OK when it's in cogeneration.
Cologne: a 450 MW gas-fired cogeneration plant by 2016
14 Dec 2012 enerzine
Alstom announced Thursday the signing with the German operator RheinEnergie of a contract ** for the construction in Cologne, Germany, of a gas-fired combined cycle electricity-heat plant of 450 MW whose commissioning is scheduled for 2016.
This new power plant, called 'Niehl 3', is part of the energy transition program in Germany, which provides for the construction of high efficiency combined heat-electricity cycle units. The Niehl 3 plant will be based on Alstom's gas KA26 technology.
The plant will achieve an overall efficiency of around 85%, making 'Niehl 3' one of the most efficient plants in the world. It will supply electricity to local and European networks which can power up to 1 million homes.
With a heat output of 265 MW capable of heating 50.000 homes, it will strengthen the district heating networks in Cologne. In addition, it will emit around 500.000 tonnes less CO2 per year than comparable heat production facilities in Germany.
"The Niehl 3 power station will be an important asset in the energy transition in Germany. Power stations equipped with advanced technology, using natural gas, a more ecological fuel, will reduce CO2 emissions and will form the basis of the electricity supply in Germany over the next decades. With the Niehl 3 power station, our portfolio of thermal power generation will be modernized, "said Dr Dieter Steinkamp, CEO of RheinEnergie.
RheinEnergie will invest a total of around 350 million euros in this project.
Alstom's equipment represents nearly 10 GW of electricity generation capacity in Germany. Almost half of this capacity is based on combined cycle power plants, including the Emsland power plant (876 MW), recently delivered to RWE, as well as the Berlin Mitte power plant (385 MW) delivered to Vatttenfall, which at the time of its commissioning in 1997 was already one of the most modern and efficient in the world.
Gas-fired power plants allow network stability with quick start-up times and high efficiency even at low load. According to Alstom, the KA26 combined cycle power plants have an energy efficiency of over 60% and can be started up in less than 30 minutes. Fully synchronized with the grid, they can reliably produce 350 MW at low load in less than 15 minutes. Nearly 70 gas power plants based on KA24 / KA26 technology are in operation or under construction worldwide.
** This agreement will be executed in two phases. The first started with the help given to RheinEnergie to obtain permits. The second phase will begin after the entry into force of the contract, which should take place in the second half of the 2013/14 financial year. The project includes the supply of a GT26 gas turbine, a steam turbine, the turbo-alternator, heat recovery equipment and plant control systems.
http://www.enerzine.com/12/14971+cologn ... 2016+.html
And yes for the gullible who believe that Germany is ENR instead of nuke, they also increase their (imported) gas and coal.