Rutenberg power station

From Global Energy Monitor

Rutenberg power station (תחנת הכוח רוטנברג) is an operating power station of at least 1675-megawatts (MW) in Ashkelon, Southern District, Israel with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Ashkelon power station, Rotenberg power station.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Rutenberg power station Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Southern District, Israel 31.630697, 34.520237 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Project D Unit 1, Project D Unit 2, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: 31.630697, 34.520237
  • Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: 31.63121, 34.5262

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology CHP Start year Retired year
Project D Unit 1 cancelled coal - unknown 630 unknown
Project D Unit 2 cancelled coal - unknown 630 unknown
Unit 1 retired coal - bituminous 575 subcritical 1991 2022
Unit 1 construction[1] gas[1][2] 575[3][2] combined cycle[1] not found 2024[2]
Unit 2 operating coal - bituminous 575 subcritical 1990 2026 (planned)
Unit 2 pre-construction[1] gas[1][2] 575[3][2] combined cycle[1] not found 2026[2][4][5]
Unit 3 operating coal - bituminous 550 subcritical 2001 2026 (planned)
Unit 3 pre-construction[1] gas[1][2] 550[3][2] combined cycle[1] not found 2026[2][4][5]
Unit 4 operating coal - bituminous 550 subcritical 2000 2026 (planned)
Unit 4 pre-construction[1] gas[1][2] 550[3][2] combined cycle[1] not found 2026[2][4][5]

CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Project D Unit 1 Israel Electric Corp Ltd (IEC) [100.0%]
Project D Unit 2 Israel Electric Corp Ltd (IEC) [100.0%]
Unit 1 Israel Electric Corp Ltd (IEC) [100.0%]
Unit 1 Israel Electric Corporation Ltd[3] Israel Electric Corporation Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 2 Israel Electric Corp Ltd (IEC) [100.0%]
Unit 2 Israel Electric Corporation Ltd[3] Israel Electric Corporation Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 3 Israel Electric Corp Ltd (IEC) [100.0%]
Unit 3 Israel Electric Corporation Ltd[3] Israel Electric Corporation Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 4 Israel Electric Corp Ltd (IEC) [100.0%]
Unit 4 Israel Electric Corporation Ltd[3] Israel Electric Corporation Ltd [100.0%]

Background

Rutenberg power station, named after Pinhas Rutenberg, is owned and operated by the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). The power station has a total installed capacity of 2,250 MW. It is arranged in two blocks, Blocks A and B, each containing two power generating units (2 x 575 MW and 2 x 550 MW). Construction began in the early 1980s, after completion of the first phase of the Orot Rabin power station near Hadera. Phase A became operational in 1990-1991, and Phase B in 2000-2001. Coal was supplied by train from the Port of Ashdod until an on-site deepwater coal pier was completed in 2000.[6][7]

In October 2023, the power station had caught on fire and sustained damaged after being struck by an alleged rocket attack from Gaza.[8]

Jetty

The power station's coal jetty is designed to moor ships up to 200,000 tons and allows for smaller ships of 60,000 tons. All the seaside services are reportedly provided by Ashkelon port which is managed by the Europe Asia Pipeline Company (EAPC) (likely formerly the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company).[9]

As per IEC's 2020 financial report, negotiations were being held with EAPC "for the regulation of all the Company’s activities at the site following the law that regulated the continued operations of EAPC."[10]

On March 13, 2023, a crane on the coal jetty collapsed under high winds. Two people died in the accident.[11][12] As damage to the jetty impacted the ability to unload coal for the power station, the IEC reportedly requested a permit amendment that would allow the Orot Rabin power station to transfer approximately 6,000 tons of coal per day to the Rutenberg station by truck.[13] In May 2023, coal transport to the station was temporarily stopped by the Ministry of Environmental Protection due to safety violations,[14] but resumed a week later.[15]

Planned retirements and conversions

In December 2018, the Israeli government said it would stop the use of coal by 2030.[16] A 2018 IEC report contemplated "[c]ompleting the conversion of a coal production unit in Ashkelon to natural gas as a pilot program" by 2023.[17]

Starting in November 2019, the Israeli government said it would stop the use of coal sooner, by 2025.[18]

As of 2019, one unit at the Rutenberg power station was reportedly set to be closed by 2022, while the other three units at the facility were set to be converted to use natural gas by the end of 2024.[19][20]

