Production Units Velsen cluster

The Velsen Cluster consists of the following production units:

• Velsen 24 and 25
• IJmond 1       

Dowson gas as a fuel

The difference between the Velsen Cluster plants and other power plants in the Netherlands is that residual gases such as Dowson gas from the blast furnaces and coal-fired furnaces of steel manufacturer Corus are used as fuel. Recycling of residual gases leads to substantial environmental savings, as it prevents the need to burn these (flares), so that they dissipate into the air.

Sustainable use of process gases

Because the net heating value of residual gases alone is too low, the high-caloric fuel natural gas is always added in the conventional Velsen 24 and Velsen 25 plants. Natural gas serves as a support fuel for stable combustion of the Dowson gas. It also serves as the regulating fuel to absorb the fluctuations in the supply of residual gas and demand for electricity. The boilers of both units can burn a maximum of 600,000m3/h of Dowson gas from blast furnaces. The IJmond1 CHP unit uses only Dowson gas.

Nuon is investigating the possibilities for using more process gases from Corus at Velsen-Noord for power generation. Through more efficient processes at the steel manufacturer, more process gases are becoming available. The study could lead to an expansion of NuonÕs production capacity. Nuon and Corus have signed an agreement in principle for this purpose. Recycling of process gases is consistent with NuonÕs strategy of treating fossil fuels as efficiently as possible.

At our power plants in Velsen, we use the process gases released in steel production at Corus as fuel for production of electricity. In this way, these process gases are usefully recycled.

Large furnaces

Combustion of high-volume Dowson gas places special demands on the construction of the furnaces. In comparison with steam production, the furnace is exceptionally large. The boiler house at Velsen 24 is 70 meters high.

Velsen 24 and 25

The Velsen 24 (1974) and Velsen 25 (1986) units have both been upgraded to prolong their useful lives, with major maintenance work and upgrading of all control systems to the latest standards. This has secured production at the plants for the coming years. Both units can achieve full capacity only with natural gas.

IJmond 1

The IJmond 1 CHP unit is located at the Corus site. When it was commissioned in 1997, it was the first gas turbine fired with blast furnace Dowson gas outside Japan.