Sustainable conversation of lignite coal fired power plants to district heating

5. December 2022

Solution provider

The global climate crisis caused by carbon emissions is a key threat to society and our planet. Danfoss’ energy-efficient and climate-friendly solutions enable a cost-effective green transition.

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Challenge

Buildings in the district of Soma with a population of approx. 110,000 were individually heated by coal boilers, which led to heavy air pollution, safety problems and health risks. The widespread expansion of natural gas throughout Türkiye had not reached Soma, so the city was on the lookout for a source of more energy efficient and non-polluting heating.

Solution

The Municipality of Manisa and the Soma Electricity Production Incorporated Company entered into collaboration and invested in a district heating system that started operating in 2013. Danfoss plug-and-play solutions of prefabricated and pre-engineered substations were selected for the system. More than 1.600 of these substations have since been deployed throughout Soma. Danfoss provided 7 million EUR worth of products out of the total 46 million EUR investment. The Danish Export Credit Agency, EKF, took part in the financing of the project that became the first district heating project for EKF.

Danfoss in Soma

600 residents in the town of Soma in Western Turkey now enjoy the comforts of a reliable and cheap heat supply from the town’s brand new district heating system.

Result

Overall, the city has gained access to a cleaner and cheaper source of district heating, decreasing the need for fossil fuels as well as associated benefits, such as a significantly improved air quality and sustainable heating source. It has also provided residents and the Municipality of Manisa access to cheaper heating. District heating in Soma is today 50% cheaper than heating provided by coal boilers and individual natural gas. Currently, 13,500 households are connected to district heating, which means a yearly reduction of CO2 emissions by 29,200 tons.

The Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) between Denmark and Türkiye that involves the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen) is carrying out a pilot heat planning project in Manisa/Soma to explore the most economically viable and energy efficient solution for expanding the current system that may include other renewable energy sources. There is a potential of doubling the district heating network to include 25,000 households with involvement of Danish technologies and Danish finance again in near future that is likely to be positively affected by the SSC project.