Ever wondered how a power plant can help decrease carbon emissions? The story of Öresundsverket in Malmö is quite interesting. This combined heat and power plant has a history of transformations. It also has a surprising environmental impact.
Öresundsverket first emerged in the industrial harbor of Malmö with coal and oil-fired plants built between 1953 and 1964. These plants provided electricity and district heating for Malmö. But those plants closed in 1993. Then, in late 2006, the site was modernized.
The new Öresundsverket opened on August 31 2009. E.ON Sverige owns it. This natural gas-fired plant cost about €300 million. It became one of Europe’s most efficient power plants.
Öresundsverket has the capacity to produce 440MW of electricity and 250MW of heat. Initially, the plant’s efficiency was 58%. But with full cogeneration, it had the potential to reach about 90% efficiency. It was designed to operate about 7000 hours per year. It would produce three billion kWh of electricity for southern Sweden. Additionally, it would produce about one billion kWh of district heat. This met 40% of Malmö’s heating needs.
The plant played a role in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. By replacing coal-fired energy generation in northern Europe, Öresundsverket decreased CO2 emissions by about one million tonnes per year. This was a significant environmental benefit.
The modernization of Öresundsverket involved many companies. Hitachi Power Europe and General Electric were key players. Hitachi handled the plant design and construction planning. GE supplied the powertrain. This included a steam turbine, a gas turbine and a boiler.
Integrating the gas turbine and steam turbine into the existing building was a challenge. The GE gas turbine was transported from France and installed in 2007. This gas turbine alone could produce 290MW.
Öresundsverket used advanced technology to minimize harmful gas emissions. The natural gas-fired plant reduced carbon dioxide emissions by half. This compared to a coal-fired power plant. The plant also used an 8km branch line to connect to the main gas grid.
In December 2009, Öresundsverket began operating. It pushed aside coal power in Northern Europe. From 2010 to 2016, it reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about three million tons. However, Öresundsverket has not been in continuous operation since March 2016. Low electricity prices made it unprofitable.
In 2021, the power plant was sold for transport and reassembly in Southeast Asia. But the sale was stopped in June 2023. Instead, Uniper will restore the plant for 1.1 billion kronor. It will be part of Sweden’s electricity preparedness from 2025-2030.
Today, Öresundsverket stands ready. It will again support the electrical system in times of need. Its journey reflects Sweden’s commitment to both energy production and environmental responsibility.