On 23 March ExxonMobil inaugurated its newest high efficiency cogeneration plant at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium. The project will be presented for the first time in Brussels at the opening session of the 15th COGEN Europe’s Annual Conference 2009 on 21-22 April.

Cogeneration is the simultaneous production and effective use of electricity and heat in a single process and is one of Europe’s most powerful energy efficiency tools. The new ExxonMobil 125 MW plant demonstrates the substantial
potential of industry in the cogeneration sector and its ongoing contribution to meeting Europe’s energy
efficiency goals.

The Antwerp plant integrates recovered heat into the process of refining crude oil, which is unique in the industry for a large-scale project. In addition to generating 125 MW of electricity, the new plant will
reduce Belgium's carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 200,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of removing about 90,000 cars from Europe’s roads. ExxonMobil is an industry leader in the use of cogeneration.

"This new cogeneration plant allows for the efficient generation of electricity to run pumps, compressors and other equipment in our facilities, while at the same time, producing additional steam that is needed in processes that transform crude oil into refined products," said Gilbert Asselman, Manager of the Antwerp refinery.

ExxonMobil’s presentation of the cogeneration plant at COGEN Europe Annual Conference, the world’s largest annual cogeneration event, will be given by Richard Henderson, Technical Manager. In a year of huge financial challenge and serious concerns around energy security, the conference
focuses on why cogeneration is an essential strategic choice for Europe. Conference speakers will highlight the full application range of cogeneration, form the way the technology has been used to reduce the energy footprint in Berlin to the new emerging technologies around micro CHP and biobased fuels. The practicalities of successful implementation of cogeneration at all scales will be
discussed ranging from large-scale cogeneration as in Antwerp to heat grids and commercial cogeneration.

The COGEN Europe Recognition Awards ceremony will honour those who have most contributed to the sector across Europe and will precede the Conference Dinner on the evening of 21 April.

More info
on: http://www.cogeneurope.eu/2009/02/cogen-europe-annual-conference/

For more information please contact:
Dr Fiona Riddoch, Managing Director
Tel: +32 2 772 8290
Fax: + 32 2 772 5044
Email: fiona.riddoch@cogeneurope.eu
Stefan Craenen, Communication Manager
Tel: +32 2 772 8290
Fax: + 32 2 772 5044
Email: stefan.craenen@cogeneurope.eu