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Natural Gas for aBetter Climate |
In the climate protection debate, natural gas is increasing in importance because it produces lower CO2 emissions compared to other fossil fuels. What's more, natural gas is a highly versatile fuel - it can be used for electricity generation, domestic heating and even for powering automobiles.
Natural gas is a key part of E.ON's energy mix. It is also a perfect partner for renewable energies such as solar and wind. Fluctuations in wind and photovoltaic power generation can best be balanced out by natural gas-fired power plants, which can be flexibly utilized and their output adjusted to suit demand. As a result of the latest technological developments in the field of natural gas drilling technology, economically viable natural gas reserves have increased considerably. This means we will continue to have adequate reserves of natural gas in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, as a result of the growing global trade in gas, supported by supplies of liquefied natural gas, gas sourced via pipelines for Europe can also be appropriately supplemented. Both contribute towards raising the security of supply and maintaining price stability.
Irsching - A World Leader in Efficiency
With up to 58 percent fuel-to-energy efficiency, natural gas-fired power plants using combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology are already achieving the highest efficiency levels in E.ON's generation fleet. But our Irsching facility in Bavaria, Germany, proves that this is not the limit of what is technically possible. We are currently testing a new turbine there that we plan to bring online permanently in 2011 and which will probably exceed a 60 percent efficiency level. Thanks to this increase in efficiency alone, CO2 emissions will be cut by up to 43,000 tons per year.
In 2010 we began operating additional CCGT power plants in Émile Huchet in Scandale, Italy, in Malženice, Slovakia, and in Shatura, close to Moscow. With an efficiency level of 56 percent, the CCGT facility in Shatura is one of the most efficient and modern power plants in Russia today. Compared to older and less effective facilities, this plant represents a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 1 million tons.
Decentralized Energy Generation and Heating Undergoing Testing
E.ON currently has over 250 cogeneration power plants in operation, mainly for generating energy for industrial firms. However, these are too big to be integrated into single-family homes. This is why E.ON Ruhrgas, as part of its "erdgas.on" initiative, is testing decentralized energy generation technologies, as these will become increasingly more important in the energy system of tomorrow. In cooperation with manufacturers and customers, 200 micro-CHP systems are being field-tested in single-family homes. The innovative technology is likely to be market-ready in the next two to three years. E.ON also sees great potential in fuel cells, which achieve an even higher level of electrical efficiency than other micro-CHP systems.
Along with the combination of gas-fired condensing boiler and solar technology, heat pump technology is playing a more central role in domestic heating. Heat pumps utilize ambient heat and feed this into the heating system. In doing so, the primary energy requirement for each unit of heat output is reduced by around 30 percent - lowering energy costs, conserving resources and reducing CO2 emissions.
Green Light for Natural Gas-fuelled Automobiles
Along with generating electricity and providing heating, natural gas is also used as an environmentally friendly fuel. Natural gas powered automobiles produce 25 percent less CO2 and emit considerably less other pollutants than their gasoline-powered counterparts. What's more, drivers also save in terms of costs. To ensure the number of natural gas powered vehicles continues to increase, E.ON Gas Mobil, a subsidiary of E.ON Ruhrgas, has put around 50 natural gas filling stations into operation in Germany and will be setting up a network of around 150 natural gas filling stations along German freeways over the next two years.
Starting Shot Fired for Industrial-scale Biogas Production
In addition to this, to reduce CO2 emissions further E.ON is supporting the addition of biogas to standard natural gas - resulting in only as much CO2 being released through the fermentation of plant matter as the plants originally absorbed from the atmosphere. In producing and trading biogas substrates, we take care that clearly defined minimum standards are maintained. To ensure this, we have established our own biomass procurement policy.
Together with partner firms, E.ON Bioerdgas GmbH and E.ON Bayern have constructed Europe's largest plant for producing biogas from biomass in the town of Schwandorf in Bavaria, Germany. In March 2009 E.ON Sverige also started operating a biogas plant in the Swedish city of Falkenberg that annually converts 120,000 tons of organic matter into biogas and generates 40,000 MWh of heating energy - the equivalent of over four million liters of gasoline. We plan to open additional plants in the future, increasing the current capacity of 40 billion m3 fivefold.
