Report - Piombino Power Station, Italy - June 2018

[Exploring with Andy]

The 1280 MW Piombino Power Plant opened in 1977. The station consists of 4 x 320 MW generating sets with Marelli turbines and Ansaldo oil-fired boilers. The power station isn't technically closed - it has been retained to be available at peak times, should it be needed. In practice, while systems around the site are still running, it hasn't been generated any electricity for a some time now.

Visited during our recent 4500 mile drive around western Europe with @SpiderMonkey and @darbians

 

[m9]

Turbina belisimo

 

[jST]

I'm glad they labelled them in big letters so that you knew what they were.

 

[host]

Sweet report mate 4500 miles I bet there’s some reports heading this way. Next time we’re in Italy this is going on the list.

 

[obscurity]

Wow. those turbines look nice. I love how clean it is yet still looks derp in places. top work

 

[Monkey]

In practice, while systems around the site are still running, it hasn't been generated any electricity for a some time now.

Still smoke coming out that chimney on the 1st pic though!

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Still smoke coming out that chimney on the 1st pic though!

I stole that from Google image search as I didn't have an external in daylight

 

[Monkey]

I stole that from Google image search as I didn't have an external in daylight

Ahh ok, did you manage to get into the other power station inside the main piombino site as well?

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Ahh ok, did you manage to get into the other power station inside the main piombino site as well?

Yes, well, there are two and we went in one of them. There's a really old one in the steel works that we we went in which was really good. There's also a newer one near the blast furnace, but we didn't have time to visit the blast furnace area at all, and from pictures I've seen of that power station we're not missing much - the turbines are in boxes unfortunately.

 

[Monkey]

Yes, well, there are two and we went in one of them. There's a really old one in the steel works that we we went in which was really good. There's also a newer one near the blast furnace, but we didn't have time to visit the blast furnace area at all, and from pictures I've seen of that power station we're not missing much - the turbines are in boxes unfortunately.

oof! Nice one. didn't realise there's even more power stations in there. That place is huge.

 

[jST]

Yes, well, there are two and we went in one of them. There's a really old one in the steel works that we we went in which was really good. There's also a newer one near the blast furnace, but we didn't have time to visit the blast furnace area at all, and from pictures I've seen of that power station we're not missing much - the turbines are in boxes unfortunately.

That is the bomb!

 

[drhowser]

Ohh, that old plant looks awesome! Wish we'd seen that!

You're right about the other station though, most tedious turbine hall ever. It's mostly configured as compressors I think. One started spooling while we were there, it sounded like a fucked washing machine going into the spin cycle. There is a really cool control room for the boilers though.

 

[mookster]

Yes, well, there are two and we went in one of them. There's a really old one in the steel works that we we went in which was really good. There's also a newer one near the blast furnace, but we didn't have time to visit the blast furnace area at all, and from pictures I've seen of that power station we're not missing much - the turbines are in boxes unfortunately.

That is beyond sexy.

 

[Camera Shy]

Marvelous stuff mate.

 

[SpiderMonkey]

Tasty! Great report and photos, I loved this trip