Frequently Asked Question
What is involved in the Csepel III Project?
Alpiq Csepel Business is planning to build the Csepel III Power Station Unit on the site of Csepel I in the place of plant items that were decommissioned earlier.
The Power Station Unit will apply the most advanced technology available. Planned capacity is 430 MWe which will meet the energy demand of some 70 - 80,000 households. In addition, Csepel Power Station will provide district heat for another 20,000 homes after constructing the new Unit.
The plan is to start construction of the Power Station Unit in 2013, and commercial operation can begin in 2015. The Project will create about 300-500 new jobs in the construction stage.
What should be known about Alpiq?
Alpiq is a major energy industry business in Europe with activities in 30 countries of the continent, staff number exceeding 10,000 employees and annual revenues approaching 15 billion Swiss francs (2009 figure). Our main focus is energy supply and the provision of energy industry services. We operate power stations in a number of European countries including Switzerland, Italy, France, Norway, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Hungary.
In Hungary Alpiq runs Csepel II Power Station, provides public utility services and is involved in energy trading.
Why did the investor select Csepel?
Alpiq Csepel Business acquired the Csepel Power Station complex in 2002. The primary goal is to extend existing plant facilities, and the required site is available mainly in the place of decommissioned plant items of Csepel I.
Csepel II Station has been operating with the same technology process on the same site since 2000. Csepel II generates power and supplies district heat to the districts of Csepel and Pesterzsébet. The new plant will be built inside the existing industrial area as a so-called brown-field project without using any green field.
In what manner may the community benefit from the Project?
The direct neighbourhood may enjoy district heating as it offers an efficient, comfortable and reliable service for the long term. An additional benefit comes from the development projects financed by local tax payments. In the last ten years, Alpiq Csepel Llc. (a member company of Alpiq Csepel Business) has contributed to the development of Csepel by paying some HUF 3 billion in taxes.
Furthermore, Alpiq Csepel Business supports a number of local initiatives in Csepel including community events, environmental and area development projects and sports programmes. Field physics classes are held for secondary school students at the Power Station site since 2007. We support the events of "Csepel Days", sponsor local educational institutions, the Csepel Wrestler Club and the " Csep' " Jazz Dance Ensemble.
Why are gas-fired power stations needed?
The power generation capacity of Hungary is approximately 8,800 MW, however, more than half of the power stations are over 25 years old with an average efficiency of 32% which is regarded rather low.
Forecasts are that 63% of the power station capacity (5,300 MW) will have to be replaced by 2020 owing to increasing demand and the shutting down of antiquated plants.
Today's modern combined-cycle power stations flexibly follow the changes in demand, have a substantially better efficiency and place less burden on the environment than their coal-fuelled counterparts. Their compact design allows for a short construction phase and fits well into the industrial environment.
Therefore, Alpiq's project improves the safety of energy supply of Hungary and realises an environmentally friendly technology.
Is the Power Station safe?
Combined-cycle power stations represent a well-proven and such a safe technology that they may be installed even at city centres. (Such units are the gas-fuelled plants operating at Debrecen and Nyíregyháza.) Obviously, all relevant regulations are strictly complied with and all safety measures are taken because the safety and comfort of residents in the neighbourhood and staff are top priority for us. The power stations operated by our Company have been running safely for many years as demonstrated by a number of professional awards received for that achievement.
What appearance will the Power Station have? What will I hear? Should any unpleasant odour be expected?
In cooperation with the involved parties we do our best to find such architectural solution which fits well into our close industrial and also into the wider environment.
We can reassure everyone that in the District as well as in the neighbouring areas traffic remains the major source of noise. The public will not note the new Power Station just as it could not note Csepel II Station. Noise burden will not exceed relevant burden limits either in the construction or the operation phases. Plant items and buildings will be built using adequate technical solutions for noise suppression and reduction. The Power Station will be using natural gas to generate power, and gas does not create any unpleasant odour when burned.
What will leave the chimney?
Aqueous vapour will be the major emission component leaving the chimney, and that may seem as a white "smoke" on cold winter days to those living in the neighbourhood. In addition, CO2 and NOx will be emitted through the chimney. Similar to our other plants, the emission figures of Csepel III Power Station Unit will be below the legislative limits.
Where will natural gas come from?
Like to Csepel II Station, gas will be supplied to Csepel III Power Station Unit from the Gas Transfer Station at Rózsa Street 2 kilometres from the site.
Where will you get cooling water from?
Water extracted right from the Danube will be used to cool the plant items, by extending the present plant technology. Therefore, it will look similar to the existing Water Intake Plant.
When will construction begin, and how long will it take to build the Power Station up?
Plans are to start construction of the new Unit in 2013, and it may be completed the earliest in 2014.