The main fuel for the production of electrical energy
in the Šoštanj thermal power plant is the lignite from the Velenje
coalmine.
The mined coal needs to be transported to the silos
we call the “boiler storage bunkers”. The coal is transported to the
plant on conveyor belts, however, because it is impossible to coordinate
coal production and consumption there is a storage deposit on the way
to the silos. This area is used to store excess coal from the mine and
as a reserve for plant needs. The coal is loaded and unloaded by three
loading machines. These have different functions; partial loading, full
loading, or unloading of the coal. There are other, intermediate
coalbunkers on the way to the plant for the individual generating units.
Because of the great length of the transport route
and the winding direction, the transport is divided into several
sequential conveyor belts. At the ends of individual belts, there are
transfer stations. The entire coal transport system is designed to have a
100% reserve, which means that there are two parallel runs of
equivalent belts. The electro energy supply of the installations is also
doubled, and these can be controlled in three ways, for greater
reliability.