EDP and Corporación Masaveu have decided to award Duro Felguera the project for the conversion to natural gas and hydrogen of group 2 of the Aboño thermal power plant, a decision which, as the clients themselves have highlighted in a press release, is due to “the technical solvency and proven experience of Duro Felguera in the development of energy projects”.
The project, which is currently in full processing, will concentrate the work on the ground in 2025, when group 2 will stop to undergo a general overhaul in March. For several months, all the work will be carried out so that when the group starts up again in July, it will do so using natural gas, and later hydrogen, as well as steel gases, a feature that makes the plant a unique example of circular economy from the outset. This revalorisation of steel gases avoids the emission of one million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
In environmental terms, the conversion will reduce emissions of particulates and sulphur oxides by almost 100% and nitrogen oxides by 80%. In terms of CO2 emissions, the average reduction will be 30%, varying according to the volume of steel gases that are revalorised at the plant.
The work will consist of installing new equipment and adaptations to the boiler, as well as to systems and infrastructures, always based on a circular economy strategy that allows existing equipment to be used. It will also be necessary to build a new gas pipeline to supply natural gas to the facility.
The result of the project will be a group with a power of 494 MW, similar to the current one, as it will not need to feed equipment and systems associated with coal, such as the mills, conveyor belts or the desulphuriser. It will also be more flexible, as start-ups can be carried out more quickly to meet demand.
For Duro Felguera, this project is an important step forward in the company’s positioning in the areas of energy transition towards renewable sources, decarbonisation and the promotion of the circular economy. With it, we underline our determination to lead and actively contribute to a sustainable energy future, through the development of advanced technological solutions and the continuous improvement of industrial and energy processes, seeking not only to meet the expectations of our customers and partners, but also to contribute significantly to the protection of the environment for future generations.