The start-up of the Metso HYBEX power boiler delivered to the energy service providing company Dalkia was an important landmark. The boiler is the largest biomass boiler used for energy production in France. Complete automation of the power plant enables to benefit from efficient process control, compatible reporting and communication. With power production of 50 MW the plant counts among the biggest in Central Europe.


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The Dalkia power plant with an extensive solution for biomass processing was commissioned in October 2010 and is running successfully. The combined heat and power plant, in Facture, southwest France uses mainly bark and forest residues as fuel to produce 50 megawatts of electricity for the national grid and 74 megawatts of process steam for Smurfit Kappa’s paper mill.
Dalkia is the energy division of Veolia Environnement, a globally operating specialist in environmental services.




Dalkia power boiler is the largest biomass boiler used for energy production in France.


The start-up of the Metso HYBEX power boiler delivered to the energy service providing company Dalkia was an important landmark. The boiler is the largest biomass boiler used for energy production in France. Full-scope solution for managing emissions

The full-scope solution provides both immediate and long-term advantages for the environment, power generation process, productivity and resource management. Proven solutions in BFB (Bubbling Fluidized Bed) combustion, automation and fueldling enable to operate the plant in the framework set by tight emission guarantees. And not just that. They enable to meet future regulations as well, should changes be made in the fuel base. Due to higher process steam values the ratio between electricity and heat is considerably higher than before. The entire power plant operation is concentrated into one plant with one control system and reporting system for utilizing steam produced in the new power boiler and the old recovery boiler. All this creates a base for cost efficient maintenance and plant operation.
Partly self-sufficient in fuels




The fuel base includes outsourced wood fuel and side products from the adjacent Smurfit Kappa pulp and paper mills.


Fuels are acquired internally at the adjacent Smurfit Kappa pulp and paper mill as well as outside the plant. Bark and sludge, both side products of the Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin pulp and paper mill, are combusted. The second turbine of the plant receives the needed steam from the Smurfit Kappa recovery boiler, and the black liquor produced in the pulping process is utilized in the power boiler.

The fuel base can be widened to cover plastic reject, which is recovered with recycled board, but this needs changes in the environmental permit. Smurfit Kappa Comptoir du Pin, another company of Smurfit Kappa, provides wood fuel from outside sources. It is delivered as unprocessed logs, and crushed at the plant before utilization. Part of the fuel acquired outside the plant is provided by Veolia Environnement that together with Dalkia belongs to Veolia group.


Seamlessly compatible solution

The start-up of the Metso HYBEX power boiler delivered to the energy service providing company Dalkia was an important landmark. The boiler is the largest biomass boiler used for energy production in France. Combining the Metso plant delivery, turbine delivery and connecting the Smurfit Kappa mill to the plant was an ambitious and very demanding endeavor. Smurfit Kappa needed to ensure energy supply for the mill at a competitive price without investing in the technology, and simultaneously utilize its own fuels derived from the mill as well as its own wood acquisition organization.

“By ordering new technology, i.e. all biomass combustion related equipment and controls from a single supplier, the customer secured a successful project,” points out Jaakko Haapio, Project Manager, Power business line.

According to Jouni Kinni, Sales Manager, Power business line: “The delivery included the boiler, flue-gas cleaning and fuel handling systems as well as complete automation of the power plant, which ensures, among other things, that Dalkia benefits from compatible reporting and communication. For the customer, centralizing the process equipment required for biomass handling with the same supplier reduced the likelihood of delays during construction and ensures that all equipment is seamlessly compatible.”

“Co-operation with customer Dalkia and consultant company Sepoc was smooth after minor challenges at the beginning of the project. Large projects always requires good communication especially before we get used to all parties ways of working. Dalkia’s team was very active during commissioning period and team work with our French and Finnish engineers was at high level,” says Mikko Kinnunen, Project Manager, Automation business line.


Redundant solutions to a biomass plant

The delivered metsoDNA CR 2009 system with a total of approximately 5000 i/o’s has several interfaces to Metso’s and other suppliers’ scopes. The redundant system covers wood handling, boiler and boiler protection, plant protection and interfaces to the system of Smurfit Kappa paper mill as well as two steam turbines as well as Balance of Plant.







Environmental applications working on the top of metsoDNA information system

The environmental applications delivered to Dalkia marked the first Metso EMRS delivery to a green field plant in France. All emission monitoring and reporting complies with EU directives. The customized automation solution produces all necessary information for self-monitoring and authority/compliance reporting in required units, taking into account Dalkia’s environmental permit and special needs of self-monitoring. Environmental consultancy is also available.

To secure the feasibility of the automation solution, a study was ordered at an early stage from a local expert body INERIS in order to ensure Metso capability to deliver LCP emission monitoring and reporting to France. Strong commitment of the involved teams proved to be worth every effort. The first guarantee test results were so convincing, that the remaining five tests included in the initial plan could be cancelled.

The environmental applications are designed to give a full view about emission levels to a wide range of users and authorities. The plant is able to monitor emission levels on-line. Diverse reports facilitate maintenance planning, emissions analyses as well as updating and managing of initial data, and provide authorities with information according to EU directives. Remote users have access to portal and web reports.


Combustion optimization

Boiler balance calculation generates valuable information about process performance for users and also to boiler supplier. The whole package of Metso BFB combustion optimization controls was for first time implemented to new biomass boiler at Dalkia. The aim of the combustion optimization is to minimize flue gas emissions, house load and bed temperature by improving fuel and combustion air distributions. Good boiler performance and large scope of products makes this a valuable reference for Metso.” adds Mikko Kinnunen.



The full package of Metso BFB combustion optimization controls was for first time implemented to a green-field plant at Dalkia.