As Russia's energy market reform enters a critical phase, the International Energy Agency (IEA) points out that – despite a partial privatisation in 2008 – "considerable scope" still exits for the Government to improve the diversity of ownership and wholesale competition through further divestment or virtual power plants. The Russian state still controls 60% of generating capacity.
Carbon capture reduces the efficiency of the combined-cycle gas turbine power plant (CCGT) by 11%-point, a study by Sari Siitonen, Gasum Oy and Leena Pirhonen ÅF-Consult shows. The study analyses how the integration of pre-combustion carbon capture technology in the gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant affects the efficiency, power-to-heat ratio, CO2 emissions and costs of the power plant.
Persistently cold winter weather in the United States has propelled up gas prices which has led to a temporary boost in the use of coal for power generation, according to market sources. A surge in demand for natural gas to fuel heating pushed gas prices to a four year high this week, reaching $5.66/MMBtu,according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Oman Power and Water Procurement Co (OPWP) plans to float a request for qualifications (RfQ) by the third quarter of this year for developers interested in realising a $1.5 billion proposed gas-fired power project.
Natural gas-fired power saw the largest increase in installed capacity in 2013 across all fuel sources in the United States with a total of 7,270 MW added to the grid, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The figures, published as part of FERC’s Energy Infrastructure Update report, show that 51.2% of all power generation capacity that started operation last year was gas-fired.
The municipal utility in Erfurt has put into operation an extension of its Erfurt Ost combined-cycle power plant, driven by a Siemens SGT-700 industrial gas turbine.
Enercity, the Hanover-based municipal utility, has filed a request to the German network regulator Bundesnetzagentur to shut-down its 102MW Herrenhausen gas-fired combined heat and power plant. Operators must notify the regulator, who may reject a request if the plant is deemed 'system relevant' to guarantee security of supply.
Engineering consultants Mott MacDonald has been appointed owner's engineer by a subsidiary of Gama Enerji for a new 840MW combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Kirikkale, Central Anatolia, Turkey.
U.S. president Barack Obama delivered his state of the union address this week vowing to “cut red tape” in order to increase the use of natural gas by industries and power producers. The president also promised to fight polluting coal power plants, citing natural gas as “the bridge fuel that can power our economy.”
Saibu Gas, a Japanese gas provider, is planning to venture in the domestic electricity market and has commissioned a feasibility study to build a 1.6 GW combined-cycle gas-fired power plant adjacent to its Hibiki LNG import terminal. The CCGT is indented to be ready for start-up by 2020.
Independent Power Provider NTE Energy has announced plans to develop a high-efficiency $500 million combined-cycle gas plant (CCGT) in Ohio. The newly named Middletown Energy Center will utilise an M501JAC advanced turbine from Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas (MPSA) to generate approximately 500 MW output.
As Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) and PW Power Systems (PWPS) are growing together, PWPS President Peter C. Christman said the biggest post-acquisition 'difference' lies in that "we can now leverage Pratt & Whitney cutting edge technology with turbine engines on an exclusive basis while enjoying the reach of the global MHI sales and service network."