Japanese utilities TEPCO and Chubu Electric, through their JERA joint venture, are planning to invest around $935 million on new power generation projects in the United States by 2030. JERA said it specifically targets to acquire stakes in gas-fired power units, as those are seen to become “increasingly price competitive.”
Bangladesh has become the first new LNG importing nation in 2018 with the arrival of Excelerate Energy’s FSRU Excellence at Moheshkhali Port on April 23, carrying a commissioning cargo from Qatar. “Bangladesh suffers from two crippling energy shortages: electricity and gas. This is the first step of a significant ramp up of LNG.” commented Wood Mackenzie's director of gas and LNG research, Nicholas Browne.
Spain’s TSO Enagas has posted a 1% rise in net profit at €103.9 million in the first quarter of 2018, as natural gas demand increase 5.2% in the first quarter and more than 7% for the year to date. Commenting on the result, Enagas said performance was “in line with the targets set for the year and is mainly due to meticulous control of operating and financial expenses, and the good performance of affiliates.”
Electricity supply for the United Kingdom has been covered entirely without coal for three days in a row – the longest coal-free period on record since the 1880s, according to National Grid data. The coal-free period started on Saturday morning and ended on Tuesday, whereby 33% of the UK’s electricity came from natural gas.
Assessing the “future of electricity,” the International Energy Agency (IEA) has convened a high-level workshop in Paris, bringing together decision makers and leading experts from around the world to provide strategic guidance on this topic – the “fuel” focus for the next World Energy Outlook (WEO). Electricity demand is set to grow at twice the rate of overall energy demand to 2040.
UK-based bolting solution provider Hydratight will provide Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) with a new multi-stud tensioning system, designed in cooperation with Yokohama Engineering Services. The system was launched following six month of close cooperation with MHPS, providing a tailored bolting solution for their 501J series gas turbine.
ITM Power and Northern Gas Networks (NGN) have announced the outcome of a feasibility study, evaluating the potential of deployment and cost-effective operation of 50MW energy storage capacity within the boundaries of the NGN gas distribution network. Low Thornley in Gateshead is being recommended as the most suitable site for a power-to-gas demonstration plant in the size range 50-100MW.
At Hanover Messe, Siemens is presenting its enhanced Digital Enterprise portfolio for Industrie 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution. The offering includes solutions for digital twins, used to create a holistic virtual model of the value chain, as well as the company’s open, cloud-based IoT operating system MindSphere. A virtual model of the real power plant – a so-called "digital twin" – provides the operator with enough flexibility to react quickly to changing market requirements.
The U.S. state of Pennsylvania has seen a record increase in natural gas production due to a rise in permitting and drilling activity, combined with the expansion of regional pipeline capacity. Production averaged 5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, an increase of 3% and a record for the state, with output originating largely from shale gas plays in the Appalachian Basin.
Regardless of soaring costs, LNG imports by India increased 16.8% in March compared with the year-ago period. Supply from Qatar and Nigeria was complemented by the first shipment of US LNG on March 30 – the start of a 20-year supply contract between Cheniere Energy and Gas Authority of India (GAIL).
Black-start technology, supplied by Siemens, is providing 300MW critical backup power for San Francisco via the upgraded Trans Bay Cable (TBC). The project includes a 53-mile HVDC cable that runs under the San Francisco Bay, capable to swiftly restore power supply in the event of a network outage.
Fuel cell systems, typically producing hydrogen from fossil fuels, are used for a variety of applications in the United States such as providing backup energy at small facilities such as hospitals, or data centers. At the end of 2016, there were 56 large-scale fuel cell generating units installed, totaling 137MW of net summer capacity. Collectively, fuel cells provided 810,000MWh of electricity and made up 0.02% of total U.S. generation, according to the EIA’s Form EIA-860, Annual Electric Generator Report.
Australian commodities company BHP Billiton is continuing to exit its onshore assets in the southwest of the United States. “We expect to receive bids by June 2018, " BHP said, addding it aims to "proceed with negotiations to potentially announce one or several transactions in the first half of the 2019 financial year.”
Global installed capacity of aeroderivative gas turbine is forecast to surpass 21 GW by 2024, driven by mounting requirement for uninterrupted heat and electricity supply in remote off-grid areas. In the oil & gas upstream sector, in particular, there are numerous activities that can be supported by deploying small-scale aeroderivative gas turbines.
Golar Power, a venture between Golar LNG and Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, has reached financial close on the 1.5GW Porto de Sergipe LNG-to-power project in northeast Brazil. The project company CELSE will receive $1.340 billion of non-recourse financing that will be used to fund the remaining Capex of the $1.74 billion project. Start-up is scheduled for January 2020.
News in Brief
Micro turbines market to top $250m by 2020
April 26 –The micro turbines market is expected to grow from $159.7 million in 2017 to an estimated $251 million by 2022, at an annual growth rate of 9.46%. Main growth drives, according to MarketsandMarkets are adoption of combined heat and power (CHP) amid rising demand for clean energy worldwide. The 50–250 kW micro turbines, in particular, were highly sought-after in the past few years. Capstone Turbine, Ansaldo, and FlexEnergy are the major providers of these turbines.
ABB expands offering for 615-series ANSI
April 25 – Swiss technology company ABB has launched two new applications to its Relion relay offering - RED615 and REG615, supporting applications with differential and generator protection as well as low-energy analog inputs. With the added offering, customer can reduce manufacturing errors, engineering time and warranty costs while benefitting from streamlined testing and standardized processes.
