Flexibility Toolbox now available
The Flexibility Toolbox – a study on potential measures enabling flexible operation of coal fired power plants – was formally handed over to Indian partners on 19 April 2018.
In 2017 the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) initiated a study on available technologies for flexible operation of thermal power plants – the Flexibility Toolbox. This study has been compiled by VGB PowerTech e.V. and its Indian partner organisation EEC (Excellence Enhancement Centre) jointly with Steag Energy Services GmbH under the auspices of the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF).
Flexible power plant operation is one of the key topics within the bilateral energy cooperation between India and Germany. The toolbox was handed over to the Indian partners during a meeting of IGEF sub group 1 – focusing on coal based power plants – which took place in Berlin on 19 April 2018.
The toolbox intends to support the change of paradigm in the operation of thermal power plants – from base-load to flexible operation. It reflects that this change process requires suitable technologies, skilled people and leadership with foresight. The toolbox includes 40 different flexibility enhancement measures that require a plant retrofit or major technical intervention.
The measures are assigned to different plant areas and focus on combustion, water-steam cycle, turbine, I&C system and auxiliary systems. The description of each measure includes information about:
- Flexibility impact
- Limitations and critical issues that are addressed by the measure
- Description of the key features related to the measure
- Estimation of the required investment
- Time estimation for implementation