New earnings with Valmet boilers
Many Japanese energy and paper producers have not only boosted their sustainability and energy efficiency but also found new ways to make money.
Japan is turning its energy production greener to combat climate change. A feed-in tariff for biomass-produced electricity has led to new biomass boiler investments among energy producers.
“Valmet already has five boilers in Japan, and the sixth one is currently under delivery. There will be more to boost sustainability,” says Mr. Hiroshi Yamasita, Director, Japan, Valmet.
The deliveries are based on the good cooperation between Valmet and JFE Engineering (JFEE), an experienced Japanese engineering, procurement, and construction company. In joint projects, JFEE acts as the Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor responsible for the whole power plant, turbine island, and Balance of Plant.
Let’s look at three projects.
99 percent reliability, 40 percent cycle efficiency
Air Water Onahama Biomass Electric Power Co., Inc. (AWEP) built a biomass power plant that started up in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, in 2021. It features a 75 MWe Valmet CFB Boiler, Valmet flue gas cleaning system, fuel feeding, fans, and all relevant auxiliary systems. The advanced circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler runs on palm kernel shells and wood pellets.
The plant design with its redundant fuel feeding system has ensured very high plant availability.
The boiler plant has exceeded all expectations, especially regarding its very high cycle efficiency. It has also shown extreme stability and reliability (over 99 percent in 2023). Flue gas emission limits are achieved without any additives.
The secret behind the high cycle efficiency at the Onahama Biomass Power Plant lies in the high steam parameters enabled by Valmet’s boiler technology.
“We’re happy that we selected JFEE/Valmet as our power plant supplier because the plant design with its redundant fuel feeding system has ensured very high plant availability – much higher than we ever expected,” comments Katsunori Kobayashi, Technical Director at AWEP.
High availability and easy operation
Buzen New Energy GK, owned by erex Co., Ltd., Kyuden Mirai Energy Co., Inc., and Kyudenko Corporation, built a biomass-fired power plant in Buzen in Fukuoka Prefecture. Starting up in 2020, the plant is equipped with a 75 MWe Valmet CFB Boiler and Valmet flue gas cleaning system. It is fueled by palm kernel shells and wood pellets.
“JFEE and Valmet cooperated smoothly throughout the project, and the project was executed well on schedule. All our special requirements were fulfilled,” says Shinichiro Hayashi, General Manager at Buzen New Energy GK.
Plant emissions fall well below the emission limits. Flue gas emission limits are achieved without any additives.
The boiler plant has exceeded Buzen New Energy’s expectations, especially because of its very high availability. Plant cycle efficiency has been high – 39 percent – thanks to high steam parameters of 557°C, 142 bar after the superheater, and 540°C, 28 bar after the reheater.
Shinichiro Hayashi continues, “this power plant is easy to operate as it is steady and stable. The layout makes operation and maintenance easy. Its best part is reliability; there have been no unplanned shutdowns during the past years. All these features together make this plant one of the best in the erex fleet.”
Investing in a biomass-fired power plant, the Japanese paper mill is seeking new business from green energy production at MPM Oji EcoEnergy Co. Ltd.
A papermaker enters new business
Due to declining demand for paper, papermakers try to find new ways to make money. Mitsubishi Paper Mills Limited in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori, joined forces with Oji Green Resources Co., Ltd. to tap into the Japanese biomass-to-energy boom. Their joint venture, MPM Oji EcoEnergy Co. Ltd. is built on the owners’ existing power plant know-how and fuel purchasing expertise.
The plant has a 75 MWe biomass-fired Valmet CFB Boiler and a Valmet flue gas cleaning system and started up in 2019. The boiler is fueled by wood chips and palm kernel shells. Mitsubishi Paper operates and maintains the plant, while Oji Green Resources is mainly responsible for the procurement of biomass fuel. The produced electricity is sold to a local utility company. The plant fulfills all flue gas emission requirements without using any additives.
Plant cycle efficiency has been high thanks to high steam parameters of 557°C, 142 bar after the superheater, and 540°C, 28 bar after the reheater.
“The project went well and was within the budget. The biomass power plant is very good and steady. It was easy to learn to operate it,” recalls Hiroaki Niwata, General Manager at MPM Oji EcoEnergy.
Text Marjaana Lehtinen
PHOTOS Air Water Onahama Biomass Electric Power Co., Inc, Buzen new Energy GK,
MPM Oji EcoEnergy Co., Ltd.
