Finnish company starts huge biomass boiler

June 11,
2010, Zug, Switzerland – Foster Wheeler AG’s large-scale, 125 MWe (385 MW
thermal) circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) boiler, delivered to Kaukaan Voima Oy
in Finland, has started commercial operation. The new biomass unit fires a
combination of biomass and peat and has the capability to fully fire either
fuel, supplying process steam and electricity to the adjacent UPM-Kymmene
Corporation's pulp and paper mill, as well as electricity and district heat to
the city of Lappeenranta.

The power
plant is fueled by bark, branches, tops, stumps, small wood, and peat, and is
reported to be Finland's largest user of solid biomass. Biomass accounts for
about 80% of the plant's fuel supply.

"This
project is one of the largest biomass-fired CFBs in the world," says
Tomas Harju-Jeanty, president and CEO of Foster Wheeler Energia Oy.