Flexible thermal power plants – An Indian delegation study tour supported by VGB

A high-ranking delegation of representatives from India's Ministry of Energy, the Central Electricity Authority as well as different companies and institutions visited Germany from September 18 to 25, 2016. The participants were interested in learning about German experiences with adapting power plants to the fluctuating input of renewable energies. The VGB, together with its Indian partner organization EEC (Excellence Enhancement Centre), played a prominent role in organizing the program of the study tour, which was initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the auspices of the Indo-German Energy Forum.

A high-ranking delegation of representatives from India's Ministry of Energy, the Central Electricity Authority as well as different companies and institutions visited Germany from September 18 to 25, 2016. The participants were interested in learning about German experiences with adapting power plants to the fluctuating input of renewable energies. The VGB, together with its Indian partner organization EEC (Excellence Enhancement Centre), played a prominent role in organizing the program of the study tour, which was initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the auspices of the Indo-German Energy Forum. “We are very happy to have had this opportunity to continue cooperating successfully with our Indian partners," explained Dr. Oliver Then, Head of Power Plant and Environmental Technologies at VGB.

Visit to the VGB Congress “Power Plants 2016”

Besuch des VGB-Kongresses „Power Plants 2016“
„India Meet and Greet“
VGB-Congress „Power Plants 2016"

The tour started with a Flexibility Workshop in Berlin with representatives from GKM, Kraftwerksschule, RWE Technology, Steag Energy Services, Uniper and Vattenfall. The variety of topics provided a lot of input for lively discussions, ranging from the function of the German electricity market to specific technical solutions to enhance the flexibility of coal-fired power plants. The visit to the VGB Congress “Power Plants 2016” was a highlight of the study tour. An “India Meet and Greet” took place at the exhibition on September 20, 2016, as part of the get together. Interested parties had the chance to learn more about the diverse opportunities that exist in India's dynamic energy market. The Indian government has set ambitious targets for renewable energies: Installed capacity should grow to 175 GW, of which 100 GW should come from solar, 60 GW wind, 10 GW hydro (>25 MW) and 5 GW biomass. This requires a radical transformation of the energy system in India, as 70 percent of existing installed capacity (305 GW) currently comes from thermal power generation. Additionally, these plants are faced with new, stricter emission requirements.
Visit to the power plant Lippendorf
Visit to the power plant Lippendorf

Participants gained practical insights during visits to the municipal utility of Leipzig (Stadtwerke Leipzig), the BMW manufacturing facility and the Lippendorf power plant. The key topics at Stadtwerke Leipzig were the German energy market and energy trading, one of this utility's main business areas. At the BMW factory, the main focus was on electric vehicle production, but tour participants also gained an understanding of the sorts of challenges involved in the conversion of the transportation system and the development of cross-sector business models. At the lignite-fired Vattenfall plant in Lippendorf, the delegation gained firsthand knowledge of flexible plant operation during a site tour with plant manager Christian Rosin. .

“We all learned a great deal during this intensive week – and this view is supported by the overwhelming positive feedback from delegation participants," said Then. The study tour provided a good boost for the Indo-German Energy Forum that took place in Berlin on September 29, 2016. There, too, the topic of flexibility was high on the Forum’s agenda.