Grovehurst Energy Ltd

The CHP scheme on the Kemsley site meets all the steam and electricity requirements of the paper mills owned by M-Real and the St. Regis Paper Company on their sites in Kemsley and Sittingbourne, Kent.

Grovehurst Energy is a joint-venture formed by the two companies to manage the shared site services, the most important being the reliable provision of steam and electricity. Before the CHP plant was built, the boiler plant comprised a mix of old coal fired boilers some dating back to the 1930's. This ageing plant was incapable of providing both the reliability and environmental performance which M-Real and St. Regis required going forward into the future.

A new CHP plant was built designed on the basis of steam reliability being of prime importance. Heated by the hot exhaust gases from the single gas turbine, steam is produced by two supplementary fired heat recovery boilers. This high pressure steam passes through a steam turbine before being controlled to the temperatures and pressures required by the paper mills. The plant includes six standby boilers, with a combined capacity well in excess of a main boiler. Overall, these and other measures combine to ensure that there is no interruption to the steam supply.

Commissioned towards the end of 1995, the plant produces useful energy at an overall fuel conversion efficiency in excess of 85%. Steam is supplied at the highest quality, ensuring the paper companies can continue to offer the finest products into their markets. Owning and operating the plant, E.ON UK CHP sells the energy under contract to Grovehurst Energy, who retains responsibility for distribution.