NEW MILFORD,CT-- Kimberly-Clark's New Milford Mill achieved its energy independence today as K-C employees commemorated the start-up of the Company's new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility.
The New Milford Mill's Energy Independence Project uses clean burning natural gas to provide all of the mill's electric and thermal power needs while generating additional power for southwestern Connecticut, one of the tightest and most expensive electric markets in the nation.
The CHP facility will help control energy costs for Connecticut residents and businesses while helping to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in the region. It will reduce Kimberly-Clark's demand on the local electric system by 15 megawatts -- freeing up that capacity for other businesses and residents. In addition, Kimberly-Clark's CHP facility will eventually generate up to 20 megawatts of new electric capacity in the region -- enough to power 35,000 homes -- while allowing K-C to better control its own operating costs.
The $50 million CHP facility includes two gas turbines that are each the size of a small minivan. The second gas turbine is expected to begin operating later this year along with the new steam turbine.
The recently constructed enclosed facility blends in with the existing mill site and was designed to diminish sound from the new operation.
Over the coming months, Kimberly-Clark will remove a 103 feet tall emissions stack and two dual-fueled boilers that were part of the system that previously produced steam for mill needs.
Connecticut leaders have identified CHP systems as an important part of the total solution of meeting Connecticut's increasing demand for energy and maintaining the state's economic potential.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CHP systems are up to 50% more energy efficient than large conventional, fossil-fueled power plans, such as the plants that supply much of Connecticut's electric system.
The high efficiency of CHP relative to conventional power plants can help reduce overall greenhouse gases and air pollution. The EPA has estimated that new CHP systems could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 million metric tons of carbon equivalent in the year 2010.
Kimberly-Clark
www.kimberly-clark.com
Comments, Pingbacks:
No Comments/Pingbacks for this post yet...
