Lippe/Kassel. After extensive construction work over the past months, GASCADE is opening the doors to its Lippe Compressor Station. On Sunday, June 22, 2014, the Kassel-based gas pipeline operator will host an "Open House" event in Bad Salzuflen/Lockhausen. From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., guests will be given the opportunity to tour the 20-acre property with its compressors and surrounding buildings and have specialists explain to them how everything works.
GASCADE Gastransport GmbH wants to use this Open House to provide the public a glimpse at its everyday operations. Although no construction work will be done on June 22, the upgrade is not yet complete. The commissioning of the new, third compressor is still pending. "We are currently testing it in order to make sure that it operates as planned from the very start," explains Technical Manager Martin Winkeler.
Over the past year, GASCADE's engineers have erected a third compressor building in Lippe. It houses a new 15-megawatt gas turbine, which will support the two 13-megawatt turbines that have been in operation since 2006. From this station, GASCADE can transport gas in all directions and significantly increase the capacities of the MIDAL and WEDAL pipelines, two main arteries in the German gas supply network. The maximum transport capacity is 1.2 million cubic meters per hour. To put this in perspective: an average single-family household uses roughly 2,700 cubic meters per year.
The Open House offers activities for visitors of all ages. Guided tours will be among the most popular attractions, but children will have lots of fun, too, with a bouncing castle, face-painting and a wheel of fortune. In addition, GASCADE will raffle off a helicopter sightseeing flight for three passengers.
