Polish power

Emerson Process Management has received a $27m contract to modernise generating units 3 and 4 of the largest lignite-fired power plant in Europe, the Belchatow Power Plant in Poland.

The plant, which is the largest baseload power plant in Poland, is owned by BOT- Elektrownia Belchatow, part of the BOT Group. It consists of 12 units with a generating capacity of 4,400MW, representing more than 12 percent of the total installed power provided by Polish power generators.

Under the contract, Emerson will modernise the instrumentation, control and electrical subsystems of units 3 and 4. Emerson will serve as the main automation contractor, performing broad engineering and management services that include the installation of its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with the Ovation expert control system.

As the country’s largest baseload power plant, it is critical that the Belchatow units return to service as quickly as possible in order to maintain grid stability. The aggressive schedule for this project calls for Unit 3 to synchronise to the grid in October 2007, with Unit 4 expected to return to service one year later.