Dong Energy to cut coal use, emissions in biomass switch
October 15, 2012
By Bloomberg News
October 15, 2012, Fredericia, DK – Dong Energy A/S, Denmark’s biggest utility, is set to cut coal use and carbon emissions as it switches to biomass at three of its biggest plants with a combined output of as much as 1,968 megawatts, the company said.
The utility plans to convert to biomass at three co- generation stations, including the coal-fired 790-megawatt Avedoere plant in Copenhagen and the 760-megawatt Studstrup unit in Aarhus, as well as the 418-megawatt gas-fired Skaerbaek station in Kolding, Thomas Dalsgaard, executive vice president of Dong Energy, told Bloomberg Businessweek .
The move was prompted by a renewable-energy policy agreement signed by the country’s main political parties on March 22, with a final investment decision pending the outcome of the talks, he said. A firm decision and timeframe will be given depending on the outcome of negotiations with heat customers, he said.
“The conversion to biomass enables 100 percent use of biomass, but the power plants will maintain fuel flexibility and be able to use coal or gas,” Dalsgaard said.
Once the fuel switch is complete, Dong expects to use about 2 million metric tons of coal each year, down from 4 million tons last year and 6 million tons in 2006, Dalsgaard said.
The company has its eyes set on increasing “green production of heat and power from 15 percent in 2006 to 85 percent in 2040,” he said. “CO2 emissions per energy unit should be halved by 2020 and reduced to only 15 percent by 2040.”
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www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-15/dong-energy-to-cut-coal-use-co2-emissions-50-percent-in-biomass-switch
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