Alstom receives Provisional Acceptance Certificate for Slovenias first ultra-supercritical power plant

Alstom has received the Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) for the 600MW ultra-supercritical Unit 6 at otanj power plant, in north-eastern Slovenia. The unit has now started commercial operation, generating approximately one third of Slovenias power production, thus allowing the country to ensure its energy independence.

The new Unit 6 is Slovenias first power plant with ultra-supercritical equipment, achieving the highest possible efficiency using local fuel. Thanks to Alstoms innovative technology, the plant has also an exceptional net efficiency rate of 43%. This high efficiency contributes to minimise environmental impact byreducing CO2 emissions by 20% compared to the existing units. In addition, SOx emissions are reduced by 55% and NOx emissions by 53%.

This project is a very good example of successful collaboration with our customer TE and of efficient cooperation between many Alstom sites¹ throughout Europe -says Jérôme Poupon, otanj Project Director. With 600°C at 270 bars,otanj Unit 6 will be the power plant with the highest supercritical steam parameters within Alstoms installed base.

Alstom signed a contract with Termolektrarna otanjd.o.o. (TE)², in 2008, to supply the complete power island of the new otanj Unit 6, comprising the steam turbine, generator set, water-steam cycle, the boiler and the ALSPA distributed control system, which will also be added to the existing otanj power plant units.

The Unit 6 investment is part of a strategic plan by TE, to enhance power generation while maintaining the planned consumption of coal, achieve compliance with Slovenias Kyoto protocol commitments, reduce electric power generation costs and help secure the future economic viability of the power sector in the aleska valley, including the nearby Premogovnik Velenje coal mine.

Alstom has previously installed two 114 MW gas turbines in Slovenia (228 MW in total) as well as several steam turbines both for electricity production and district heating, and is executing service contracts in the country. Alstom has already carried out work on the otanj power plant, modernising the boiler for unit 5, in order to reduce emissions and meet environmental requirements.

¹Belfort and Massy (France), Stuttgart and Mannheim (Germany), Vaxjö (Sweden), Wroclaw (Poland)
²Power generation company owned by Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE), the largest Slovenian electricity organisation.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 88,000 people in around 100 countries.