Fortum improves energy efficiency in Chelyabinsk

Problem: The Chelyabinsk region administration in Russia wants help to boost energy efficiency.

Solution: The largest operation in the programme is the automation and upgrade of the Chelyabinsk district heating system, which will reduce energy losses in the area by over 30 per cent.

During 2010-2012, a number of energy-efficiency operations are implemented in Chelyabinsk with the aim of reducing the environmental impacts of energy production and use a s well as promoting resource-efficiency. OAO Fortum will invest RUB 3 billion (approximately EUR 70 million) in improving energy efficiency. An additional RUB 1.5 billion (approximately EUR 35 million) for the implementation of the programme will be collected from district heating tariffs.

A project this size is unique in Russia and will be partly funded by raising the district heating tariffs controlled by the region's administration. Consumers will be provided with uninterrupted and more affordable supply of district heat.

Fortum is implementing a number of technical improvements at the power plants located in the Chelyabinsk region in order to increase the efficiency of heat and electricity production.

Chelyabinsk CHP-3's new unit is the region's first modern natural gas-fired combined-cycle gas plant producing electricity with gas and steam turbines. Its combined-cycle gas turbine technology represents the best available technology in gas-fired power production. The unit's fuel consumption is 20 per cent lower than that of existing gas-fired units in Russia, and its efficiency in CHP production increases to 77 per cent.

”The energy-efficiency of our new unit at Chelyabinsk CHP-3 is top-notch and its commissioning reduces carbon-dioxide emissions in the region by approximately 800 000 tonnes until 2012,” says president and CEO Tapio Kuula, Fortum.

Fortum has five combined heat and power plants in the Chelyabinsk region, four of them are in the city of Chelyabinsk and one in the nearby city of Argayash.