AS Tallinna Vesi signed a contract for the construction of a combined heat and power plant on the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Paljassaare

Tallinna Vesi

AS Tallinna Vesi signed a contract with Filter Solutions OÜ on 30.12.2022 for the construction of a combined heat and power plant (CHP) on the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Paljassaare, which will help to reduce the cost of heat and electricity by using biogas generated in the wastewater treatment process.

The cost for the construction of the new CHP complex is approximately EUR 2.4 million and the plant is expected to be launched at the end of 2023. The contract with the Solutions OÜ also includes maintenance during the warranty period.

Biogas, which is generated in the Wastewater Treatment Plant during the stabilisation of sewage sludge, can be used to produce electricity in addition to the production of heat once the combined heat and power plant is launched.

“This is a very environment friendly way of producing energy that allows to add value to biogas that we produce ourselves as a by-product,” explained Aleksandr Timofejev, Chief Executive Officer of Tallinn Vesi, adding that the investments in a combined heat and power plant reduce the Company’s cost of purchasing electricity for operating the Wastewater Treatment Plant, improve the security of the plant’s electricity supply and enable better management of the purchase of electricity. From the biogas generated from sewage sludge at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Paljassaare, electricity can be generated annually in an amount that would cover the annual electricity needs of approximately 3,800 average households.

The combined heat and power plant consists of biogas purification and two Jenbacher gas engines. The biogas consumption capacity of the complex is up to 4.6 MW. At this biogas consumption capacity, the electricity generation capacity is 1.9 MW and the heat generation capacity is up to 2.1 MW. Both electricity and heat are fully used for the own use of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Paljassaare.

The construction of the combined heat and power plant is part of a larger project which also includes the reconstruction of digesters at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Paljassaare which will ensure that the energy potential of sewage sludge is maximised. After the reconstruction of digesters, approximately 3.2 MWh of biogas can be produced from sewage sludge every hour.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant is equipped with a buffer reservoir where 20 MWh of biogas can be stored to be used as an energy storage facility. Thus, the buffer reservoir can be compared to an electric battery with the fastest charge and discharge cycle of approximately 1 day. The buffer reservoir allows to generate electricity as needed and according to the electricity prices.

This investment allows to reduce the total annual electricity consumption of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the pumping station by nearly 50%. Biogas produced from sewage sludge covers up to 70% of today's average annual consumption of electricity of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Thus, the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Paljassaare operated by Tallinna Vesi will, by a wide margin, exceed the proposals to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive published by the European Commission for renewable energy production volumes by 2030.

According to Timofejev, Tallinna Vesi has set the goal of reducing its environmental impact by starting mapping the CO₂ footprint two years ago. In order to reduce the footprint, 100% of electricity used at the Company’s facilities and in the treatment process is now generated from renewable sources.

Maria Tiidus
Head of Communications
Tallinna Vesi
Ph: 626 2271
Email: maria.tiidus@tvesi.ee