New pipelines secure more energy efficient terminal at Nordjylland Power Station

In 2016, Port of Aalborg took over the operation of the coal and oil terminal at Nordjylland Power Station, which marked the beginning of a significant renovation of the area’s facilities. After several tests, large parts of the renovation are now completed. Among other things, Port of Aalborg has built two new pipelines for the oil tank facility and its four 55,000 cubic meter tanks, which had been inactive for 15 years prior to the acquisition.

Today, the tanks are rented out for storing of marine fuel. Because marine fuel must be stored at a stable temperature, it has been important to establish a reliable energy supply that also support the green transformation of the terminal.

– In the past, the tanks were heated by steam from Nordjylland Power Station’s block 3, but today the heat supply is connected to the district heating network. In other words, we have gone from steam produced from coal to district heating, which largely come from waste heat. This has resulted in a more stable and energy efficient heat supply, says Brian Dalby Rasmussen from Port of Aalborg.

The oil terminal initially consisted of only a single pipeline. Today, the single pipeline has been replaced by two new 600-metre-long pipelines connecting the tank facility to the nearby quay. With two modern pipelines, it has now become easier to handle different oil products, while the utilization of the pipes’ capacity has been improved.

– Oil for marine fuel comes in different qualities, which should not be mixed together. By having two pipelines, we can handle different kinds of products at the same time and more easily, says Brian Dalby Rasmussen and elaborates:

– Furthermore, cleaning has been made easier. The old pipeline was more difficult to empty, but today cleaning is done with the help of a so-called cleaning pig. The cleaning pig, as the device is called, is sent through the pipe by compressed air, which makes it possible to empty the pipeline completely.

Tank facility is prepared for green fuels of the future

In connection with the construction of the new pipelines and the general future-proofing of the oil terminal, Port of Aalborg is also working on ensuring that the tank facility can be used for other types of fuel than fossil based ones.

– In general, we are very interested in supporting initiatives that are underway in the region related to, for example, Power-to-X technology. We also have an eye on how the tank facility can be used to store more climate-friendly fuels in the form of bio-based products. By committing to phase out coal towards 2028, the first steps have already been taken in the green transition of Nordjylland Power Station, but our work does not end here, says Brian Dalby Rasmussen.

Besides the terminal at Nordjylland Power Station, Port of Aalborg also operates the oil terminal on the southern side of the Limfjord at Rørdalsvej.

For more information, please contact:

• Brian Dalby Rasmussen, Engineer, Environment & Port Facilities, tel. +45 29 20 72 52 and bdr@portofaalborg.com
• Press Service: Maja Thordahl Schou, Head of Branding & PR, Port of Aalborg A/S, tel. +45 22 61 83 08 and mts@portofaalborg.com