Natural gas is a key part of E.ON's energy mix. It is also a perfect partner for renewable energies such as solar and wind. Fluctuations in wind and photovoltaic power generation can best be balanced out by natural gas-fired power plants, which can be flexibly utilized and their output adjusted to suit demand. As a result of the latest technological developments in the field of natural gas drilling technology, economically viable natural gas reserves have increased considerably. This means we will continue to have adequate reserves of natural gas in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, as a result of the growing global trade in gas, supported by supplies of liquefied natural gas, gas sourced via pipelines for Europe can also be appropriately supplemented. Both contribute towards raising the security of supply and maintaining price stability.
Irsching - A World Leader in Efficiency
With up to 58 percent fuel-to-energy efficiency, natural gas-fired power plants using combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology are already achieving the highest efficiency levels in E.ON's generation fleet. But our Irsching facility in Bavaria, Germany, proves that this is not the limit of what is technically possible. We are currently testing a new turbine there that we plan to bring online permanently in 2011 and which will probably exceed a 60 percent efficiency level. Thanks to this increase in efficiency alone, CO2 emissions will be cut by up to 43,000 tons per year.
In 2010 we began operating additional CCGT power plants in Émile Huchet in Scandale, Italy, in Malženice, Slovakia, and in Shatura, close to Moscow. With an efficiency level of 56 percent, the CCGT facility in Shatura is one of the most efficient and modern power plants in Russia today. Compared to older and less effective facilities, this plant represents a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 1 million tons.
Decentralized Energy Generation and Heating Undergoing Testing
E.ON currently has over 250 cogeneration power plants in operation, mainly for generating energy for industrial firms. However, these are too big to be integrated into single-family homes. This is why E.ON Ruhrgas, as part of its "erdgas.on" initiative, is testing decentralized energy generation technologies, as these will become increasingly more important in the energy system of tomorrow. In cooperation with manufacturers and customers, 200 micro-CHP systems are being field-tested in single-family homes. The innovative technology is likely to be market-ready in the next two to three years. E.ON also sees great potential in fuel cells, which achieve an even higher level of electrical efficiency than other micro-CHP systems.
Along with the combination of gas-fired condensing boiler and solar technology, heat pump technology is playing a more central role in domestic heating. Heat pumps utilize ambient heat and feed this into the heating system. In doing so, the primary energy requirement for each unit of heat output is reduced by around 30 percent - lowering energy costs, conserving resources and reducing CO2 emissions.
Green Light for Natural Gas-fuelled Automobiles
Along with generating electricity and providing heating, natural gas is also used as an environmentally friendly fuel. Natural gas powered automobiles produce 25 percent less CO2 and emit considerably less other pollutants than their gasoline-powered counterparts. What's more, drivers also save in terms of costs. To ensure the number of natural gas powered vehicles continues to increase, E.ON Gas Mobil, a subsidiary of E.ON Ruhrgas, has put around 50 natural gas filling stations into operation in Germany and will be setting up a network of around 150 natural gas filling stations along German freeways over the next two years.
Starting Shot Fired for Industrial-scale Biogas Production
In addition to this, to reduce CO2 emissions further E.ON is supporting the addition of biogas to standard natural gas - resulting in only as much CO2 being released through the fermentation of plant matter as the plants originally absorbed from the atmosphere. In producing and trading biogas substrates, we take care that clearly defined minimum standards are maintained. To ensure this, we have established our own biomass procurement policy.
Together with partner firms, E.ON Bioerdgas GmbH and E.ON Bayern have constructed Europe's largest plant for producing biogas from biomass in the town of Schwandorf in Bavaria, Germany. In March 2009 E.ON Sverige also started operating a biogas plant in the Swedish city of Falkenberg that annually converts 120,000 tons of organic matter into biogas and generates 40,000 MWh of heating energy - the equivalent of over four million liters of gasoline. We plan to open additional plants in the future, increasing the current capacity of 40 billion m3 fivefold.
