Floating Power Plant (FPP)
The FPP is power generating plant, installed on two barges with a total installed capacity of 110 MW. They are equipped with diesel engines that generate electricity using Heavy Fuel Oil HFO (ISO 8217:2017 (RME) with sulphur content less than 0.5%. These barges are moored by the Triport in Vlora, close to Vlora Thermal Power Plant (Vlora TPP) and use the Vlora TPP infrastructure to connect to the national grid.
The FPP become a necessity during the 2021 energy crisis. Soaring unpredictable prices of electricity all over Europe and the burden of providing all the energy needed for the country (Public Supply Obligation), obliged KESH utilize the energy produced from its own generating assets, combined with exchange or deposit agreements. And in case the demand was not met, KESH had to purchase the remaining energy in the unregulated market.
Being under such extraordinary financial and operational pressure. KESH (Albanian Power Corporation) needed a rapid solution to mitigate the financial consequences of the crisis. A solution that would be technically viable, financially feasible and could be deployed in a relatively short time. Those conditions could be met by a non-conventional solution such as power barges. Despite the “outdated” technology, Power Barges offer an alternative solution with various benefits for the situation of the energy sector in Albania.
Due to the flexibility of engagement and the alternative energy source (HFO) can better assist KESH in:
- Securing the entire necessary energy supply to meet the Public Supply Obligation,
- Keeping generation costs lower than energy market prices by optimizing energy production through a combination of hydro and thermal resources throughout the year, even during dry periods when energy prices rise.
- Securing a reserve generating capacity to guarantee the security of the Albanian Energy System supply.
- Contributing in the Security of the Albanian Electricity System by improving voltage profiles, reducing transmission losses and providing ancillary services, like balancing power, for the energy systems in the country and region
- Generating additional revenue from commercial activities in the unregulated market, by exploiting favourable opportunities provided by high market prices when they arise.
Distinct benefits include:
- Economic advantages, especially in the case of electricity exchange.
- Improvement in the quality of electricity supply for all consumers, through the integration of primary regulation reserves.
- Overall performance enhancement of the energy system through the exchange of information and best practices.
The installation of this thermal power generation plant contributes to a more secure electricity supply, which is essential to meet the growing demand of consumers and to improve energy quality and reliability.
The thermal generation asset has the following duties:
- To maintain maximum plant availability (readiness) for energy generation.
II. To strive to achieve the highest possible efficiency and the highest production capacity from the plant, as well as to make investments in technological improvements.
III. To meet pollution standards by keeping emission limits under control, including gases and liquid discharges.
Technical Data:
The two floating power plants consist of a total of 17+2 generating sets of 6 MW each, produced by Wartsila model 18V32LN.
In Tiger 1, there are 9 generating sets; in Tiger 3, there are 10 generating sets. Under normal conditions, 17 generating sets are operational, with 2 kept in reserve.
The plant’s performance consists of an energy production capacity of 110,000 kW or 137,500 kWa, with a power factor of 0.8.
