The Kenyan government has approved plans to begin construction for an 800 MW gas-fired plant in August. The proposed Dongo Kundu plant will be located near the capital Mombasa with a groundbreaking ceremony to be held on the 27th next month.
Nigerian power plant developer Proton Energy has edged closer to signing a power purchase agreement licence for its proposed 500 MW Nigerian gas power plant in Sapele, Delta State after endorsement from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The plant is part of the Delta Sunrise Project (DSP) and is expected to cost $200 million once complete in 2015.
The UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey has announced that the government will procure a total of 53.3 GW of power generation capacity in upcoming capacity auctions. While the main parameters for the December auctions had already been outlined the total amount of capacity up for auction had remained uncertain.
Indian state power utilities in the east of the country face serious power shortages this week following a blast at a pipeline operated by gas producer GAIL in Nagaram. The blast occurred on Friday and has already resulted in an estimated loss of over 1,000 MW of power.
U.S. power plant developer Hickory Run Energy has sought approval for water use plans for its proposed 900 MW gas-fired plant in North Beaver Township, Pennsylvania from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The project is expected to cost a total of $750 million with the plant scheduled to be operational by 2016 or 2017.
Korean developer Bumwoo Engineering (BHI) has won a contract to supply six heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) for the 2,100 MW Rabigh II gas-fired plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant is under construction by Samsung C&T and BHI will use technology under license from Swiss engineering conglomerate Foster Wheeler.
U.S. equipment manufacturer GE is to collaborate with the University of Notre Dame in Indiana to create a new $36 million gas turbine research and test centre. The new unit will cover 25,000 square feet and will be built in South Bend’s Ignition Park as part of the university’s Turbomachinery Facility. It is expected to be fully operational in July 2016.
Power plant developer Gigawatt Mozambique has raised $200 million to build a 100 MW gas-fired power plant in Ressano Garcia near the border with South Africa. The company has already finalised a take-off agreement with the state-owned utility Electricidade de Mocambique (EDM) and hopes to attract additional industrial clients on higher tariffs.
Canadian power producer Enmax has applied for an extension to its construction schedule for its 875 MW Shepard Energy Center following natural gas supply issues on site. The Alberta Utilities Commission has previously stipulated a deadline of December 31 2014 but Enmax is now seeking extension until at least June 30 2105.
Fuel cell developer Redox Power Systems has been selected for a $5 million award from the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) to continue its research into fuel cells powered by natural gas. "With future CHP and CCHP units we will deliver over 85% efficiency on site, with no transmission line losses and 100% availability if the grid goes down. We anticipate first demo units within 1-2 years and commercial units after that," Dr. Eric D. Wachsman, co-founder of Redox told Gas to Power Journal.
Official data released by the UK’s Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) shows that the share of gas power in the country’s energy mix fell to just 23% in the first quarter of 2014, the lowest level for the first quarter in the last sixteen years.
An Australian tribunal has overturned an earlier decision by the country’s competition regulator that would have blocked power supplier AGL Energy from buying gas-fired power plants in New South Wales. This latest ruling aims to reinvigorate investment for the gas-fired power sector in Australia which has faced increasing economic challenges as gas producers have focused on exporting resources as LNG to Asia.
U.S. power producer NRG Energy has announced plans to convert its 600 MW coal-fired Shawville Generating Station in Pennsylvania to operate on natural gas. “The company aims to close the current coal units in mid-April 2015 and plans to re-open the new natural gas plant in June of 2016,” David Gaier, spokesperson for NRG Energy Centers told Gas to Power Journal.
The European market for mini gas engines has been one of the fastest growing distributed power markets in recent years driven by helpful policy initiatives both at a national and EU level as well as improving spark spreads despite increasingly volatile electricity prices. An array of new engine technologies and strengthening energy efficiency efforts trends, as well as a gradual recovery from the economic downturn add further support to the market, writes Delta Energy & Environment's Dina Darshini.
News in Brief
CCUS market to reach nearly $3bn in 2025
Oct 25 – The global carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) market will grow from $1.30 billion in 2020 to $1.46 billion in 2021, according to ResearchAndMarket estimates. The rebound comes as companies return to normal operations and sales, after a pandemic-related slowdown. Analysts expect the market will keep growing at a rate of nearly 20% annually to reach $2.97 billion by 2025.
SDG&E accelerates drive towards Net Zero by 2045
Oct 20 – San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has set a new sustainability strategy, outlining new and accelerated goals to help meet its pledge to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045. SDG&E it now seeks to operate a 100% zero emissions vehicle fleet by 2035 – five years earlier than planned.
B&W develops biomass-to-hydrogen plant in Australia
Oct 19 – B&W's Renewable segment and Port Anthony Renewables Ltd have started to develop a biomass-to-hydrogen energy project in Victoria, Australia, based on B&W’s BrightLoop technology. When completed, the plant is expected to be part of the largest green hydrogen hub in south-eastern Australia.
