August 30, 2008

Siemens consortium to build Mainz coal fired power plant

A consortium led by Siemens, comprising Austrian Energy & Environment and the Japanese company IHI, will build a coal fired combined heat and power plant in Mainz. The supervisory board of the purchaser, Mainz Wiesbaden AG confirmed the contract on February 28th 2008.

Mainz Wiesbaden AG had already signed a contract with Siemens covering planning, supply, erection and commissioning of the main components for this power plant. Despite increases in the number of bottlenecks prevalent worldwide in the power plant construction sector it is thus possible to set the completion date for 2013 and ensure planning security. The value of the order for the consortium totals approximately EUR 1 billion, with the Siemens share amounting to around half.

The hard coal fired CHP plant with a gross rated capacity of over 800 MW will be built at the existing Mainz Wiesbaden AG power plant site in Mainz. The power plant licensing phase is already underway and construction is scheduled to commence late 2008 / early 2009.

The Siemens scope of supply encompasses key components such as the steam turbine and generator, and the electrical and I&C systems, including the associated planning, installation and commissioning. The consortium partners, the working group comprising AE&E and IHI will supply the tower boiler, the flue gas desulfurization plant and other supply and disposal systems. Within the working group AE&E is also responsible for overall erection. Further key supplies such as the plant’s coal handling and ash removal systems, and principal civil structures will be provided by the customer and integrated into the plant.

Mr Michael Süss CEO of the Siemens Energy Division Fossil Power Generation said that “Thanks to the advanced technology the power plant will attain a very high efficiency of 46% and will be one of Europe’s most modern plants. Beside electricity the cogeneration plant will also produce 200 MW of district heat for as many as 40,000 households and approximately 30 MW process steam for industrial plants in Mainz. We will thus achieve an optimum fuel efficiency of 60 percent.”

Dr Olaf Thun project manager at Mainz Wiesbaden AG said that “At the same time this helps the industrial plants in the vicinity to avoid some of their own emissions. The site is this particularly suitable for the erection of a CHP plant. It will make a key contribution toward reliable and cost-effective power supply in the Mainz Wiesbaden region.”