Cogeneration plant with a capacity of 2x4 MW has been launched in the area of the shaft VI in Chudów. The system is powered by methane from the mine methane drainage obtained by the demethanization station, which was launched at the shaft VI a year earlier. Cogeneration system produces electricity and heat. Production of electricity will amount to 5 000 MWh per month, which stands for 30 per cent of current electricity demand for Budryk. The mine will consume all of the generated electricity. Production of electricity in the amount of 5,000 MWh per month will bring savings in electricity costs of about PLN 850 000. Annually, the savings will amount to PLN 10 million. Heat generated in the system will be in the future (2018) used for the production of chill at the Central Climate Station, which is needed for air conditioning of the workplaces in the underground workings. Using heat in the chill production will allow year-round utilization of heat produced in the cogeneration system and is to bring the mine additional financial benefits.
The built-in cogeneration system consists of two units with the power of 4035 kW and a continuous power 3746 kW each. For the first time in Europe, cogeneration units are built in containers, which greatly minimizes investment costs and the space occupied by the device.
Cogeneration unit consists of a combustion engine produced by Austrian company GE Jenbacher and Leroy-Somer generator. The total efficiency of equipment is over 84 percent.
