High-efficiency coal-fired power plants development and perspectives

The Danish power stations have a long-standing tradition of building plants with high-efficiency. Elsam's two most recent power plants commissioned in 1997 and 1998 represented a turning point in Europe for high-efficiency conventional power plants with double reheat and steam temperatures of 580 °C. The operational experiences have been good and the plants are just as flexible in operation as more traditional plants. With a background in the two plants and as coordinator of the EU financed AD700 project, Elsam has been on the forefront of the development of a future coal-fired power plant with 700 °C steam temperature. The project comprises about 40 companies representing all actors in the European power industry and is now in its second phase. The presentation will briefly show the historical development and present status and perspectives for the AD700 technology.