Alstoms ultra-supercritical steam turbine unit successfully commissioned in Boxberg

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The Boxberg power plants Block R in the German Oberlausitz region, with its ultra-supercritical 675 MW steam turbine unit, has successfully entered commercial operation.

Under the contract entered in 2005, Alstom engineered, manufactured, supplied and installed the complete steam turbine generator set including the turbo set and the auxiliaries, the steam turbine controller, the condenser and the feed water pump turbines.

The first system tests began in March of this year immediately after the first synchronisation on February 16. At the beginning of October and following the successful test operation phase, Vattenfall issued a Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) for the whole unit in Block R.

The commissioning of ultra-supercritical steam turbines such as that at Boxberg marks a successful milestone for our fleet of technically advanced, cutting-edge steam turbine systems. These plants lead the way in coal-fired plant efficiency and flexibility and demonstrate our technology leadership in steam turbines, stated project director Jens Molsen from Alstom Power GmbH in Mannheim. 

During peak periods, around 250 Alstom employees were working on the project, with 60 employees at the construction site itself. Boxberg and Alstom have joined ranks on a range of different projects in Germany. Among these are the plant in Moorburg, the power plant in Lippendorf, as well as various retrofitting and service remits. We are very pleased with the results, summarised Dr Erwin Müller, construction manager at Vattenfall.

In 2010, Alstom was awarded the VGB Quality Award for its high quality execution and its optimal adherence to the service schedule for the power plant at Jänschwalde.