District heating projects in the Netherlands are cogeneration projects with special emphasis on high-efficiency power generation. Together with their customer N.V. IJsselcentrale, Thomassen International B.V., designed a cogeneration system based on gas and steam turbines. The system has following main features:
- the gross electrical efficiency of the system is over 50%, which is a highly remarkable achievement in power generation
- the main components, 2 gas turbines, a steam turbine and one generator are mounted in line on a single shaft.
Successful start up of the plant happened in November 1985, performance tests have shown the target of power generation with an efficiency of 50% is met.