ABB to provide control system for E.ON power plant in the Netherlands

ABB will equip E.ON’s 1,113-megawatt (MW) hard-coal-fired Maasvlakte Unit 3 super critical power plant, in the Rotterdam region, with its state-of-the-art System 800xA for Power Generation control system.

Based on E.ON plans the plant is expected to have a thermal efficiency of more than 46 percent, making it among the world’s most energy efficient coal-fired plants. This also translates to lower CO2 emissions by as much as 20 per cent compared with the average coal fired plants currently in operation in the Netherlands. This success follows a previous order executed by ABB, to equip E.ON’s 1,100-megawatt (MW) hard-coal-fired power plant, Datteln Unit4, located in Germany’s Rhein-Ruhr region, with a similar plant control system.

"We appreciate the trust reposed by E.ON in ABB's power plant control technology and expertise," said Franz-Josef Mengede, head of ABB’s global Power Generation business in the Power Systems division. "Our integrated systems combine the latest ABB platform with extensive knowledge of power plant processes, resulting in high operational reliability as well as reduced maintenance and operational costs."

ABB's scope of supply comprises a System 800xA for Power Generation control installation, including boiler protection, and instrumentation. This includes electrical actuators, which will be integrated into the process control system via a Profibus network and as a highlight the integration of MW-switchgear into the control system via IEC 61850. ABB will also carry out the complete engineering, installation and commissioning.

System 800xA, based on ABB´s patented Aspect Object technology, enables customers to make decision faster and more reliable. The right information is provided in the roght place at the right time - in operations, planning, maintenance and optimization alike. The up-to-the-future system offers access to a wide spectrum of disparate information from all applications, with consistent, harmonized look and feel.Its suppport for open standards and optimum integration options - with IEC 61850 or Profibus, for example. Automation ofthe entire plant with the same control system offers reduced maintenance and training cost.
ABB has a vast installed base of power generation products and systems around the world, and offers an extensive range of products, systems and services to the sector, including hydro, nuclear, thermal, wind, solar and desalination plants. More than 4,000 such System 800xA control systems are now successfully in operation across a diverse range of industries. Several of these have been deployed at power generation plants by leading utilities across the world.