Based on IEC's financial reports for 2018-2021, conversion plans are still underway.[17][21][10][22] In November 2021, the CEO of the Ashkelon Environmental Association of Cities and the director of the power station discussed when the plant may run on gas.[23] IEC's H1 2022 financial report states that Unit 1 was shut down on March 28, 2022 to begin the gas conversion project.[24] Furthermore, IEC's investor presentation as of December 2022 states that "in accordance with the Minister of Energy's policy principles, published November 24, 2019, the units will gradually convert to using natural gas until 2025 and no later than 2026." [25]

The South Natural Gas Company and government company Natural Gas Routes to Israel (NTGZ) have been involved in disagreements and litigation over gas supply and pipelines.[26]

According to the IEC's 2022 annual financial report, the budget completion of the conversion project was 78% for Unit 1 and 19% for Unit 2 as of December 2022.[27]

The IEC's Q1 2023 financial report, which appeared to be published in June 2023, noted that the company's Board of Directors had decided to continue the gas conversion project only for Units 1-2 at Rutenberg power station, as most of the equipment for those units had already been secured and piping had already been installed. Conversions for Units 3-4 would be suspended "...until a decision is made by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to recognize in principle the costs of the project..." Conversion plans at the Orot Rabin power station would also be suspended. The report further stated that if a decision was made to carry out the conversion project in its entirety, an updated completion date would be provided.[12]

A media article also from early June 2023 reported that coal-fired units were expected to operate until at least 2030, according to a letter from Nega, the government company that manages the power station.[28]

In an investor presentation from December 2023, the IEC stated "[o]n June 2023, the company's [Board of Directors] decided to continue the procurement process for converting units 3-4" at Rutenberg.[29]

Permitting

The air emissions permit for Unit 3 was originally set to expire in March 2020. In January 2020, the IEC requested an 8.5 month postponement so that it could install a selective catalytic reduction (SCR), which would reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from the unit. The Ministry rejected the request but granted a 2.5 month extension beyond the original closure date, and the IEC then requested a revision of its emissions permit.[30][31]

IEC then followed up saying the coronavirus crisis left it unable to work on Unit 3 as it had planned, and asked the Ministry to reconsider its original request for the 8.5 month closure delay. In addition, because that period would end just before winter, IEC claimed it would need an additional 3.5 months on top of that. The Ministry noted that in order to approve that request, the IEC would have to disable some of the coal-fired units at IEC's Orot Rabin power station which don't have scrubbers.[30]

The permit appears to have been amended starting May 27, 2020.[32]

Jellyfish

Jellyfish were reported to have caused problems for the power station in July 2019 and 2020 by blocking up the power station's operating systems.[33]

Project D Expansion

Expansion project proposed

A Phase D expansion was approved in 2008. According to a 2010 story in the Jerusalem Post, the project was later changed to be a gas-fired project.[34]

However, in a 2012 slide presentation by IEC, Project D was still characterized as a coal plant. The presentation described Project D as comprising two 630 MW units to be commissioned in 2018 and 2019.[35]

France’s national Électricité de France (EDF) had considered building the plant with Israel, but in 2014 it was reported that IEC would build the power station independently and hold 100% of the ownership. It was also stated that the power station would be dual fuel.[36]

In December 2015, Israel's energy minister said instead of the planned coal units, he would promote a feasibility study for building a nuclear energy power station in order to meet government targets for reducing carbon emissions.[37] In April 2016, the Israeli Cabinet approved a plan to invest US$212 million in loans and grants for increased energy efficiency to “lead to a reduction in sickness caused by pollution.” The government also flagged the prospect of reducing coal use by switching to gas and increasing renewables. The decision suggested the proposed 1,260 MW dual-fuel Project D plant, if it proceeds, is likely to be gas-fired.[38]

Expansion project cancelled

In November 2016, the Electricity Authority delivered to the Minister of National Energy the recommendation to cancel Project D.[39]

In April 2017, Israel's energy and water minister Yuval Steinitz said the country plans to reduce coal use to less than 10% of the fuel mix in the production of electricity by 2025.[40]

