Emerson chosen to convert Lynemouth coal plant to biomass

EPH Lynemouth Power has awarded Emerson a contract to help convert the 44-year-old coal-fired Lynemouth power station to a new biomass-fuelled power plant.

As main automation contractor and main electrical contractor, Emerson is responsible for helping the project come online within budget and on time.

Should the conversion be finished on schedule in late 2017, the plant, near Newcastle in the UK, will be fuelled by approximately 1.27 million tonnes of wood waste per year, supplying the national grid with up to 390MW of low-carbon electricity.

The project supports Europe’s strategy of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while boosting renewable energy and energy efficiency, Emerson says.

Emerson will be responsible for demolition, engineering, installation, start-up, commissioning, and coordination of work among multiple suppliers and contractors.

Emerson offers a single integrated automation platform for all applications – turbine, boiler, fuel handling, and balance-of-plant processes, as well as electrical systems.

“Relying on a single supplier and a single technology platform for both the automation and electrical scope provides our client a number of benefits,” said Bob Yeager, president of power and water at Emerson Automation Solutions.

“From a planning perspective, having a single interface and contract for design, engineering, and delivery improves overall project efficiency. On the operational side, utilising one technology platform will simplify plant operation and enhance plant performance on an ongoing basis.”

Biomass power plants are challenging to operate because the moisture content of biomass fuels can vary, having a negative impact on plant performance.

Technology integrated into Emerson’s Ovation solution continuously monitors fuel for moisture content, adjusting combustion air as necessary to improve plant efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.

According to Yeager, the demand for biomass-fuelled power continues to grow as utilities diversify their generating portfolio to meet evolving environmental mandates.