German engineering conglomerate Siemens is exiting its Russian power plant services JV Interautomatika after it was uncovered that the latter had sold four gas turbines designated for use in Russia to Crimea, a region under EU sanctions on energy technology. The Munich-based group added it will also halt all deliveries of power generation equipment from existing contracts to state-controlled customers in Russia for the time being.
Persero subsidiary Indonesia Power has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Tambak Lorok CCGT block-3 to a consortium of GE, Marubeni and Hutama Karya. The three contractors sign responsible for the plant to commence full commercial operation in mid-2020.
Malaysia's Invest Energy (Inven), a clean energy investor and spin-off from Konpro Group, has contracted the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) group company Turboden to install an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbogenerators at an onsite power plant at Safran factory. Inven is realising plant via a build, own, and operate model.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry told press that “clean coal” will be at the centre of his energy agenda, using “American innovation” to advance cleaner, cheaper coal which is also meant to help create jobs. Speaking after a visit of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Pittsburgh, he was impressed by research into innovative “cracker plants.” These facilities use special catalysers to crack molecules within the natural gas to arrive at byproducts such as ethane and ethylene.
Despite pledges South Korea’s new liberal President Moon Jae-in to halt several nuclear and coal power projects, the country’s remains highly dependent on fossil fuels. In fact, the output of coal-fired power plants topped 95,500 GWh in the first five month of 2017, up 13.6% year-on-year, according to data by Korea Power Exchange.
DILO, a German manufacturer of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas handling equipment, has launched a SF6 multi-analyser that allows users to simultaneously check three key gas quality parameters- SF6 concentration, humidity and quantity of decomposition products. SF6 quality of gas insulated equipment needs be checked to determine if the gas still complies with the IEC Standard 60480 (SF6 reuse) or whether it needs purification.
In Spain, gas demand for the electricity sector has risen by 19.8% owing to lower hydroelectricity and wind generation and greater demand for power. Consumption of gas for electricity generation reached 465 GWh on 21 June, the highest summer value since 2011, according to Enagas figures. The latest demand peak was caused by the recent heat wave which coincided with low wind power and hydroelectricity output.
Construction of Al-Mansurya, a 720 MW gas-fired peaking power plant northeast of the Iraqi capital Bagdad that has been damaged during the conflict in the area, is being rebuilt. Supporting the Ministry of Electricity’s efforts bring the plant to full operation, GE supplied four GT13E2 gas turbines, two of which have already been synchronized and are feeding electricity into Iraq’s national grid.
Japan’s Mitsui, together with its Bangladeshi consortium partner Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCBL), is developing a combined-cycle gas power plant in Matarbari, Cox Bazar. With a generating capacity of up to 600 MW, it will be the second government-led JV power project that will run on regasified LNG.
MAN Diesel & Turbo has signed a contract with the Italian critical equipment manufacturer Walter Tosto for the delivery of essential parts for ITER, an international nuclear fusion research project being built in Cadarache, France. Thirteen so-called Port Stubs, built for Walter Tosto, will be installed in ITER’s vacuum vessel which is set to houses the fusion reactions and acts as a first safety containment barrier.
Off-grid distributed energy systems (DES) – using renewable energy but backed up by flexible gas or diesel generators – are mushrooming throughout the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as technology costs keep falling. This trend helps alleviate electricity shortages of some 133 million people in the region’s rural areas.
Seven electricity providers in the western part of the United States and Canada are considering joining the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) western energy imbalance market (EIM) which enables more frequent dispatch of generating assets, and electricity trade in the sub-hourly market. Since late 2014, CAISO estimates the gross financial benefit for EIM members is about $174 million.
As war-torn Iraq seeks to raise electrification levels, it is becoming increasingly dependent on natural gas from neighbouring Iran to compensate for shortfalls in its domestic gas production. “New power stations are entering into service soon, hence the country’s need for gas imports,” Iraqi News quoted the electricity minister, Qasim Al-Fahdawi.
Just days after launching a transformation plan, NRG Energy has disclosed it will divest 6 GW of conventional power generation capacity, and 50-100% of its renewable energy arm, NRG Yield. The American utility said it hoped to raise between $2.5 billion and $4 billion in cash proceeds from the sale. Mauricio Gutierrez, NRG president and CEO said underlined the board’s “commitment to simplify and strengthen the company to thrive through any market cycle.”
Musandam Power Company (MPC), an affiliate of Oman Gas Company (OGC), has started full commercial operation of a 120 MW dual-fuel power plant at Tibat, Bukha province in Oman’s enclave of Musandam. As an area outside of Oman’s national power grid, Musandam used to be supplied with electricity and desalinated water via several diesel gensets.
News in Brief
ABB delivers power solution for Shanghai Stock Exchange
July 21 – Swiss-based ABB has signed a contract to provide more than 1,500 units of MNS low-voltage switchgear for the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) before the end of the year. Dubbed the Jinqiao Technology Center project the MNS switchgear deployment is meant to support the safe, efficient and reliable operation of the stock exchanges’ data center. SSE is ranked #4 in the Shanghai market, and is ranked #26 in China.
TNB extends acquisition period for 51% stake in SPG
July 20 – Malaysia’s state utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has granted SIPP Energy an further 30 days to fulfil conditions set out in the May 3 acquisition agreement when TNB bought a 51% stake in SIPP Energy’s Johor-based unit SPG for RM51. Set up as a special purpose vehicle in august 2016, SPG was given regulatory approval last September to build a 2x720MW combined-cycle gas power plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor. The CCGT is scheduled to start full commercial operation at the start of July 2020.