Opposition

In January 2011, Greenpeace organized protests against the proposed plant. Activists climbed the Jerusalem Chords Bridge and unveiled an 18-meter banner calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the project. The posters, which were placed in view of the Prime Minister's office, read: "Bibi stop the coal plant."[41]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220330080417/https://www.energy-sea.gov.il/English-Site/Pages/Regulation/energy_economy_objectives_2030.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 https://web.archive.org/web/20230103025202/https://www.jpost.com/health-science/heavily-polluting-hadera-power-plant-to-be-converted-to-natural-gas-613436. Archived from the original on 03 January 2023. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022622/http://globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/5187. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 (PDF) https://ieccontent.iec.co.il/media/fgrf52ls/iec-investor-presentation-09-2022-final.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 (PDF) https://ieccontent.iec.co.il/media/tncdbd3p/iec-investor-presentation-03-2023-final.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Rutenberg power station, Wikipedia, accessed November 2017
  7. Rutenberg power station, Global Energy Observatory, accessed November 2017
  8. "Israel's second largest power plant was hit," axar.az, October 7, 2023
  9. "Request for Information (RFI): Commercial Use of Company’s Marine Infrastructures," Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. Ref.:126-0001971-2021, August 8, 2021
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Financial Reports," IEC, December 2020
  11. "Rescuers search for 2 after crane topples into water near Ashkelon," The Times of Israel, March 14, 2023
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Financial Reports - For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2023," Israel Electric Corporation, June 1, 2023
  13. "חברת החשמל תעביר כל יום 6,000 טונות פחם מתחנת אורות רבין בחדרה לתחנת אשקלון – זו הסיבה," Migdalor News, April 30, 2023
  14. "5 ימים ללא משלוחי פחם לתחנת הכח באשקלון, שהמלאי שלה הולך ואוזל," Davar, May 7, 2023
  15. "אושר חידוש שינוע הפחם של חברת החשמל," Channel 7 News, May 9, 2023
  16. "Israel to stop electricity production from coal by 2030," Reuters, December 17, 2018
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Financial Reports," IEC, September 30, 2018
  18. "The Structure of the Energy Sector in Israel," Ministry of Energy, State of Israel, March 2021
  19. "Israel to end coal era by 2025: energy minister," Xinhua Net, November 13, 2019
  20. "Heavily-polluting Hadera power plant to be converted to natural gas," the Jerusalem Post, January 7, 2020
  21. "Financial Reports," IEC, December 31, 2019
  22. "Financial Reports," IEC, September 30, 2021
  23. "מתי תחנת הכוח רוטנברג תעבוד על גז טבעי?," kan-ashkelon, November 7, 2021
  24. "IEC financial report for 1H 2022" (PDF). https://ieccontent.iec.co.il. July 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. "IEC Investor Presentation" (PDF). https://ieccontent.iec.co.il/. December 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. "נדחתה בקשה להוציא צו מניעה נגד הסבת תחנת הכוח באשקלון מפחם לגז," calcalist, February 9, 2021
  27. "Financial Reports - For The Year Ended December 31, 2022," Israel Electric Corporation, April 17, 2023
  28. ""בחברת נגה מודים כי הם אינם יודעים לוודא אספקה יציבה של חשמל גם שנים קדימה ללא יחידות 1-4 המזהמות בחדרה"," Migdalor News, June 7, 2023
  29. "Investor Presentation - Business update as of 09/30/2023," Israel Electric Corp., December 2023
  30. 30.0 30.1 “Corona Consequences - Electric Co. Asks Ministry for Another Delay in Shutdown of 3rd Unit at Rutenberg Power Plant,” Ministry of Environmental Protection, May 14, 2020
  31. "Air emission permits" search results," accessed June 11, 2021
  32. "תיקון ושינוי מס' 4 בהיתר פליטה לפי חוק אוויר נקי, התשס"ח-2008: תחנת הכוח "רוטנברג," אגף איכות אוויר ושינוי אקלים, May 2020
  33. "Thousands of jellyfish, one sea turtle found in Rotenberg Power Station," the Jerusalem Post, July 9, 2020
  34. EHUD ZION WALDOKS, "All coal-fired power stations to get filters," Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2010
  35. "Israel Electric Corporation Strategic Aspects Overview," Israel Electric Corp., November 2012, page 36
  36. "IEC freezes partnership with French electricity co EDF," Globes, June 25, 2014
  37. "Israel's Energy Ministry proposes nuclear plant," Globes, December 3, 2015
  38. "Israel approves plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions," Times of Israel, April 12, 2016
  39. "Financial Reports," IEC, September 30, 2016 (page 54)
  40. "Israel targets coal-for-power use at less than 10% of fuel mix by 2025," Platts, April 5, 2017
  41. Yael Darel, "Greenpeace: Bibi, stop coal plant," ynet, January 18, 2011

Additional data

To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datases, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.