Hydropower - An indispensable part of the secure power supply in Europe
Severe power grid disturbances on 8 January 2021 underline the importance of reserve maintenance and balancing power. VGB PowerTech has prepared a background report on the event with a special focus on the role of hydropower.
White Paper SSTI - Consideration of possible effects of the operation of HVDC systems in the network on the shafts of turbo sets in power plants
The White Paper was jointly developed by the German Transmission System Operators (TSO) and power plant operators and by involvement of universities and producers. As an introduction, the current network modifications in the German transmission system are presented in an overview. Further, the processes and procedures for the integration of HVDC systems through exchange of information and cooperation between TSOs, HVDC operators and power plant operators are explained.
VGB POWERTECH JOURNAL 3/2021
Download selected papers from the latest issue free of charge:
- Hydropower indispensable for secure power supply in Europe
Peter Bauhofer and Mario Bachhiesl - Data protection in times of pandemic: Claim, reality and practical aids
Stefan Loubichi
PT-Journal - Current Issue
Hydropower Industry Guide 2020/21
The Hydropower Industry Guide 2020/21 gives a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the newest products and services offered by the hydropower sector. It provides an easy-to-use directory of companies providing key products and services to the worldwide hydro market. These products and services can help you do your job more effectively.
events
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Maintenance of Wind Power Plants
18 May 2021, OnLine
The main topics of the Webinar will deal with the reduction of installation and operating costs of wind power plants. The consistent further development of system technology, in particular the optimisation of maintenance strategies will play a decisive role in the future in order to increase technical availability and thus economic efficiency of the appropriate systems.
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Ecology and Environment in Hydropower
18/20 May 2021, OnLine
Environmental protection and preservation of nature is one of the many important challenges not only for hydropower, but for society as a whole. As one of the most environmentally and climate-friendly forms of energy generation, hydropower plays an important part in the current energy system and that of the future.
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Steam Turbines and Operation of Steam Turbines
1/2 June 2021, OnLine
The aim of the conference is to ensure the steam turbine operation on a high availability and effectiveness also in the future. This biennial event is addressed to all manufacturers, planners, operators, insurers and all professionals, researchers and decision-makers interested in technology and its environment.
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Maintenance in Power Plants
23/24 June 2021, OnLine
This event is addressed to all experts of the conventional and nuclear division, to the experts of maintenance in power plants and service companies and to the independent inspectors and deputies of governments, who are concerned with new developments in the divisions maintenance, inspection and repair.
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Flue Gas Cleaning
1/2 September 2021 in Dresden, Germany
The workshop covers a wide range of flue gas cleaning activities, especially with a view to the activities for meeting the future emission limits, which are defined in the BREF-LCP process.
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VGB CONGRESS
22/23 September 2021 in Essen, Germany
Further details will be provided in a due time.
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VGB Conference Chemistry
27/28 October 2021 in Ulm, Germany
The international VGB Conference Chemistry deals with all chemical aspects of power and heat generation plants as well as other industrial processes. The event is a forum beyond Europe for the exchange of experience and the status of technical/ chemical developments.
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Gas Turbines and Operation of Gas Turbines
11/12 November 2021 in Potsdam, Germany
In the context of the energy transition in a short period of time, the changing requirements in electricity and heat market and the public gas transport network require the timely adjustment of operational and plant engineering concepts for economical, safe and environmentally operation of gas turbines.
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New Publications
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PowerTech Journal 3/2021
- Materials
- Hydropower
- Consideration of relaxation effects in the assessment of stresses and bearing loads of high temperature piping systems
- Wind energy: continued operation often pays off
- Hydropower indispensable for secure power supply in Europe
and further news from industry, development and research
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Availability of Power Plants 2010 - 2019, Edition 2020
TW103Ve
The Technical-scientific Report Availability of thermal power plants for the period 2010 to 2019 is available. The current report provides performance indicators for 659 power plant units plus 183 machine sets of storage and pump storage hydro power plants.
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Basic Terms of the Electric Utility Industry
VGB-S-002-01-2019-05-EN | Available as free of charge eBook
Apart from the familiar content relating to structural terms in the industry, power plant, grid and integrated supply system terms, energy and capacity terms and terms from the stock exchanges and trading markets now also newer terms from the immigrant energy transition and the global initiative to phase out fossil energy sources.
