Denmark continues its energy transition smoothly by converting its largest coal-fired power plant to biomass.

The cogeneration plant, located in Avedore, just south of Copenhagen, has its coal replaced by wood pellets and straw, and the heat produced is pumped back into the local heat network.

The project was supported by two companies, namely Vestegnens Kraftvarmeselskab (VEKS) and Dong Energy. Thomas Dalsgaard, the Executive Vice President for Dong Energy, spoke to Biomass Magazine, stating

£With the conversion of Unit 1 to Avedore, we can generate heat for more than 215,000 households in the Copenhagen area without using coal or natural gas.

This conversion is an important step in building a green district heating system in the Copenhagen region and is also contributing to the development of a green electricity system that supports wind and solar energies.

The conversion should therefore reduce CO2 emissions by 500,000 metric tons per year – the equivalent of annual emissions of 255,000 cars.”

This is not the first plant operated by Dong Energy to have made the transition from coal to biomass, as it has been previously noted that its Aarhus plant had made the same transition just a few months ago.

The Avedore CHP plant in Copenhagen, Denmark, once the country’s largest coal-fired station is now completely fuelled by biomass.

Coal has been replaced entirely by wood pellets and straw as two energy companies, Vestegnens Kraftvarmeselskab (VEKS) and Dong Energy combined to contribute to the city’s district heating initiative.
Avedore combined heat and power plant
“Following the conversion of unit 1 at Avedore, we can produce heat for more than 215,000 Danish households in the Greater Copenhagen area without using coal or gas. The conversion is a major contribution to achieving a green district heating system in the Greater Copenhagen area, as well as a green electricity system, supplementing solar and wind power,” Thomas Dalsgaard, executive vice president at Dong Energy told Biomass magazine.

The conversion, part of a heat agreement between the two Danish energy companies, aims to provide green district heating to VEKS’ customers in the Greater Copenhagen area. The change from coal to sustainable wood pellets means CO2 emissions are reduced by about 500,000 metric tonnes per year, equivalent to the annual emissions from 255,000 cars.

Another of Dong Energy’s plants – Studstrup in Aaarhus, was already transitioned to biomass from coal in October.

Avedore’s electric energy production corresponds to the annual consumption of more than 600,000 Danish households annually.