US coal exports jump 61% as exports to Asia double
April 24 – Coal exports from the United States have increased to 97.0 million short tons (MMst) of coal in 2017, a 61% jump (36.7 MMst) from the 2016 level. Exports to Asia more than doubled year-on-year from 15.7 MMst to 32.8 MMst, although Europe continues to be the largest recipient of US coal.
Thermo Fisher launches new online sulphur analyser
April 23 – U.S.-based Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched SOLA iQ, an online sulphur analyser, that helps engineers in the oil and gas industry to measure total sulphur content of liquid or gas phase samples without requiring time-consuming lab analysis. Measurement ranges of the tool are from 2 parts per million (ppm) to 100%, with and limits of detection as low as 25 parts per billion (ppb).
FERC considers change of pipeline certification
April 20 – Kevin J. McIntyre, the chairman of the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has given a general oversight hearing over plans for natural gas pipeline policy changes. “I decided that the first such review of my Chairmanship would involve taking a fresh look at FERC’s 1999 policy statement on the certification of interstate natural gas pipeline facilities,” he said. Under the Natural Gas Act, FERC has the responsibility to determine whether a proposed natural gas pipeline project is required by public convenience and necessity.
Turbine filter markets grows at 20%
April 19 – Market Insights Reports anticipates the global gas turbine filter market to grow at an annual rate of 15 to 20% through to 2023. The report gauges growth prospects by analysing diverse factors such as total market size, key market drivers, challenges and growth opportunities, technological changes as well as major manufacturers.
Kuwait spends over $140m on two power plant upgrades
April 18 – Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water has signed two contracts, worth US$141 million (KWD47m), to upgrade the fuel reception and control systems of the Doha West and the Sabiya power plants. Works on the Doha West power station will span over 30 months, according to the ministry’s schedule, while project completion for the Sabiya project is set for no later than 29 November, 2018.
Enel launches 1st energy storage project in Canada
April 17 – Enel X, the energy services division of Enel Group through its US subsidiary EnerNOC, has struck an agreement with Algoma Orchards of Ontario, Canada to deploy a 1 MWh lithium-ion battery storage system under a contract spanning 11 years. The storage system will be deployed in the first half of 2018.
Investment in solar PV dwarfs new fossil generation
April 16 – Solar power is forecast to become the leading contributor of renewable energy, accounting for 98 GW, or 38%, of newly installed power generation capacity worldwide. Nearly $161 billion was invested worldwide in solar power technology in 2017, according to the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2018 report, compiled by BNEF under the UN Environment Program.
Simotics SD Pro suitable for up to 690 volts
April 13 – At Hannover Fair, Siemens is presenting its new low-voltage motor Simotics SD Pro suitable for mains-fed and converter operation with voltages up to 690 volts. The motor works reliably at efficiency class IE3 at both 50 and 60 hertz.
ABB controller now IEC 62443 certified
April 12 – ABB’s SD Series HPC800 controller, part of the company’s Symphony Plus portfolio, has received Embedded Device Security Assurance (EDSA) and IEC 62443 certifications. In the assessment, the controller met all requirements in the categories of software development lifecycle, functional security and communications robustness.
Rolls-Royces launches ‘Intelligent Insights’
April 11 – Rolls-Royce has introduced ‘Intelligent Insights’, part of its IntelligentEngine vision, at the MRO Americas conference. The tool brings new agility to decision making and improves the quality of data harnessed for customers.
GE to lead EPC for 1GW Ostroleka C power plant
April 10 – GE Power, together with Alstom Power Systems, has been selected to lead Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for the ultra-supercritical (USC) coal power plant Ostroleka C in Poland. Subject to the financial closure of the project, the plant will start commercial operation within 56 months after the notice to proceed and generate a gross output of 1,000 MW.
EDF’s new Bouchain CCGT reaches 62.22% efficiency
April 9 – Electricite de France (EDF) and GE have celebrated the official start of operation of the first ever combined-cycle power plant equipped with GE's HA gas turbine in Bouchain, France. Integrating high-efficiency power gen equipment with digital technology the CCGT reaches an overall efficiency of 62.22%.
GenOn sells 1.1GW Canal Generating Plant for $390m
March 28 – Due to bankruptcy restructuring, Houston based GenOn Energy (now part of NRG Energy), has agreed to divest the 1,112-MW units 1&2 at the Canal Generating Plant in Sandwich, Massachusetts to Stonepeak Kestrel Holdings for $320 million. Factoring in working capital, excess fuel inventory payments, and an anticipated refund from NRG for an expired option on Canal Unit 3, GenOn expects to receive $390.3 million from the deal.
Floating power market to top $1.4bn by 2022
March 27 – The market for floating power plants (<250MW capacity) is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10.11%, expanding from $889.6 million at present to reach $1,440 million by 2022. Main growth drivers, according to MarketsandMarkets, are cost advantages of floating over land-based power plants, particularly in regions with a lack of power infrastructure.
Cost for solar PV keeps falling
March 26 – System costs for utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) on a per-watt basis have fallen about 10% to 15% per year from 2010 through 2016. In the EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook (AEO2018) analysts anticipate that installed capital costs will come in at 1.85 per watt (AC) for fixed-tilt PV systems, and $2.11 per watt (AC) for single-axis tracking systems in 2018.
