator Foster Wheeler has ever supplied,” Mlonka continued. “Our goal for this project was to provide GDF Suez with a reliable, biomass-flexible boiler that would allow the client to build a high-efficiency green power plant—and we have achieved that objective.”

The Polaniec plant is owned and operated by GDF Suez, one of the leading energy producers in the world. The plant began commercial operation on Nov. 15, 2012, six weeks ahead of schedule. Foster Wheeler provided a turnkey delivery of the boiler island and fuel yard, including design and supply of all steam generation and auxiliary equipment, civil work, erection and commissioning.