Breaking of the ground for Mellach CCGT

30.10.2008Mellach

In the next years, VERBUND is erecting one of Europe's most innovative CCGT in Mellach, south of Austrias second largest city Graz.

In the presence of General Director Michael Pistauer, Governor Franz Voves, as well as numerous other guests of honour, the executive board of VERBUND-Austrian Thermal Power GmbH & Co KG (ATP) was able to conduct the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on 30 October 2008 for the combined cycle gas turbine plant at Mellach.

Through its employment of the latest technologies, the new Mellach plant fulfils the strictest EU guidelines and therewith guarantees a high degree of environmental compatibility. In its capacity as main contractor, Siemens AG Austria has been commissioned by ATP with the construction of the site and will commence full building operations from January 2009.

Mellach as an ideal location
"The existing power plant infrastructure in Mellach/Werndorf offers the best prerequisites for the construction of a modern power plant. Serving as a location is part of the existing coal storage area. The supply of natural gas takes place via the new "South rail" gas pipeline from Bruck an der Mur into the combined cycle gas turbine plant to Mellach, and the densely populated conurbation of Graz offers a relatively short route for the delivery of district heating," explains Dr. Oswin Kois, commercial director of ATP.

"Naturally, will also accurately fulfil all mandatory conditions in the construction. Following a construction period of just under three years, we will start operations of Austria's most modern combined cycle gas turbine plant in 2011. The prerequisites are the latest technology, the best degree of efficiency and the greatest possible environmental compatibility," says ATP's technical director, Dipl.-Ing. Anton Smolak, looking optimistically toward the future.