Fortum and Metso in R&D co-operation around oxyfuel combustion technology

Fortum and Metso in R&D co-operation around oxyfuel combustion technology       

Fortum and Metso have joined forces in exploring oxyfuel combustion technology. 
Oxyfuel combustion is part of a technical concept which enables carbon capture  
in power and heat generation. The three-year R&D project is partly funded by    
Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.                

The goal of the development activity is to determine how oxyfuel combustion     
technology could be implemented in an industrial-sized power plant using        
circulating fluidized bed technology. A key feature of such boilers is that they
can be operated on a wide selection of fuels, like coal and biomass separately  
or together as any mixture.                                                     

“Comprehensive testing will be carried out during 2010, and the results can be  
utilized both for modernization purposes and for the design of new power plants 
to create preconditions for the CO2 capture in the future. Oxyfuel combustion at
power plants using circulating fluidized bed technology is a promising method   
for reducing CO2 emissions. During the research, Metso's 4-MW test plant in     
Tampere, Finland will be modified for oxyfuel combustion,” states Kari          
Kuukkanen, General Manager, Technology at Metso.                                

In the oxyfuel combustion process fuel is combusted with pure oxygen diluted    
with recirculated flue gas instead of air. In such case, after the cleaning the 
flue gas would consist mainly of CO2 and water vapor. After removal of the water
vapor, CO2-gas is ready to be pressurized at the power plant, transported and   
stored.                                                                         

"Fortum's long term goal is to be a CO2-free energy company and we have been    
working towards this goal systematically for several years. This project is an  
important part of Fortum's long-term R&D activities because the technology can  
be applied not only in coal-fired energy production but also in power plants    
using biomass as fuel. Applying CCS to biomass-fired plants would create a      
carbon sink", says Marja Englund, manager of the project at Fortum.             

The experimental research effort focuses on oxyfuel combustion but is a         
significant step in the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS)         
technologies. Carbon capture and storage is shown to be one of the key          
technologies for CO2 emissions reduction in energy production in numerous       
scenario analyses. In addition to moving towards emission-free energy           
production, improved energy efficiency is essential in order to reach emission  
reduction targets.                                                              


Fortum Corporation                                                              
Corporate Communications                                                        
                                                                                

Further information:                                                            
Petra Lundström, Corporate Technology Officer, Fortum Corporation, 
tel, +358 50 45 35422                                                
Marja Englund, Project Manager, Fortum Power and Heat Oy, 
tel. +358 50 45 33811 

Fortum is a leading energy company focusing on the Nordic countries, Russia and 
the Baltic Rim area. Activities cover the generation, distribution and sale of  
electricity and heat and the operation and maintenance of power plants. Our     
vision is to be the benchmark power and heat company excelling in               
sustainability.www.fortum.fi                                                    

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining,   
construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper    
industries. We have over 28,000 employees in more than 50 countries.            
www.metso.com