Converting a Heating Plant from Coal to Biomass

As part of the climate strategy of the Koehler Group, a manufacturer of high-quality specialty papers, the coal-fired power plant was converted to climate-friendly biomass. After 38 years of firing the boiler with coal, wood chips, green waste, and sawmill waste wood are now to be used. The aim of the conversion is to reduce CO2 emissions by 150,000 tons per year and thus fulfill the climate promise by 2030. In addition to CO2 neutrality, the good availability of the fuel, with short transport routes through the use of regional wood, is an advantage.

The Requirements for KRIKO

• Replacement of the process control technology peripherals
• Replacement of the boiler protection and burner control
• Replacement or conversion of the low-voltage switchgear
• Hardware design
• Adaptation and expansion of the software
• Commissioning

The KRIKO Solution

New system components were programmed with the APL module library from Siemens. Components that were no longer needed were carefully “removed”. The existing “SWB supply and disposal” library was retained for the remaining system components (water treatment, water and steam). The switchgears were replaced during short shutdown phases. The Siemens PCS 7 process control system with ET200SP HA with safety was used for the control technology. The SINAMICS G120 with safety was used as the frequency converter. Above all, the connection of new and existing plant components posed a challenge, but was successfully implemented by the project team. By implementing this project, we were able to contribute to sustainability and climate neutrality. We are proud of that.