Bełchatów Power Station
The Bełchatów Power Station is a coal-fired power station near Bełchatów, Poland. It is the largest thermal power station in Europe. The power station is owned and operated by PGE GiEK Oddział Elektrownia Bełchatów, a subsidiary of Polska Grupa Energetyczna.
| Bełchatów Power Station | |
|---|---|
Bełchatów Power Station | |
| Official name | Elektrownia Bełchatów |
| Country | Poland |
| Location | Bełchatów, Łódź Voivodeship |
| Coordinates | 51°15′59″N 19°19′50″E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1982 |
| Owner(s) | PGE |
| Operator(s) | PGE GiEK – Elektrownia Bełchatów |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Lignite |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 11 x 370/380 MW 1 x 858 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 5,102 MW |
| Annual net output | 27–28 TWh |
| External links | |
| Website | elbelchatow |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
In 2011, a new 858 MW unit was commissioned. increasing the station's total capacity to 5,053 MW. The new unit has an efficiency rating of approximately 42%, contributed to reduction of both fuel consumption and emissions compared to the older units. The unit has been built by Alstom. Alstom also has modernized the low pressure parts in all 12 turbines and, in 2009, PGE and Alstom signed a contract to modernise unit 6. After modernization of other units, the total installed capacity reached 5,420 MW in 2015. In 2017, the electrical capacity of Elektrownia Bełchatow was increased to 5,472 MW. The plant's current achievable capacity is 5,102 MW. In the second half of 2019, the achievable capacity was reduced due to the decommissioning of the oldest unit (unit No 1).
The station's flue gas is vented through two 300 m (980 ft) tall chimneys, among Poland's tallest free-standing structures. Lignite (brown coal) for the plant is provided by a large neighboring strip mine Bełchatów coal mine.
The building of the power station itself has a height of 118 metres, a length of 740 metres and a width of 117 metres.