OREANDA-NEWS. The second power unit (450MW) of North-West CHPP was brought on line in St. Petersburg.

Commissioning of the second power unit of North-West CHPP has doubled the plant’s capacity up to 900MW what enables to enhance reliability of electricity supply to customers of the region.

The unit’s commissioning was in sync with date of completion of the heating main between North-West CHPP and St. Petersburg’s Primorskiy district. The project implementation allows the plant for 730 Gcal/h of heat distribution and enhances heat supply to a number of St. Petersburg’s districts. Moreover switching from condensation to cogeneration mode considerably increases the fuel efficiency of the plant.

North-West CHPP is one of the most technologically advanced power plants not only in Russia but Europe as well. It utilizes a modern combined-cycle gas technology, which ensures the plant’s efficiency ratio up to 51.5%, compared to less than 40% for common steam power plants. Besides it allows for saving up to 20-25% of fuel and reduction of hazardous emissions by a third. The cogeneration mode increases the fuel efficiency of North-West CHPP up to 76%.

The amount of investments into construction of the second power unit of North-West CHPP totals RUB9 billion. The construction was funded through a project finance scheme without attraction of centralized investment funds of RAO "UES of Russia".