INNIO and Kraftanlagen München have designed, built and put into operation a gas engine-based combined heat and power (CHP) plants on the eastern shore of the Kieler Förde inlet. The new gas-fuelled CHP partly replaces Stadtwerke Kiel’s 323 MW coal-fired power station. It consists of four units with five blocks each, allowing it to be “operable in slices”.

Largest investment of Stadtwerke Kiel

This construction was the largest investment in the history of Stadtwerke Kiel. “It challenged us all and required a lot of strength, time and energy,” said Frank Meier, CEO of Stadtwerke Kiel. “Now the energy supply of the future is a reality in Kiel, and we look with a lot of pride at our coastal power plant.”

Together with Kraftanlagen München GmbH (KAM), Austria-based INNIO has engineered and implemented Stadtwerke Kiels coastal power plant. INNIO provided the gas engines and engineering expertise, while KAM acted as general contractor responsible for EPC and commissioning the turnkey power plant, including the auxiliary buildings and integrating the heat storage and electrode boiler.

During the CHP’s successful completion of a 20-day trial run of the power plant in late November, the 20 Jenbacher gas engines exceeded 92% overall efficiency. As compared to the previous coal-fired power plant, decommissioned in March 2019, it emits over 70% less carbon dioxide.

Gas engines help balance wind power

Wind-generated electricity makes up a high proportion in the northern German power grid, hence, Stadtwerke Kiel resorted to building a flexible gas-fuelled CHP to effectively balance supply and demand. Fast-start capability allows the CHP to swiftly feed full power into grid, if and when needed, as J920 FleXtra gas engines can achieve full capacity in less than five minutes.

“With Germany’s plans to shutter all coal plants and rely primarily on renewable energy, our Jenbacher J920 gas engines will help balance the Kiel grid,” commented Carlos Lange, president and CEO of INNIO.

“As renewable energy usage will continue to grow across Germany, INNIO will continue to make significant investments in research and development [notably for] hydrogen and hydrogen carrier gases-to help build out 100% carbon neutral and carbon free power plants.”