LNG prices rise faster than oil
Oct 18 – Liquefied natural gas and pipeline supplies have experienced an even sharper increase in prices in 2021 than oil, driven by a combination of circumstances that included a strong recovery in demand in North Asia, southeast Asia and Europe, unseasonal weather and planned and unplanned capacity outages.
Wärtsilä shaft gensets to power two LNG carriers
Oct 14 – The Finish technology group Wärtsilä has been awarded a contract to supply four shaft generators to provide electricity take-off from the main engines of two LNG carriers. The ships are being built at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Korea on behalf of the Capital Gas Ship Management of Greece.
VoltH2 gets green light for large hydrogen plant
Oct 13 – Vision Hydrogen Corp has announced that its affiliate VoltHe has received building and environmental permits to realise its first large-scale hydrogen plant at the Dutch North Sea Port of Vlissingen. The 5 MW hydrogen plant is located near existing high voltage power and gas infrastructure as well as large wind power assets. Once operational, it will produce around 3,500 tons of green hydrogen per year and will be scalable to 100 MW or 14,000 tons.
Tesla overtakes German e-cars
Oct 12 – Sales of Tesla in Germany has overtaken that of leading German carmakers. In September, more electric Tesla Model 3s were registered in the country than leading domestic models, such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class combined.
EnerMech spends £500k on crane training tech
Oct 11 – EnerMech has invested £500,000 in new crane simulator training systems at its Luanda (Angola), Doha (Qatar) and Great Yarmouth (UK) facilities. The British company recently formed a joint venture with 3t Energy Group to bring the KraneSIM-6000 equipment to both Qatar and Angola and offer in-country training across client organisations globally.
Germany finances green hydrogen projects abroad
Oct 8 – The German government has agreed to support green hydrogen projects in other countries with up to €350 million by 2024, the economy ministry said when publishing a directive with relevant guidelines. Moreover, financial support is given to projects that produce and process green hydrogen for storage, transport and use in countries outside the EU through investment grants worth up to €15 million each.
UK e-car sales surge 186%
Oct 6 – Sales electric cars in the UK have surged 186% to a total of 108,000 in 2020 during the pandemic, up from just 38,000 in the previous year. Latest statistics show there were nearly 300,000 pure-electric cars on UK roads at the end of August 2021, and more than 600,000 plug-in models if including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
FogHorn deploys AI software at Chugoku Electric Power in Japan
Oct 4 – FogHorn, developer of Edge AI software, has deployed its Internet of Things (IoT) software at the Chugoku Electric Power hydroelectric power plant. The AI solutions will make the power gen process more efficient and enhances workplace safety. Chugoku Electric Power employs nearly 9,200 workers across 114 power units in the western part of Honshū, the largest island of Japan.
Rolls-Royce supplies MTU engines for ferry propulsion
Oct 1 – Rolls-Royce's new MT engines, automation system, and MTU Go! tool for remote service have future-proofed the high-speed catamaran Avemar Dos, run by the Spanish operator Balearia. Four MTU 20V1163 M84 units replaced the previous 1163 units, taking the vessel to a "new level of ecological soundness," the manufacturer says.
GES appoints former Puma Energy Chairman as NED
Sept 30 – Global Energy Storage (GES) has appointed the former Puma Energy Chairman, Graham Sharp, as an NED. Graham will support GES on its ‘new energies’ strategy for the energy transition, focusing on hydrogen fuels and hydrogen carriers space.
Aggreko reaches 2 GW of live power gen capacity
Sept 29 – Aggreko has today announced it has reached 2GW of live global gas power capacity and growth in flare gas to power and stranded gas projects. This new record follows a milestone of exceeding 1GW of delivered flare gas power projects in 2020.
Wärtislä renews O&M agreement with Lafarge Africa
Sept 28 – The Finish technology group Wärtsilä has renewed a long-term Operation & Maintenance (O&M) agreement with Lafarge Africa, a large producer of building materials in Nigeria. The agreement covers the 100 MW Lafarge Ewekoro power plant, which provides a dedicated supply of electricity to the company’s concrete and cement manufacturing processes.
Rolls-Royce supplies MTU engines to Sanlorenzo
Sept 27 – Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems will become one of the leading engine suppliers for Sanlorenzo, delivering MTU 10V, 12V and 16V 2000 yacht engines with a compact IMO 3 solution. A framework contract from 2022 through 2024 has been signed at the Monaco Yacht Show.
Shell exits Permian Basin
Sept 24 – Royal Dutch Shell has sold all its upstream interested in US Permian Basin to ConocoPhillips for $9.5 billion in cash. Shell’s assets in the Permian include around 225,000 net acres with a current production of around 175,000 barrels per day equivalent.