TVA’s new plant produces 1 GW in first three months
July 19 – Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) new combined cycle gas power plant in Muhlenberg County has produced over 1,025 MW of electricity in its first three months of operation. The cost of the project is estimated at about $850 million, but TVA senior vice president Bob Deacy underlined the new CCGT will give the operator the option of fuel switching to optimise its coal- and gas-burn which will ultimately save money.
Toshiba opens hydrogen application centre in Tokyo
July 18 – Toshiba has opened a new hydrogen application centre at its Fuchu complex in western Tokyo. Research at the centre focuses the company’s new H2Onesolution for hydrogen supply system business for fuel-cell vehicles, or fuel-cell forklifts within buildings. According to project manager Hiroyuki Ota, “This center showcases totally CO2-free operation, from hydrogen production through to application.”
Opening of Rhode Island plant delayed unit 2020
July 17 – Chicago-based Invenergy has delayed the start-up of its proposed natural gas-fired power plant in Rhode Island until “at least 2020,” citing “delays in permitting. The Chicago-based company had previously agreed to start selling power to the regional grid in 2019.
China’s energy efficiency sector tops $13bn in revenue
June 14 – The International Energy Agency (IEA) is supporting association member states in implementing energy efficiency measures. In China, government policy created a whole new sector for low-energy solutions, retrofits and services. This niche sector got started less than 20 years ago but already employs over 600,000 people and has annual revenues of over $13 billion.
Centrica starts building 50 MW unit
July 13 – UK energy supplier Centrica has announced that construction works are getting underway this week on its new 50 MW back-up power unit at Peterborough power station. The new gas-fired ‘peaking’ plant will be driven by five Wartsila-built reciprocating gas engines. The plant operator will dispatch the fast-ramp unit mostly on weekdays to cater periods of peak power demand or to provide back-up electricity when requested by the National Grid.
Siemens sues Technopromexport
July 12 – Siemens has filed a lawsuit against the Russian state firm Technopromexport on Tuesday after two gas turbines it sold for use in Russia have been diverted to Crimea, a region subject to EU sanctions. Siemens said its Russian customer had acted in bad faith, after Reuters disclosed Technopromexport had moved the turbines to Crimea where ZAO Interautomatika, a firm part-owned by Siemens, had been hired to install them.
GE Power on the road in the Middle East
July 11 – Holding a series of road-shows in Dubai UAE, Muscat, Oman and Islamabad, Pakistan in the coming weeks, GE Power is demonstrate its digital industrial solutions and HA technology. The events will also over GE’s 9E and 13E2 gas turbines, as well as mobile solutions such as the TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine genset.
Pakistan’s PM inaugurates 760-MW unit of Haveli CCGT
July 10 – The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated the first unit of the Haveli Bahadur Shah gas power plant in Jhang province on late Friday. The 670-MW unit is running on regasified LNG. Once all units are fully operational, the combined-cycle gas power station will have a total generating capacity of 1,230 MW.
Siemens partners with China on digitalization
July 7 – Siemens has entered into agreements with the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises to continue joint activities for exploring the potential of digitalization and for supporting measures to upgrade and transform China’s industrial sector. The documents were signed today in Berlin this week in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Gas-burn continues to rise
July 6 - Consumption of natural gas has risen in 9 of the past 10 years, according to EIA figures. As recently as 2006, the United States consumed more coal than natural gas (in energy-equivalent terms), but as gas use has increased—particularly in the electric power sector, where gas-burn in 2016 was about twice that of coal.
Tepco to bid on Oz power plant tender
July 5 – South Australia energy plan, as set out in mid-March, stipulates running a tender to build a gas-fired power plant with adjacent battery energy storage. The federal state government plans to invest $360 million in new generating capacity and it now emerges that policymakers look favourably on the power plant site and project proposal of Tepko.
Orascom carries out EPC for $100m power project in Egypt
June 4 – Orascom Construction has secured a $100 million contract to build a power plant with a projected capacity of 650 MW in Walideya, Egypt. The scope of Orascom’s contract includes the full civil works package for the project. The contractor stated that the project’s proximity to an existing power station in Assuit is expected to “facilitate efficient mobilisation on the site.”
Ingersoll-Rand buys MB Air Systems
July 3 – Ingersoll-Rand announced today it has completed the acquisition of MB Air Systems Ltd. The transaction closed on June 30, 2017.
Mouchel rebrands to WSP
July 3 – Mouchel, an engineering services consultancy, has changed its name to WSP across all offices in the UK following the integration of the two businesses. Since January all employees have been working under a new structure across Britain, headed by UK CEO Mark Naysmith.
Fisterra Energy ready for $600m power project in Guadalajara
June 30 – Fisterra Energy, majority-owned by Blackstone, is forging ahead with its Tierra Mojada combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power project in Guadalajara, Mexico, after having reached financial close. The greenfield project was financed with $600 million of construction facilities and letters of credit by six banks. Construction on the 875-MW greenfield project is due to be finalized by the end of 2019.
Once operational, the gas power plant will powered by a GE H-class turbine, and most of its electricity output will be sold under 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CEF), Mexico’s national utility.
