Endesa : Savings of 16 Million euros in 2017 thanks to ideas of Endesa staff working in generation business

2017 BYEM AWARDS

This edition included two new categories to recognise the best ideas on sustainability and digitalisation, one of the company's main priorities as set out in its latest Strategic Plan.

The 2017 BYEMBest Overall Proposal Award went to the project at the As Pontes thermal plant (A Coruña) to optimise pulverising and increase milling capacity in the coal mills to be able to burn coal that has a lower calorific value but is cheaper. This type of coal is larger than that used to date, and so the pulverising capacity of the mills had to be increased. The improvement cost 250,000 euros, generating savings of 9 million euros per annum.

Another 11 improvement ideas were also recognised in several categories:

Award for the best safety improvement proposal.

• Coal-fired thermal plants: As Pontes (A Coruña): Safety improvements in the handling and maintenance of coal mill pulveriser wheels.
• Fuel-oil, gas and combined cycle thermal plants: Son Reus (Majorca). Improvements in the fire protection systems of the auxiliary start-up boiler.

Award for the best environmental improvement proposal.

• Coal-fired thermal plants: Carboneras (Almeria). Evacuation of coal ash and bottom ash by ship.
• Fuel-oil, gas combined cycle thermal plants: Barranco de Tirajana (Las Palmas de Gran Canarias). Washing with seawater of SO absorber components in scrubbing system.

Award for the best operating efficiency improvement proposal.

• Coal-fired thermal plants: Andorra (Teruel). Maximisation of local lignite.
• Fuel-oil and gas combined cycle thermal plants: As Pontes (A Coruña). Implementation of an energy saving system in cooling towers.

Award for the most innovative environmental, health & safety idea.

• Compostilla coal-fired thermal plant (Leon). New LOTO (lock-out/tag-out) physical block model for inspections of thermal group

Award for the most innovative operating efficiency idea.

• Granadilla thermal plant (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Neuraldata: Prediction model using neural networks

Award for the most innovative proposal for new business models and new generation technologies.

• Candelaria thermal plant (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Downloads at facilities using NFC technology.

Award for the best sustainability proposal.

• Endesa Mining Team. Environmental restoration plan for Endesa's mines (As Pontes, Andorra, Puertollano, Peñarroya)

Award for the best digitalisation proposal.

• OPO Area - Monitoring & Diagnostic Room at Endesa. HeRa Digital. Model for updating specific consumption curves to prepare bids of generation units operating on wholesale market
  

All the winning ideas will participate in the international edition of the Enel Group's Gxcellence Awards programme, which will take place for the 2nd time this year and will be announced at the beginning of next year.