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Life Cycle Management of Buildings and Structures in Industrial Facilities and Power Plants
VGB-S-044-00-2019-05-EN
This VGB-Standard is applicable to structural works in new-build, existing industrial facilities and power plants. Its focus is primarily on structural engineering systems which ensure load-carrying capability, serviceability and durability.
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Structural Design of Cooling Towers
VGB-S-610-00-2019-10-EN
VGB Standard on the Structural Design, Calculation, Engineering and Construction of Cooling Towers.
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Failures and Forced Unavailability of Power Plants (Henk C. Wels)
B035-ebook
Power plants are not functioning to the fullest 100 % of the time. Maintenance and inspection of some components require them to be off-line in time, however, this can be planned such that customers continue receiving power from the electrical grid, steam or district heating from other plants. Unplanned outages due to failures or external conditions may cause surprises and can lead to situations in which the demand is not satisfied at short term at large costs.
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VGB-Standard KKS. Pocketbook
VGB-S-811-91-2020-09-DE-EN
The "KKS Pocketbook" (3nd revised and extende edition 2020) is an abridged version (extract) of the publication VGB-S-811-91-2020-09-DE-EN “KKS – Identification System for Power Stations”. The handy 148-page brochure supports the decoding of KKS codes, one of the world's most widely used key systems for the designation of equipment and components in power generation.
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Analysis of Unavailability of Power Plants
VGB-TW103Ae-eBook
The report provides information about weak points of equipment and power plant systems. VGB is analysing the annual unavailability (UA analysis) in order to identify the root causes, i.e. those systems causing unavailability to be able to upgrade such weak equipment.
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Amendment sheets at a glance!
The listed amendment sheets include all amendments regarding to the VGB-Standard. Its structure complies with the chapters of the VGB-Standard. It documents the amendments with naming the chapter number.
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benefits for members
- Provide an international platform for the exchange and transfer of technical know-how
- Identify, raise and organisation of joint R&D activities
- Offer technical services, engineering consulting and construction supervision
- Guarantee access to a pool of expert knowledge
- Generate technical and operational standardisation
- Organise and offer training
Facts and Figures
Competence areas
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Nuclear Power Plants
The European nuclear power plants generate more than 30% of the electricity need. Thus the CO2 load of the atmosphere is reduced by over 900 Mio. tons (if replaced by coal fired power plants). VGB PowerTech and the committees of the department „Nuclear Power Plants“ are dealing with all issues concerning a safe and economical operation of NPPs.
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Power Plant Technologies
The competence area “Power Plant Technologies” is the communications platform for all questions concerning the technology and operation of all power plant types, and covers all technical areas from boilers and turbines to I&C systems. The focus is on both short-term issues relating to daily operation and long-term, strategically oriented topics.
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Renewables and Distributed Generation
The committees related to "Renewables and Distributed Generation" are dealing with all technical and economic issues concerning the use of renewables and decentralized generation technologies
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Hydropower
In Europe hydropower is not only an indispensable renewable source but it is still the frontrunner in renewable energy with an annual electricity production of more than 375 TWh, as approximately 41% of the renewable energy is based on hydropower. For more than 20 years an exchange of experience of the leading companies organized by VGB PowerTech is taking place on an expert level regarding technical and strategic topics.
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Wind Energy
For more than 16 years an intensive exchange of information and experience to improve the efficient operation of wind power plants organized by VGB PowerTech is taking place. In this context, the requirements of the wind power plant operators are highlighted. The companies are mainly interested in cooperation to push forward standardisation (best practice) and to incorporate operator interest in the different user groups.
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Biomass
Power generation from biomass is a crucial part of transforming the global energy supply structure towards a sustainable energy future. Currently 167 TWh electricity and 855 TWh heat are generated from Biomass in Europe. Therefore Biomass has a share of 18.6% in renewable electricity generation and 87% in renewable heat generation. Since 2002 VGB has provided a growing platform for owners and operators of biomass power plants for sharing experience and knowledge at a high expertise level.
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Environmental Technology, Chemistry, Safety and Health
The Competence Area „Environmental Technology, Chemistry, Safety and Health“ focuses on important general issues of power and heat generation. Its specialised committees offer the platform for the necessary exchange of experience and the forming of opinion of the branch for the respective specialists in the member companies
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Technical Services
Technical services are an integral part of VGB PowerTech’s work. They are to be regarded as an enhancement to the services for our members and cover all aspects of engineering and operation in power plants. These services are used by members worldwide to achieve sustainably safe, fault-free and cost-effective operation
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