Rolls-Royce to deliver new B36:45V20 gas engines for power plant in the Czech Republic

• First new Rolls-Royce B36:45V20 engines to be installed in C-Energy power plant
• At 600 KW per cylinder the new engines offer a 20 per cent increase in power
• Additional step forward towards a green future for the region and country of the Czech Republic

Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with C-Energy to extend their power plant installed capacity with further 23 MWe. The delivery includes two gas-fired gensets based on the new 20 cylinder Rolls-Royce medium speed V-engine, B36:45, that was launched at the Power Gen Asia in September this year. Rolls-Royce will also be supplying long term services for the new engines.

The new B36:45 engine series set a new standard in power and efficiency with exceptionally low fuel consumption and emissions of NOx, CO2, SOx and particulates. At 600 kW per cylinder it offers a 20 per cent increase in power per cylinder compared to its predecessor, the B35:40. The V20 is the largest variant available with an electrical output of 11,8 MWe.

“Our new range of medium speed gas engines builds on the success of the B35:40-series and offers a variety of new benefits to our customers. With a completely new modular architecture, numerous configurations, fuel flexibility, and low life cycle costs, we believe it is truly engineered for the future,” said Jeff Elliott, Managing Director of Bergen Engines AS, which is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.   

“The first 6- and 9-cylinder in-line units of the new gas engine series will go into operations later this year, and it is a pleasure that we have now signed the first contract for the V20 with C-Energy, whom already have four of our B35:40 engines installed.”

The existing 60 MWe power plant of C-Energy was reconstructed in the beginning of 2015 with four B35:40V20 gas engines. At this time, this was the first natural gas power plant based on medium-speed gas engines in the South Bohemian Region prepared to supply heat and power to the local grid. Due to low coal prices however, electricity and heat in the region is still predominantly generated by coal-fired plants. Hence, the extension of the gas fired plant is considered as an additional step forward towards a green future for the region and country.

With the extension, the power plant will, from the end of 2019, deliver a total of 83 MWe electricity and heat for companies and homes in the nearby town of Tabor/Sezimovo Ústí roughly 100 kilometers southeast of the capital Prague.

“Delivery of four Rolls-Royce engines among other investments helped to transform the old coal fired central heating plant into a modern power plant in 2015. Nowadays we not only supply power to the grid and heat to industrial customers and municipalities but also provide auxiliary services to the high voltage grid. The supply of brand new Rolls-Royce engines will enable the plant to increase its flexibility, to provide wider range of services and hence remain competitive on the pan European energy market,” says Ivo Nejdl, Director and co-owner of C-Energy.   

The Rolls-Royce medium-speed engines will enable C-Energy to operate the plant efficiently, both in terms of cost and time. Both the B35:40 and the new B36:45 medium speed gas engines are flexibly designed for different operating modes. They can be used to generate base-load or peak power or can operate in combined cycle. The heat from the engines can be used to generate steam in the heat recovery steam generators, and the steam is supplied to industrial customers for their technological needs. The power plant can also be used for district heating by utilizing hot water from the engines.

The engines quick-start capability means the engines can ramp up to their rated load within five minutes, giving the plant access to the amount of power and heat needed within just a short space of time. In addition the new engines will be certified to provide primary and secondary grid regulation.
Read more about Rolls-Royce power generation based on medium-speed engines at www.rolls-royce.com/bergen