Increasing Power Flexibility Potential

Power systems in the 21st century—with higher penetration of renewables and smart grids—will favor plants that are flexible. Siemens Energy is answering the demand.

Adapting to a New Energy Market Reality

Operators of gas-fired power plants face a new reality: renewables are growing and the role of baseload generation is changing. To maintain profitability and efficiency, conventional power systems must become increasingly flexible. 

 

As an owner operator with decades of experience throughout the world, we understand the impact of renewables on the day-to-day operations of gas-to-power producers. We have first-hand experience of successfully implementing flexible solutions in our own facilities and our ongoing investment in research and technology enables us to offer our customers the latest innovations. With Siemens Energy, you can unlock your flexibility potential.  

Moving from baseload to peaking plant

Renewable energy accounts for 46% of Germany’s overall power supply—one of the largest market shares in the world. For the Combined Cycle Power Plant Hamm Uentrop, the rapid growth of renewables means lower energy prices and new expectations for how the fossil-fueled facility is to perform. Plant operators knew that they needed to adjust the capabilities of the legacy fleet to remain competitive both now and in the future. With the support of Siemens Flex-Power Services™, the plant improved the speed and efficiency of the start and stop process, achieved higher load gradients, and grew profit margins. 

It’s not always possible to feed electricity into the grid profitability. This is what makes the flexibility of our plant so incredibly important. With Siemens Quick-Stop and Go-Ready, the gas turbine can be fired up and down very quickly.
Udo Brockmeier, CEO of Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, Germany

Flexible Power for a Cleaner Future

Learn how the Clean Energy Ministerial is working with Siemens Energy to rehabilitate and modernize gas-fired power plants to improve efficiency and flexibility.

Get More Power for More Flexibility

To answer the demand for changing operational requirements of fossil-based power plants, Siemens developed Flex-Power Services™, a comprehensive portfolio of hard- and software solutions, studies, and plant assessments that improve the flexibility and responsiveness of legacy assets. 

Four Aspects of Flex-Power Services for your Fossil Power Plant

Power on Demand

Today, gas-fired power plants are having to continually join and drop off the grid according to the level of renewable 

power production. This is not an easy task. Constantly switching on and off makes it difficult for gas-to-power 

producers to predict revenues and places significant mechanical strain on plant equipment. Siemens Flex-Power 

Services enhances your stop and start performance to ensure your plant is able to step in when needed. 

 

Start and Stop Performance solutions: 

  • Steam Turbine Hot Start on the Fly
  • Steam Turbine Advanced Fast Loading
  • Degassed Conductivity 
  • Fast Release to Nominal Speed

Peak power and load gradients

To ensure a stable grid, fossil-fueled power plants, originally designed to be base loaded, will increasingly need to 

operate on a load following or cyclic basis. Siemens Flex-Power Services help legacy assets cycle on and off and ramp 

up and down more frequently, more rapidly, and more cost-effectively.

 

Grid Service solutions:

  • Gas Turbine Wet Compression Modernization
  • Turn Up Upgrade for Siemens Gas Turbines
  • Fast Wet Compression for Siemens Gas Turbines
  • Flexibility Improvements for Power Plants (Site Assessment)

Emissions

Increased cycling, load following and ramping can lead to degraded performance and higher emissions of 

greenhouse gases. Siemens Flex-Power Services increase operational efficiency to help fossil-based power 

plants meet climate targets and remain competitive.

 

Minimum Part Load solutions: 

  • Modified Steam Turbine Value Staggering
  • Flexibility Improvements for Power Plants (Site Assessment)

Intervals and Cool Down

Increased cycling, load following and ramping can lead to degraded performance and higher emissions of 

greenhouse gases. Siemens Flex-Power Services increase operational efficiency to help fossil-based power 

plants meet climate targets and remain competitive. 

 

Minimum Part Load solutions: 

  • Modified Steam Turbine Value Staggering
  • Flexibility Improvements for Power Plants (Site Assessment)

Examples of successful projects

Watch the videos about our internation reference 

Siemens is the right partner when it comes to flexibility & optimization.
Dr.-Ing. Olaf Thun, Business Unit Manager Generation, Kraftwerke Mainz-Wiesbaden AG
GET IN TOUCH

Meet Demands for Improved Flexibility

In today’s energy market, all elements of power plant performance must be expanded to improve output, efficiency, load range, and turndown capabilities. Siemens Energy can help you unlock the full potential of your plant’s flexibility. Contact our experts today to discuss how you can upgrade and modernize your fossil-fueled power plant to go from baseload to peaking, fast.