CHP firing with jatropha oil - it's crude, but effective

摘要

Wartsila is to build the world's first CHP plant firing a biodiesel derived from jatropha oil seed. The world's first power plant producing electricity and heat using crude jatropha oil as fuel is to be built by Wartsila in the agricultural area of Merksplas, in Belgium. Wartsila has secured the ?7 million order for the prime mover, a diesel engine that will run on a liquid biofuel that is extracted by pressing the seeds of the jatropha plant. Commercial operation is scheduled to begin in February 2009. The plant will be owned by Greenpower NV, which is a joint venture between Thenergo (50%), the Belgian developer of sustainable energy projects, four local agricultural companies (40%), and a private investor (10%). Greenpower and Wartsila have signed a letter of intent for a 10 year O&M agreement. 'Jatropha oil is a liquid biofuel that has great potential since the plant can be harvested outside the world's rainforest areas, even in near-deserts. It is a step towards using CO{sub}2-neutral fuels that do not compete with other valuable food crops' says Ronald Westerdijk, a Wartsila business development manager.