Brownfield transformation

Today increasingly ambitious CO₂ targets are being set around the world. Reaching them won’t come about by itself. Apart from intelligent energy management and improved energy efficiency, we need to decarbonize power generation for utilities and industry. And since we can’t rebuild energy generation from scratch, assets viewed as burdensome today, such as coal power plants, must be repurposed as bridges to a new energy future. It’s called Brownfield Transformation: Converting existing power plants, so they help us reach the decarbonized economy we all aim for.

Vattenfall Jänschwalde brownfield power plant

Brownfield transformation is a holistic approach to decarbonizing legacy coal, oil and gas-fired power plants combined with the use of existing assets and infrastructure. For example, repowering steam power plants with new gas turbines. It also lays the foundation for a mid-term solution: turning existing brownfield power plants into decarbonized hybrid power plants, which could include power generation from renewable energy sources, various storage technologies, and grid stability services. All of this lays the groundwork for future net zero energy systems. Such systems could facilitate sector coupling by integrating renewables, industry, or mobility sectors with the help of green hydrogen.

Brownfield power plant energy system transformation

First we form a common understanding on your site development plan, considering political, regulatory, and economic factors, short-term vs. long-term goals for the site. Then we assess the brownfield power plant site and surroundings in order to identify existing and future revenue streams, such as connections to industrial environments, e.g., process heat and future hydrogen options.

If your decarbonization needs turn out to be rather complex, we advise undertaking a detailed Energy System Design, which comprises a data-based integrated technology & business case study that examines future revenue streams and site surroundings using the available decarbonization portfolio. If technology preselection, e.g., fuel switch, energy storage, heat pumps, etc. is an important factor for you, we can develop your project directly. Whatever your approach, in the end your solution will be a combination of technology components tailored to your business case, market demands as well as efficiency and decarbonization goals.

Step by step power plant decarbonization

No matter which solution you choose for your brownfield power plant conversion, there are numerous potential benefits: avoiding stranded assets; less investment compared to greenfield projects; shorter implementation time, including fewer permits to apply for. At the same time, you may even open new revenue streams. Apart from these advantages, brownfield conversion could also help further your reputation while you contribute to the common good. Altogether, not only will you support decarbonization efforts, but continuing to employ qualified personnel can also significantly ease socioeconomic strains on local communities.

By 2050 we want to achieve a global carbon-neutral economy.

To reach it, we need net zero energy systems enabling sector coupling with new ways of generating, storing, and using energy. It works by transferring renewable power to all energy consuming sectors of the economy, be it buildings, mobility, industry, or agriculture. To realize this goal, power plants, as we know them, will be transformed to hybrid plants. They could include energy storage that allows steady energy flow despite fluctuating renewables, thermal storage for district heating, heat pumps and electrolyzers producing hydrogen. They will be the energetic hearts of our new decarbonized world.