Biomass cogeneration plant developed in Cluj
Romanian-owned Romita Green Energy will build what is said to be one of largest cogeneration plants based on biomass both in Romania and South-East Europe. Located in Rascruci, Cluj county, the new plant will see a total investment of EUR 32.5 million.
October 2012 - From the Print Edition
The new biomass cogeneration plant in Cluj will have an input of 40 MW, 66 per cent thermal energy and 33 per cent electricity. "This will result in 10 MW of electricity and 20 MW of thermal energy," Ionel Oros (pictured), general manager of the company, told The Diplomat - Bucharest.
Funding for the investment is split, according to the general manager. About EUR 17.5 million is coming from European funds, while EUR 15 million is the company's seed money. The new plant will be located in Rascruci, not far from the Tetarom III Industrial Park. Stretching over 22,000 sqm, the location is considered of strategic importance. "Rascruci has great potential for agricultural biomass, and with Tetarom III Industrial Park nearby we can capitalise on our thermal agent. Besides, it will be built outside the populated area to avoid pollution," Oros added.
To produce energy from renewable sources, the plant will annually use 120,000 tonnes of wood biomass and derivatives (scrap wood for heating, sawdust, tree branches, shrubs and straws). Construction is due to begin shortly, with works scheduled to last for about 18 months, said Oros, adding that the investment will create in excess of 50 new jobs.
The biomass cogeneration plant in Cluj is one of the most ambitious environmental projects so far, on a market where 65 per cent of all Romanian renewable energy comes from biomass, followed by wind power (17 per cent) and solar power (13 per cent). The new plant joins an already operational cogeneration plant in Radauti, Suceava county, an investment of EUR 20 million from Austrian-based Schweighofer Holzindustrie. The Radauti plant has a total capacity of 22 MW, of which 17 MW is thermal power and 5 MW is electricity.
Another project in the making is a EUR 100 million investment by Valcea County Council in two high-efficiency cogeneration plants. CET Govora will operate both plants, one of which is scheduled for completion in four years, and will produce a total of 4.6 MW electricity and 18 MW thermal power per plant, following a total investment of EUR 22.5 million. The second plant, valued at EUR 80 million, will boast electrical power of 120 MW.
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