Soma Kolin is a 510MW coal-based thermal power plant being constructed in the town of Soma in Ankara, Turkey, by Turkish company HIDRO-GEN Enerji Ithalat Ihracat Dagitim ve Ticaret, a subsidiary of Kolin Group of Companies.
The plant will consist of two 255MW units using domestic lignite coal from the nearby coal fields for generating power to be fed to the national grid. The plant construction commenced in January 2014 and commissioning is expected in April 2017.
“The plant is expected to operate for approximately 6,000 hours a year to produce 2.7billion KWh of electricity for residential use.”
Soma Kolin power plant make-up
The thermal power plant will feature two circulating fluidised-bed (CFB) boiler islands and flue gas scrubbers. The contract to design and supply the boilers and scrubbers was awarded to Foster Wheeler, a subsidiary of Global Power, in February 2014.
The CFB boilers will be deigned to burn local lignite operating at low combustion temperatures resulting in low nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide emissions and high combustion efficiency.
As part of the contract, Foster Wheeler will design and supply two 255MWe steam generators and auxiliary equipments required for the boiler islands, and flue gas cleaning systems for the CFB scrubbers. The company will also provide technical advisory services during erection and commissioning of the power plant.
The Siemens SST5-5000 HM-N model steam turbines to be installed at the plant will produce steam at a pressure ranging from 177bar to 190bar and temperature ranging from 565°C to 600°C.
Electrostatic precipitator with fly and bottom ash hoppers will be installed to capture the fly ash produced during the power generation.
“The project will also include the construction of a chimney desulphurisation system, fans, coal feeding systems, and associated transmission lines.”
Contractors involved
Harbin Electric International (HEI) has been appointed as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the $1bn project.
Siemens Energy will supply the two steam turbines including all auxiliary and ancillary systems to HEI. The equipment is scheduled to be delivered at the project site between August 2015 and January 2016.
Fuel supply to the Turkish power plant
The plant is being erected 90km north of Soma town in Turkey’s western province of Manisa where large coal reserves are present. The Turkish energy policy places great importance on utilising the available resources for the production of power.
Hidro-Gen signed an agreement with Turkish Coal Enterprise in October 2012 for using the existing reserves of Denis II, Evciler, Kozluören and Türkpiyale lignite sites on a condition that a thermal power plant is built in the Soma Denis lignite field.
The agreement period is 30-years beginning from the date of commissioning of the power plant. Hidro-Gen will start making royalty payments from the beginning of the seventh year.
