Chempark Uerdingen gets out of coal: First electrode boiler supplies steam
Important step for the future-proof orientation of the Chempark site
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Chemical park operator Currenta commissions the first electrode boiler at Chempark Krefeld-Uerdingen. In future, the plant will generate up to 60 tons of steam per hour, supplying the local production plants with process heat. A second plant of the same size is still under construction. Silke Krebs, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Mayor of Krefeld, Frank Meyer, also attended the commissioning ceremony.
The new electrode boiler can produce up to 60 tons of steam per hour.
Currenta GmbH & Co. OHG
With the new K10 electrode boiler, Currenta is driving forward the coal phase-out at the Krefeld-Uerdingen site: the boiler is gradually replacing the existing coal-fired boiler systems. As it is powered by electricity, the steam - if renewable energies are used - can be generated in a completely climate-neutral way in the future. By reducing the use of coal, Currenta expects to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 50,000 tons per electronic boiler per year. Krefeld-Uerdingen is the third Chempark site where Currenta is using this technology. In Leverkusen and Dormagen, three electrode boilers have already been successfully in operation for several years.
The fourth "large-scale industrial boiler" across all sites
Silke Krebs, State Secretary in the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs, emphasized the signal effect of the project: "The launch of the K10 electrode boiler marks a new chapter of industrial transformation for the Chempark Uerdingen. Where coal-fired plants secured the energy supply for decades, a modern, flexible and, in the long term, climate-neutral system is now being created that combines security of supply, competitiveness and climate protection. This project is emblematic of the transformation of an entire industry - away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable and future-proof production."
Currenta CEO Tim Hartmann on the commissioning: "With the first of the two planned electrode boilers in Uerdingen, we are opening a new chapter: climate-neutral steam is now also available in Uerdingen. This is also a commitment to the future-proof orientation of this location and to an industry that only has a future in Europe if it changes. This investment sends a clear signal: we believe in Uerdingen as a chemical site."
For Krefeld's Lord Mayor Frank Meyer, the investment in the new electric boiler "is a double exclamation mark: It is a commitment to the future that strengthens Krefeld as an industrial location and at the same time makes it clear that this is very much compatible with the goal of climate neutrality. This kind of corporate commitment is important for Krefeld, because industry is the backbone of our business location and is indispensable as an employer for thousands of employees and their families," said Meyer.
Detlef Rennings, Chairman of the Group Works Council of the Currenta Group, emphasizes the importance of the investment for securing the Uerdingen site: "This investment is an important commitment to the Uerdingen site and, above all, to the people who work here - and that in very difficult economic waters. Modern, competitive infrastructure is the basis for secure jobs - which is why we welcome the fact that companies and site partners are jointly investing in the future of our site."
Steam is one of the central elements of the energy supply at an integrated site like the Chempark. Currenta supplies the local companies and plants with this indispensable medium, which is primarily required to supply heat for chemical production processes, via the extensive pipeline network.
In addition to its high output, the K10 electrode boiler is characterized by an automatic and data-based control system. The system can adjust its output much faster than conventional boilers and thus react flexibly to fluctuating demand and electricity market signals. In this way, the boiler also supports the integration of renewable energies into the industrial energy supply in the future.
Flexible response to fluctuating demand and electricity market signals
"Coal was yesterday. Our new state-of-the-art plant in Uerdingen reacts in seconds and thus stabilizes the grid. This flexibility makes energy permanently competitive for our customers and we are actively shaping the energy transformation," emphasizes Axel Pompe, Head of the Energy Business Unit at Currenta.
K 10 was made possible by a joint investment decision by Currenta and its site partners Bayer, Covestro and Lanxess. A second electrode boiler is already under construction and commissioning is planned for 2027. A total investment volume of almost 50 million euros is planned for both electrode boilers at the Krefeld-Uerdingen site.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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