Limak, follows a balanced and environment-friendly growth strategy in all their operations, and acts in line with the principle of “meeting today’s needs without jeopardizing the needs of future.” Environmental sustainability, protection of the environment and climate change mitigation are the key issues for all Limak Group companies.
In this regard, Limak signed the United Nations Global Compact is also a member of Business Council for Sustainable Development Turkey.
HEAŞ and all other Limak companies have adopted sustainable growth principles that emphasize diminishing the effect that are harmful to environment and creating value for society and stakeholders.
Waste Management
Limak is committed to reducing its environmental impact through efficient use of natural resources. One important way in which we strive to achieve this is by use of environmentally friendly alternatives and reuse and recycle of waste wherever feasible.
Graph: Methods of Waste Disposal Across Limak Group
*2013 data.
A waste hierarchy is applied for the management of both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes at Hamitabat CCPP. According to the waste hierarchy, waste avoidance is the most preferable option, followed by minimization of quantities and hazards of waste generated. Next, reuse, recovery and recycling options are preferred over treatment of waste and disposal is considered as a last resort.
In compliance with the national regulation, domestic solid wastes are transferred to the lanfill of Lüleburgaz Municipality for disposal. The transportation and disposal of the hazardous wastes are provided by companies licensed by MoEUP. Also, recyclable waste materials such as paper and metals are transferred to the material recovery facilities of licensed companies. A complete records of waste transfer and disposal are kept for at least 5 years. 2014, an estimated 73,53% of total waste of Hamitabat CCPP was recycled and 26,47% of the total waste was sent to disposal.
Hamitabat CCPP has also taken numerous precautions to decrease the effects of its activities on the environment with the continuous improvement activities at the process water preparation units and process water analyzing procedures to reduce use of chemicals.
There are two wastewater treatment systems at Hamitabat CCPP; namely sewage treatment facility for domestic wastewaters and effluent treatment facility for the process wastewaters. The wastewater is discharged to a local stream (Tatarköy Creek) in accordance with official regulations such as the Water Pollution Control Regulation. Both domestic and process wastewater discharges are tested regularly and analyzed by an accredited laboratory.
Monthly NO2 ground level concentrations from the power plant are below the short-term limit values stated in the regulation. Continuous stack gas emission monitoring of physical parameters and NOx and CO is carried out as per the national legislation. NOx and CO emissions from Hamitabat CCPP are lower than the limits stated in the “Regulation on Air Quality Assessment and Management”. We have been also reporting our greenhouse gas emissions monthly since the beginning of 2015.
At Limak, supporting the environment is not just something that we do on the side, but is something that is integrated within our business. In the scope of Hamitabat CCPP renovation project, gas turbines with Dry Low NOx (DLN) firing system that releases less NOx and CO emissions will be used. Through this system, required emission levels can be achieved by generating cleaner and more efficient energy without the need for steam and water injection or any chemicals in firing units.
Periodic noise measurements are also conducted in order to determine the noise level at and around Hamitabat CCPP.
Global Warming
Earth’s atmosphere is made up of gases such as N2, O2, Ar ve CO2. These gases allow some solar radiation to reach the planet but also absorb some of the heat radiating from the planet, trapping it and radiating it back downward to the surface. Thanks to the atmosphere enough heat can be trapped and entire planet can be kept warm. This cycle is called as natural greenhouse effect and without this cycle, life on Earth would be vastly different, or even nonexistent.
Since the start of the industrial revolution, human activities have greatly increased the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The main anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases are combustion of fossil fuels, industrialization, agricultural activities and change of land use and deforestation. Global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth’s surface as a result of increased human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) are stated as main GHGs causing global warming in the Kyoto Protocol which is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important anthropogenic and long-lived greenhouse gas because of its large emissions Therefore, there is an international effort to reduce carbondioxide emissions worldwide.
Based on climate scenarios, following are expected as consequences of global warming
• Continuous increase in the average surface temperatures with a total rise between 2°C and 4,5 °C by the end of the 21st century
• Increasing the regularity and severity of natural disasters
• Higher sea water temperatures and increased ocean acidification, rising sea level
• Evaporation of water supplies and saltwater penetration of groundwater zones causing drinking water scarcity and food shortage
• Extinction of plant and animal species by up to 25 percent until 2050
• Millions of people will be suffered from contagious diseases such as the malaria mosquito because the environment will be more positive for pathogens and some dangerous insects
GHGs FROM HAMITABAT CCPP WILL BE MINIMIZED AFTER RENOVATION PROJECT
Following renovation project, Hamitabat CCPP will continue generating sufficient and reliable electricity with less environmental influence and provide sustainable operation by improving the energy generation efficiency and reducing the emissions of air pollutants.
The SGT5-8000H gas turbines having an efficiency of up to 61 percent in combined cycle operation will be used and a total CO2 reduction of over 80,000 tons emissions per year.
Our new turbines will also have very low NOx and CO emissions as low as 25 ppm and 10 ppm respectively, with improved combustion aerodynamics and dry low NOx combustion system. The standards of all air emissions will comply with the limits stated in the national and international regulations and Hamitabat CCPP will contribute to climate change mitigation by being one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly power plants in the World.