Vilnius Combined Heat and Power Plant (Vilnius CHP) has reached another important project milestone: at the end of January, the first kilowatt-hours of power generated from waste were fed into the Lithuanian power grid.

Arūnas Žilys, Acting CEO and Director of Finance and Administration of Vilnius CHP, notes that this first power generation marks a critical milestone — the facility under construction is transforming from a boiler house into a power plant where a single technological process generates both heat and power. Commissioning of the steam turbine and generator was underway in line with the equipment manufacturer's and Litgrid's requirements, with a move to stable operation and later commercial operation to follow.

Once the waste-to-energy plant becomes commercially operational, its power capacity is expected to reach approximately 20 MW and thermal capacity approximately 60 MW, preventing an estimated 160,000 tonnes of waste per year from ending up in Lithuanian landfills.

Vilnius CHP has state-of-the-art flue gas treatment equipment installed to ensure completely safe energy generation from municipal waste, with all emissions monitored and data made public on the company's website. Hot tests had started the previous November, and Vilnius CHP had already begun supplying heat to Vilnius residents.

Vilnius CHP will be one of the most modern power plants of its type in Europe. The project is financed by the European Union's Cohesion Fund.