Alstom to supply key environmental control technology for a pioneer biomass combustion project in Candeias, Brazil

Alstom will supply an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) for the petrochemical complex of DOW, located in Candeias in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Alstom's ESP technology enables the capturing of contaminated particles in the flue gas derived from the burning of biomass*. The ESP will be installed at the world's pioneer petrochemical site that uses biomass for the production of steam for industrial use.

Energias Renováveis do Brasil (ERB), a reference company in the generation of biomass energy, will operate the facility, which will provide clean energy - in compliance with very strict environmental regulations - to the industrial complex in Candeias. The electrostatic precipitator filters the flue gases generated during combustion in the boilers, minimising emissions. Alstom's ESP system is featured with the proprietary Transformer Rectifier and Control Technology, leading to high removal efficiency, low power consumption and compact layout. The project will be fully developed in Brazil and is scheduled to be operational by mid-2013.

The energy will be generated by combustion of eucalyptus, which will replace about 50 % of the gas currently used for the production of the steam. ERB chose Alstom, the leader in Environmental Control Systems (ECS) in Latin America, because of its extensive knowledge and experience in this field. "Alstom's equipment will bring significant improvements to air quality and will capture over 98% of contaminating particles that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere", says Daniel Santos, General Director for ECS Business at Alstom Latin America.

Alstom is the worldwide leader in equipment for emission control systems, serving clients from the power and industrial sector. Alstom's broad reference includes over 100 Seawater Flue Gas Desulphurization Systems around the world, equivalent to an installed capacity of 42 GW in power generation. It has also installed over 360 Fabric Filter Systems, 95 Wet Flue Gas Desulphurization Systems, 1100 Electrostatic Precipitators and 100 NID Dry Flue Gas Desulphurization Systems around the globe.

* Notes to the editor
In industrial application such as in the pulp & paper or the sugar & ethanol market, the production of biomass fuel is often from the plant itself. On the other hand, DOW is a petrochemical, so the biomass fuel is provided from local cane harvest. The outsourcing of biomass fuel proved to be an innovative business model because it has a competitive cost for power generation in Brazil.

Most manufacturing plants in Brazil get their power supply either from the electrical grid or from their own power boilers. The new model consists of creating a power generation island provided by ERB within the production facility of the end user. The main advantage is that an expert in power generation management will take care of providing energy at a competitive cost, letting the end users dedicate its efforts to what they know best: produce their end product.

Alstom is the worldwide leader in equipment for emission control systems, serving clients from the power and industrial sector. Alstoms broad reference includes over 100 Seawater Flue Gas Desulphurization Systems around the world, equivalent to an installed capacity of 42 GW in power generation. It has also installed over 360 Fabric Filter Systems, 95 Wet Flue Gas Desulphurization Systems, 1100 Electrostatic Precipitators and 100 NID Dry Flue Gas Desulphurization Systems around the globe.