Vilnius CHP starts generating energy from waste

Vilnius Combined Heat and Power Plant (Vilnius CHP) has started hot tests using non-recyclable municipal waste. After testing the dedicated equipment, the waste will then turn into power and heat for Vilnius residents.

In October, transportation of municipal waste sorted at Vilnius Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant (MBTP) to Vilnius CHP has started. Vilnius CHP is expected to prevent as much as 160,000 tonnes of waste per year that would otherwise end up in Lithuanian landfills. This phase of Vilnius CHP commissioning is also known as the first flame of waste. It is the first step in converting waste into energy by testing and trialling the equipment in all possible operating modes.

“As early as at the end of summer, we started hot tests with natural gas. After a successful completion of this phase, we are now ready to generate energy from municipal waste. The heating season that has already started will be the first when municipal waste will be used to produce heat for Vilnius residents”, says Saulius Barauskas, CEO of Vilnius CHP.

Ensuring the highest environmental standards is in focus during preparations for the launch of Vilnius CHP. It has installed modern flue gas treatment systems based on three integrated technologies: selective non-catalytic reduction, semi-dry flue gas treatment technology and sleeve filters. The installed flue gas treatment system will automatically adapt to changes in the flue gas composition, which will allow emissions to be reduced below the levels permitted by the extremely stringent environmental standards applied throughout the EU. The environmental solutions planned and implemented will ensure that Vilnius CHP does not have a negative impact on the environment and human health.

Moreover, Vilnius CHP already has an emissions measurement system in place to ensure that emission indicators are monitored. The plant operators and the Environmental Protection Department will continuously monitor the emissions, and a daily summary and detailed report will be made public. All emissions data will be archived on secure servers and stored for 5 years. The public can access the emissions data on the company website: https://vkj.lt/aplinkosauga/jegaines-emisijos/141.

During the operation of Vilnius CHP in pilot mode, Vilnius CHP staff cooperates and ensures that the government authorities responsible for the oversight of the public health and environmental protection may observe the tests in the plant directly.

As previously announced, Vilnius CHP won the Vilnius district heating auction announced in November, where heat producers competed to get heat procured by the heat supplier. Vilnius CHP offered the lowest price among the bidders in the heat auction, namely 2.18 ct/kWh.

Once Vilnius CHP is commercially operational, it will have a total power capacity of approximately 100 MW and a thermal capacity of approximately 240 MW. Vilnius CHP has highly modern and state-of-the-art flue gas treatment equipment that will ensure a completely safe energy generation from municipal waste and biofuels.

The plant will be able to cover approximately 40% of the annual heat demand of Vilnius city to be supplied by central heating systems. Once the construction is completed, Vilnius CHP will be among the most modern plants of its type in Europe, based on the environmental and energy generation technologies applied. Vilnius CHP COD is expected in the fourth quarter of the year.