OREANDA-NEWS. January 11, 2011. Enel OGK-5 started a full-scale refurbishment of Unit 5 at Reftinskaya GRES.

Following modernization works, the installed capacity of Unit 5 will increase by 25 MW, its efficiency rate – by approximately 3%. Therefore, the unit’s reliability will also be substantially improved.

A new turbine and a 325 MW generator will be installed at the power unit. During the reconstruction of the steam boiler, a modern combustion system will be installed. Over more, the full-scale implementation of an automated control system over technological processes will become an important part of the upcoming reconstruction, significantly streamlining staff work and increasing the unit’s efficiency.

In order to reduce the plant’s environmental impact, more efficient bag-house filters will be installed at the unit. This type of gas treatment plants is widely used in coal-fired power plants abroad. Collected dust emissions will not be released through the chimney, but will be transported along with the ash and slag to the ash-disposal area. This will allow to significantly reduce the atmospheric concentration of ash particulates. Following reconstruction, ash emissions will be reduced by nearly 95% and Nitrogen Oxices (NOх) emission will be reduced by 40%.

The project Capex is estimated at around 120 million euro. The modernized unit is expected to be up and running in the beginning of 2012.

Refurbishment of unit № 5 will become the starting point for the gradual modernization of Reftinskaya GRES. Enel OGK-5 has planned to reconstruct all the 300MW units of the first section of the power plant, including replacement of the main and auxiliary equipment with new, more efficient equipment that meet modern environmental standards.

"The modernization of existing facilities – is one of the major tasks in the energy sector today, alongside with the commissioning of new units” Commented Enrico Viale, General Director of OJSC Enel OGK-5. “We invest in the scheduled replacement of obsolete equipment, actively introducing new technologies. This is our contribution towards increasing the efficiency and reliability of Enel OGK-5 power plants as well as decreasing their environmental impact, but also to the modernization and overall development of the country's entire energy system."

Reftinskaya GRES is the largest solid fuel-fired thermal power plant in Russia. With an installed capacity of 3800 MW it covers 40% of Sverdlovsk Region energy system capacity. The power plant is located 80 km from Yekaterinburg and supplies power to the industrial regions of Sverdlovsk, Tumen, Perm and Chelyabinsk regions. In December of 2010 the power plant celebrates its 40th anniversary since the first start-up.