Using fossil fuels efficiently
Innovating the use of fossil fuels
Fossil fuels will continue to play an important role in the future; our mission is to use them wisely and efficiently. Using new coal-based technologies as a bridging solution for the future, in combination with the use of gas, nuclear and renewable energy, seems like the only near-term solution that is environmentally, economically and socially viable. In fact, given our rising demand for energy that is affordable, acceptable and highly available make fossil fuels indispensable.
Fossil fuels are used because they are needed
Despite current discussions on the future of fossil fuels in the context of climate change and the projected oil shortage, the International Energy Agency forecasts that in the next 20-30 years, worldwide fossil fuel combustion will increase rather than decrease.
Fossil fuels are the backbone of many countries' energy supply and have emerged as the primary energy source. Coal is cost-efficient and provides satisfactory security of supply as it is available almost everywhere in the world and is easy to mine, transport and combust.
Many advocate that renewable sources should replace fossil fuels in the near future. However, currently two major factors prevent complete reliance on renewables. One is limited availability, the other is high cost. In the coming decades, renewable energy sources will be sufficient to replace only a small fraction of fossil fuel consumption.
Biofuels in a mature market like Sweden cost two to three times the price of coal, excluding the cost of taxes or subsidies. Wind power makes an important contribution to the energy supply of several countries, but wind power is dependent on the weather, which leads to limited utilisation rates, higher costs and little control. Due to night time and dark winters, as well as low conversion efficiency, solar power suffers even more from natural limitations in our region. The potential for further hydropower expansion in Europe is limited as most hydropower resources have already been exploited.
Today energy needs are growing, not lessening. Therefore, our mission is to use fossil fuels as efficient as possible reducing emissions using the most modern technology at our disposal.
Our solution - broad energy mix and innovative technology
Vattenfall's opinion is that a wide palette of energy sources - coal, nuclear, gas and renewables - as well as new technologies, will be required to meet future challenges.
Vattenfall is a leading investor in renewable energy resources (read more about our investments in renewable energy on Investing in renewable energy ). Alongside this, we are investing in research and development to improve energy efficiency in our operations and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants based on fossil fuels. Mining of lignite and the subsequent recultivation process have been improved continuously over the decades (read more here ).
But to drastically reduce, or even eliminate, emissions, new and innovative technology is needed. In the "CO2 free power plant" project, we are testing the potential of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) techniques in future coal-fired power plants. The foundation for the first plant has been laid, and the pilot project will begin operating in summer 2008. Carbon capture and storage is a key technology that can deliver the big cuts needed to reach the target set by the EU ministers of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020.
Vattenfall's efforts to use fossil fuels efficiently
Vattenfall, which already operates the world's most technically advanced lignite power plants, continues to increase the efficiency and economic effectiveness of its plants. Decisions has been made to build two new combined heat and power plants in Germany to replace existing and previously decommissioned plants, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing relative emissions:
- The Boxberg lignite fired power plant in Sachsen will be expanded by 675 MW, involving optimisation of capacity utilisation of the nearby open-cast mine. Its efficiency of 44% makes it far more efficient than the industry average of around 37%.
- In Hamburg (Moorburg), a coal-fired combined heat and power plant with a capacity of 1,640 MW will be built.
Vattenfall's "CO2-free power plant project" is progressing, the 30 MW Oxyfuel pilot plant for capture of CO2 will be in operation mid-2008. The captured CO2 will be stored underground as soon as a suitable site has been identified and the necessary permit processes allow.
The 250-300 MW Oxyfuel demonstration plant is planned to be commissioned in 2015, engineering planned to start in 2010. The demonstration plant will include all components of CCS - capture, transport and storage. The concept is expected to be commercial by 2020, depending on the price of CO2.
In Poland the medium- term investment programme to reduce NOXand SO2 emissions continued during 2006. During the coming three years, approximately EUR 183 million will be invested in lowering emissions and modernising production equipment in the heat operations.
Work on increasing co-combustion of coal and biomass is ongoing, by 2012 the fuel mix in the Polish heat operations should include at least 5% biomass.
The Nordjylland power plant in Denmark is the most efficient coal fired power plant in the world.
Utilisation of combined heat and power (CHP) generation means that substantially less carbon dioxide, is emitted. Vattenfall uses this efficient technology at numerous locations, particularly in Germany, Instead of dispensing the unused heat which results from the production of power into the atmosphere, it is used as useful heat, for example for the heating of buildings or as process heat in the industry. The fuel savings amount to up to 30 per cent.
