Emergency power for one of Scotland’s most sustainable recycling plants

The project was made-to-measure, which is essential in this kind of plants that are not capable of being put into operation through the conventional public electricity grid.

We participated in the construction of one of the most modern and sustainable municipal waste treatment plants in Scotland – it transforms non-recyclable municipal waste into clean energy – through the design, manufacture and supply of a customized generator set. The manufacturing process was carried out after carefully studying the project, analysing every technical aspect of the future plant until the right solution to guarantee the electricity supply at all times and in any situation was found.

Thus, once the analysis was carried out, at Genesal we designed a Black Start medium voltage generator aimed to feed a motor that turns the main turbine, which is used to start the turbine after a programmed shutdown. Besides, the generator is able to directly supply medium voltage power (11,000 V).

Medium voltage on demand

It is possible for our medium voltage generators to incorporate the transformers for electrical measurements in the alternator’s own connection box. Likewise, we can install external transformers by means of medium voltage cells, which can be also special, as for instance a genset’s earthing neutral busbar grounding or switchgear with an automatic breaker for protection. This is the case of the generator chosen for the recycling plant: we integrated the switchgear in a separate room inside the soundproof container itself including a cable connection point prepared for the customer to easily connect the cables.

Moreover, precision is a rising value in recycling plants of these characteristics as the waste is processed by gasification, and the gases are then used to power a gas turbine.

Considering the abovementioned circumstances, the generator set was designed in such a way to function as a starter for the plant’s gas turbine and also as an essential emergency supply in the event of a power outage.

Rain and cold, two key factors

On the other hand, being a recycling plant located in Scotland, it was necessary to consider not only the typical technical peculiarities of such kind of facilities, but also the climatological ones, as they greatly condition the choice of any generator set. In this case, the plant is located on the country’s coast, in an area where rainfall is constant throughout the year (on of the highest in Europe) and the average temperature easily reaches 0ºC in winter.

Considering this climate profile, at Genesal Energy we opted to manufacture a generator set that was capable of starting and working at full capacity even in these difficult cold and rainy conditions.

Committed to the environment

The recycling plant project is part of Genesal Energy’s commitment to promoting sustainable projects and the use of clean and renewable energy sources. Our adhesion to the 2030 Agenda a few months ago is one more example of our support for the actions that promote the fight against climate change in the energy sector.

Features

• 3,000 L fuel tank installed inside the container including leak sensor.
• Real-time consumption monitoring.
• Medium voltage switchgear inside container.
• Control panel in indoor air conditioning room.
• Air inlet and outlet attenuators to guarantee a noise level of 85 dBA@1m.
• Motorized louvers to ensure air conditioning inside.
• Fire dampers. Manufactured with an intumescent panel to seal in case of fire.
• Integrated fire protection system, including detectors, alarms, and CO2 discharge according to the British standard.
• Soundproof panel, with RF-60 specifications, to guarantee the genset’s fire resistance.
• Upper air inlet with water retention and decanting system for genset’s air intake, maintaining a safe IP with the generator in operation.
• Drip tray inside the generator to collect any liquid spill.