Press releases
HPE was one of the main sponsors of the “Energetika 2010” trade fair in Serbia
Duisburg/Zlatibor. High-calibre technical addresses, numerous talks with potential customers and considerable interest shown in the products and know-how of Hitachi Power Europe (HPE) – this was the outcome of the 3-day “Energetika 2010” trade fair held in Zlatibor (Serbia). HPE was the main sponsor for the first time of this important energy congress.
In the years to come, the power plant market in Serbia and in the other countries of eastern and southern Europe will become increasingly significant for HPE. The reasons were quite obvious according to Benjamin Wakounig, HPE representative for the countries of former Yugoslavia. “Most of the electricity in Serbia is generated in lignite power plants built in the 1970s. These plants are obsolete on account of the war and the embargo and are in urgent need of revamping.” Hence, one of the principal matters at the conference was looking into what needed to be done for Serbia – as a candidate for joining the EU – to meet the strict European Union emission requirements. Several hundred participants followed the technical presentations by HPE. Christian Kissling, responsible for sales in the region, said there was considerable interest shown in HPE’s expertise in modern firing technologies. Own key components ensure that not only nitrogen oxide emissions are cut to a minimum – they also optimize the combustion process, raise plant efficiencies and thus reduce coal consumption. A clear case here of environmental protection that pays for itself. As a specialist for lignite firing equipment, HPE can provide both extensive references and highly efficient products in the form, for instance, of its own coal mills and the patented RS burners. Not to be left out is HPE’s competence in environmental engineering, says Dr. Matthias Jochem, Head of Sales & Proposals: “As such, we can provide all the principal components – including those of flue gas desulphurization – to revamp plants from a single source.”
The fact that HPE products are in demand for plant upgrades in eastern Europe was demonstrated just a few months ago when in November 2009 EPS, the state run Serbian energy supplier, signed a contract for 3 units to be upgraded of the Nikola Tesla A (TENT A) lignite power plant. The order had a volume of EUR 36 million. The possible extent of what revamping the Serbian power plant complex could mean was made clear in the opening address of Serbian Energy Minister, Petar Skundric, who spoke of EUR 9 billion being invested by the Serbian energy sector in energy projects in the years to come. This is backed up by an ongoing study with energy supplier EPS estimating that just over EUR 500 million alone will have to be invested for desulphurization of the existing plants up to 2015. HPE Director Wolfgang Marschewski: “The TENT A order and the Energetika trade fair represent just our first steps in entering the promising eastern European market. More will follow. After all, the potential is huge and includes new building projects.”
