Siemens sets new world records at Düsseldorf power plant

The turnkey plant sets three new records in world-wide comparison. During the test run before acceptance, unit “Fortuna” achieved a maximum electrical net output of 603.8 megawatts (MW), which is a new record for a combined cycle plant of this type in a single-shaft configuration.

A new world record of around 61.5 per cent for net power-generating efficiency was also achieved, enabling Siemens to beat its own efficiency record of 60.75 per cent set in May 2011 at the Ulrich Hartmann power plant located in Irsching in the south of Germany.

The high efficiency level makes the power plant especially environmentally friendly. In addition, unit “Fortuna” can also deliver up to around 300MW for the district heating system of Düsseldorf – a further international peak value for a power plant equipped with only one gas and steam turbine.

This boosts the plant’s fuel utilisation up to 85 per cent, while reducing CO2 emissions to a mere 230 gram per kilowatt-hour.

The increase in the capacity and efficiency levels is the result of consistent ongoing developments, for example in the design of components, in the materials used, in the overall construction of the plant, and in the perfect interworking of all plant components.

“We optimised the power plant to enable it to be ideally positioned in one of the world’s most demanding power markets. Together with the Stadtwerke Düsseldorf we are therefore very pleased that this plant set the new efficiency world record,” stated Willi Meixner, CEO of the Power and Gas Division within Siemens AG.

The gas turbine can run at full load in less than 25 minutes after a hot start, enabling it to also be used as a backup for renewable-based power production. This flexibility supports the operator in efforts to achieve economical operations in a challenging environment for conventional power plants.

Unit “Fortuna” was handed over to the customer 19 days ahead of the date set in the contract. The project on the bank of the Rhine was additionally a huge success with regard to occupational safety for everyone involved. More than two million hours of work in total were performed without a single accident.

Because of the plant’s close proximity to the downtown area of the city, special importance was attached to minimum emissions, optical integration into the cityscape, and lowest achievable noise levels: On the opposite shore of the Rhine, across from the plant, the noise level is less than 25 decibels – quieter than a whisper.

To date Siemens has 76 H-class gas turbines under contract worldwide. With 17 units in commercial operation, the SGT-8000H fleet has already reached more than 195,000 hours of operation.