Saving on resources, reducing emissions
Across the world, power plants have on average only a 30% efficiency – the figure for plants in Germany is around 38%. The ongoing new power plants are designed for an approx. 45% efficiency. This means that new plants need less fuel for the same amount of electricity and thus their emissions output is correspondingly less.
Power plant operators and plant constructors are researching intensively across the world into new processes and materials to raise efficiencies still further. This is also where Hitachi Power Europe is very much engaged in R&D.
On the way to the 700°C power plant: higher temperatures (700°C) and pressures (350 bar) can significantly raise the efficiency of a traditional coal power plant. However, what is firstly needed are new materials. In its own production facilities, Hitachi Power Europe manufactures those special-purpose alloys and components for these highly efficient power plants of tomorrow.
Lower moisture contents equate with a higher calorific value: lignite pre-drying can achieve a rise in this fuel's efficiency. Hitachi Power Europe is developing the requisite firing technologies and components for lignite-fired plants.
Ultra-modern IT instruments for an optimally designed plant: processes and the service lives of system parts can be optimized even at the power plant design stage. This more than saves on costs later on under actual operations. The future will see power plant simulations on the computer being used to monitor equipment and systems online. | 
