Göteborg Energi and Siemens in cooperation for fossil-free cogeneration

By 2025, the ambition is that all district heating in Gothenburg, Sweden, is produced by renewable or recovered energy sources. Göteborg Energi and Siemens have therefore joined forces with the aim of testing state-of-the-art gas turbine technology that enables the operation of renewable fuels in Rya combined heat and power plant, which is today powered by natural gas.

As a first step a test turbine is installed at Rya CHP Plant for the validation of 3D-printed burners which in the extension phase makes it possible to test different fossil-free fuels in the plant.

– In Rya CHP plant, both district heating and electricity are produced. The facility has an important role, not least in Gothenburg's electricity supply. Together with Siemens we want to explore the possibilities for the conversion of both electric power and heat production as one of the pieces of the puzzle in our work for fossil freedom, says Alf Engqvist, CEO of Göteborg Energi, who on Tuesday November 5 2019 met Hans Holmström, CEO of Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery AB, at Rya CHP to sign the cooperation agreement.

Climate change is real and a big challenge. There is an increased need for electricity and heat production, while carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced. Sweden and the rest of the world's ambitious climate goals must involve several parts of society and the solutions look different depending on the local conditions.

"The gas turbine technology we have developed at Siemens can be used both as a base power and a balancing power depending on the needs," says Hans Holmström. “In addition, we can already burn high amounts of fossil-free fuels such as biogas and hydrogen in our gas turbines, with the goal of running 100 per cent fossil free in the near future. In our collaboration with Göteborg Energi and Rya CHP plant we see the possibility to verify several different green fuels on a larger scale, first in Sweden and then in other parts of the world. We hope with this to demonstrate the possibilities for sustainable and cost-effective fuels.”

There is an international demand for new climate-smart solutions and Siemens technology can contribute to the phasing out pf coal and oil. For example, converting a coal power plant into a modern gas-fired CCPP, such as Rya CHP plant in Gothenburg, reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about two-thirds. By co-burning natural gas with an increasing share of hydrogen or biofuel, emissions can then be reduced gradually.

Rya Combined Cycle Power Plant was delivered turnkey by Siemens 2006 and includes, among else, three SGT-800 gas turbines.

– We are very grateful for the good cooperation with Göteborg Energi over the years and look forward to working together for an efficient and sustainable energy transition, says Hans Holmström.

Facts: 

• The cooperation between Göteborg Energi and Siemens aims to test renewable fuels in Rya CHP plant located in the energy port of Gothenburg
• As a first step, a test turbine for validating 3D-printed burners is installed in the plant. 3D-printing, or additive manufacturing as it is also called, opens for use of new materials and designs of burners.
• The test will last a season, until April 2020. If the test turns out well, there is the possibility to try new types of burners and fuels.

About Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery AB (SIT) 

SIT provides the world with gas turbines and gas turbine based solutions for a sustainable and cost efficient production of electricity, steam and heat. The turbines also work as drivers for compressors and pumps. SIT has 2,700 employees, the larger portion located at headquarters in Finspong, Sweden, and approx. 120 in Trollhättan, Sweden.