The Újpest Power Plant is the oldest power plant of the Budapesti Erőmű Zrt., where natural gas-based industrial heat and electricity production, as well as industrial steam production, takes place. It supplies heat and hot water to a total of 57,425 homes and 2,013 other consumers, with a heat output of 382 MW and an electricity output of 105 MW.
This power plant is BERT's oldest power plant unit, as its design was created by the need to electrify the railway back in the early 20th century. In the beginning, alternating current generators were driven by reciprocating steam engines produced electricity, and then in 1968, the boilers were fired with natural gas. Not much later, as a result of the rapid increase in the steam demand of industrial plants in Újpest and the heat demand of housing estates, the Újpest Power Plant also started providing heat. Between 1964 and 1966, the condensation turbines were replaced by three back pressure turbines with a total output of 10.1 MWe.
The next turning point was 1978, when hot water service was started in the power plant as part of the district heating system. At that time, a new steam boiler and a heating center were put into operation. As a result of the expansion of district heating, two 116 MWth hot water boilers were installed in the 1980s, which are still in operation today. After that, in order to ensure the conditions of the heat supply, the electrical reconstruction also began in 1975.
On September 1, 1999, the Újpest Power Plant began its modern developments. After thorough preparation of these reconstructions, a gas turbine with a capacity of 74 MWe, a heating turbine with a capacity of 37 MWe and a steam boiler with a capacity of 80 t/h were installed. The development project of the power plant significantly increased the safety and economy of the heat supply of the Northern Pest hot water district, as well as the utilization and production volume of the combined electricity generation. As a result of the development, the power plant gradually took over the entire district heating of Northern Pest.
The Újpest Power Plant covers BERT's largest district heating: Káposztámegyer, Újpest City Center and Angyalföld. It therefore provides heat and hot water for a total of 57,425 apartments and 2,013 other consumers.
Director: Zsolt Simon