"CO2 free" Pilot plant in operation by mid-2008
Construction of the 30 MW thermal pilot plant at Schwarze
Pumpe in Germany is an important milestone for the "CO2 free power
plant2 project. The plant is a necessary scale-up link between initial
engineering and successful operation of future plants. The initial testing
programme will run for three years, and it is believed that the plant will be
in operation for at least 10 years (for more information on the CO2-free
power plant project please see
www.vattenfall.com
).
Returning fossil carbon to the ground
(1) Lignite and hard coal will be combusted in a mixture of oxygen and re-circulated CO2, which also contains water vapour. The oxygen needed will be produced on site (in the building behind the boiler).
(2) The fluid gas will then be treated and sulphur oxides, particles and other contaminants will be removed.
(3) Finally, the water will be condensed and the concentrated CO2 will be compressed into liquid form.
The captured CO2 will be stored underground as soon as a suitable site has been identified and the necessary permits have been obtained.
We are about to finish the foundation work and several buildings are currently
being constructed. You can see the building site on a webcam:
www.vattenfall.de/webcam-co2frei/popup.html.The
plant will be the first in the world to use the oxyfuel capture method.
Responsible lignite mining
The art of recultivating landscapes
Mining and recultivation are two phases of the same operation. Vattenfall's ongoing recultivation programmes are well established and based on models that ensure ecological stability and multifunctional use. Many of the areas we operate in today are well on their way to be self sustained natural habitats. Recultivation requires knowledge and patience, but we must never forget that time is of essence.
Experience a cultural landscape
The new landscape being created is characterized by extensive forests, gently shaped hills and valleys, with courses of streams passing trough and enriched by lakes. Recultivation always means harmonising several interests: economical, recreational and nature conservation. The best result will be achieved if the future users are included in the recultivation processes as early as possible.
Federal Mining Law basis for all activity
Main basis of mining activities is the Federal Mining Law that regulates the conditions for mining companies. The conditions have to be fulfilled to get permission for an operational plan. In any case, one of the most important prerequisite is to make reclamation of the land possible through recultivation. Plans have to be made and approved and then implementation has to be proven. The Federal Mining Law defines reclamation as proper shaping of areas occupied by mining operations with special attention to public interests. This is manifested as legal basis in the long-term lignite mining plan.
Before mining starts
Vattenfall establishes ecological requirement profiles describing among others the pre-mining situation, the interference that mining causes and impacts on all kinds of use and subjects of protection. Fact is that quite different habitats will establish after mining. The ecological requirement profiles are part of the permits.
Today - the mining front
The post-mining landscape to be shaped by Vattenfall Europe Mining includes a presently approved overall area of nearly 30,000 hectares. Areas that have already been cultivated prove that mining activities can produce cultural landscapes, arising from the needs and ideas of the people living here. The recultivated areas show that lignite mining represents a chance to shape new land.
The front 0-2 years after mining
The first phase of recultivation is topsoil restoration. The best available soil must be placed at the surface as the structure of the soil is decisive for the productivity of the new land being formed.
Areas more than 2 years after mining
The Lusatian District is an area rich in forests and Vattenfall aim at providing a natural and variably useable forest landscape. Vattenfall therefore plant tree species which correspond to the natural forest composition of Lusatia. Apart from pine-trees, these species mainly involve sessile and common oaks. On each hectare of land, between 6,000 and 12,000 seedlings are planted. In this phase Vattenfall also begin agricultural utilisation. The first step is to establish plant life that helps develop the soil, making it come alive and become rich. After that commercial agricultural utilization can begin.
The front 10-20 years after mining
Agricultural areas are formed, securing the existence of agricultural companies and contributing to preservation of rural areas. 10% of post-mining landscapes have been listed as agricultural lands in the plans of Vattenfall Europe Mining.
The area named Lusatian district, in Eastern Germany, extends over 550,000 hectares. The aerial photograph is taken over the mine and restoration area of Welzow-Süd in 2006. Vattenfall Europe Mining AG mines about 60 million tonnes of lignite yearly from the opencast mines. Both mining and re-cultivation are carried out on large areas. About 10 hectares of land are required just for extracting one million tonnes of lignite from a coal seam with an average thickness of 10 to 15 metres.
The front 20-30 years after mining
Vattenfall views landscape after mining as a resource for new generations. This photo shows an example of a landscape approximately 30 years after mining. It is similar to a naturally formed landscape, but is in fact a new habitat for flora and fauna. 15% of the post-mining landscape is provided for nature conservation. Systematic resettlement of plant and animal species compensates for the interference in nature. The basis for this is a long-term working programme agreed with the respective nature conservation authority. After resettlement, the growth of plants and animals are monitored.