Gasification technology

In 2006 the Eemshaven in Groningen was chosen as the location for Nuon Magnum, the new multi-fuel gasification power station.

Willem-Alexander power station at Buggenum
Multi-fuel power station - Nuon Magnum

Nuon sees coal gasification as a key technology for the future. Coal gasification offers advantages compared to conventional coal-fired stations.

  • Flexibility in the fuel market for coal, gas and biomass;
  • Very suitable for biomass co-gasification;
  • Marginal emission of mercury, dust and the acidifying substances sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides;
  • Better opportunities for capturing CO2 at relatively low costs.

It is our ambition to use coal gasification technology as a commercially competitive alternative for powder carbon power stations. Coal gasification is a proven technology that has been optimised over the past years in the Willem-Alexander power station. We aim to use this technology at Nuon Magnum (under development).

Willem-Alexander power station at Buggenum

The new biomass installation at Buggenum was taken into use in 2006. With this installation biomass can be co-fired in a proportion of up to approx. 30% of the coal used. The co-gasification of biomass influences the output of the power station.

In 2006 a basic quantity of about 10% biomass (wood) was co-gasified. For the rest, this year was dedicated to researching the potential of numerous alternative biofuels, notably agro fuels. These are residual substances from the agricultural industry. Agro fuels are amply available in a worldwide market. In 2007 further research into the application of these fuels at the Willem-Alexander power station will be carried out.

In 2006 research was conducted into the production of Coal To Liquid - synthetic coal gas as a fuel for e.g. the transport sector. The results of the study were positive. An application has been submitted for a licence to place a test installation for the production of Coal To Liquid in 2007. Biomass and coal will be used as the test fuel.

Finally, a study was carried out in 2006 into CO2 capture methods. We hope to be able to build a test installation in 2007.

Multi-fuel power station - Nuon Magnum

In July 2006 it was announced that the Eemshaven in Groningen had been selected as the location for Nuon’s new 1,200 MW coal gasification power station. Eemshaven has a modern seaport, a good infrastructure and is well-situated for connection to the high-voltage grid. TenneT has confirmed that Magnum will be the first in line for a connection to this grid. Minister Peijs made the commitment that the waterway to Eemshaven would be deepened if certain legal requirements are satisfied. This means that deep-draught coal ships can also be used to supply fuels to the port.

In 2006 a licence was also obtained for the application of Shell’s coal gasification technology. This technology was optimised by Nuon in the Willem-Alexander power station in Buggenum. It is now the worldwide standard for using coal to produce power in the cleanest possible manner. We expect to finalise the licensing procedures for the Eemshaven location in the spring. The definite investment decision can then be taken in mid-2007. The power station can start delivering power to the grid early in 2011.