·        “Hot Topic Hour” on February 23, 2012 is “NO_x Control – Low NO_x Technology Update”

·        Headlines for the February 10, 2012 Utility E-Alert

·        China to Outspend U.S. 6 to 1 on New Fossil/Nuclear Generation But Will Add 45 Times as Much Generating Capacity by 2020

·        Hydro Power Projects Advance Around the World

“Hot Topic Hour” on February 23, 2012 is “NO_x Control – Low NO_x Technology Update”

The Utility MACT due to be promulgated soon, the Cross State Air Pollution (transport) Rule (CSAPR) and especially the NAAQS for particulates will all act to drive emission limits for NO_x even lower. Operators of boilers will now have to look hard at their control systems to see if they will meet lower limits and, if not, what they can do to achieve the reductions that will be required. For some, it may mean simply fine tuning their existing control systems. For others, additional control equipment may be needed.

Since NO_x reduction became an issue for fossil-fueled power plants many years ago, the industry has made many advancements in the technology for controlling NO_x to improve performance, both in reductions achieved and reducing operating costs. The technologies include boiler and burner modifications, new designs for boilers and burners, optimization controls and software, combustion additives and add on SCR and SNCR systems.  Can these current methods or a combination of them meet the expected tighter emission limits and what will be the overall effect on other pollutants and plant efficiency?

The following speakers will help us understand the current “state of the art” of the various NO_x control technologies:

• describe the capabilities and limitations of current control systems and technology,
• discuss their applicability to various plant configurations including fuel type (coal, oil and bio-fuels) and other APC equipment installed or potentially required for compliance,
• NO_x reduction capabilities,
• affect on other pollutants,
• latest advancements in control technology being developed or tested, 
• what still needs to be done to allow the utility industry to comply with the coming MACT and the other regulations,
• key issues to be considered when selecting a specific control strategy.

Richard (Rick) Himes, a Senior Project Manager in the Boiler Performance and Post Combustion Programs at EPRI, will discuss “Holistic Impacts of NO_x Control Technologies on Boiler Equipment and Hg/SO₃ Emissions." Potential tradeoffs may exist when implementing control technologies and approaches for criteria pollutants (NO_x, CO, SO_x, and particulates), trace toxics (mercury) and overall boiler performance. The presentation will review tradeoffs and approach to developing a methodology for identifying optimum boiler operating strategies consistent with regulatory compliance (e.g., MATS, CSAPR) at lowest operating costs.

David Capozella, Director, Catalyst Technologies at Fuel Tech, Inc, will describe the mitigation of SCR fuel restrictions using Fuel Tech, Inc. “TIFI” technology.  He will discuss the impact of catalyst technology on fuel flexibility, provide an overview of Targeted In-Furnace injection (TIFI^®) of magnesium hydroxide and describe the demonstrated benefits of TIFI® on boiler and SCR operation.

Sterling M. Gray, Manager, SBS Injection Technology at URS Corporation

Mark Ehrnschwender, Director/Plant Services at Evonik Energy Services LLC

Randy Sadler, Director of Marketing & Sales at CoaLogix/SCR-Tech

To register for the Hot Topic Hour on February 23, 2012 at 10 a.m. (CST), click on:

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm.

Here are the Headlines for the February 10, 2012 – Utility E-Alert

UTILITY E-ALERT

#1061 – February 10, 2012

Table of Contents

EUEC

• EUEC Insights from Sodimate, Mississippi Lime and Babcock & Wilcox

 COAL – US

• FirstEnergy Will Retire Three Coal-fired Power Plants in West Virginia
• Proposed Sale of Salem Harbor Involves Switch to Natural Gas
• Xcel Energy Awards Contract to Babcock & Wilcox for 544 MW Coal-fired Power Plant
• Flint Creek Coal-fired Power Plant could be Upgraded with Environmental Controls

 COAL – WORLD

• Lots of FGD Startups for Doosan AE&E
• India Developing Materials for Ultrasupercriticals
• India Moving Forward with Coal-fired Power Plants
• BHEL Wins Contract for 1,200 MW Thermal Power Plant
• BHEL Wins Mega Contract from DB Power
• Big Coal-fired Power Plant Project Initiated in Turkey Using Korean EPC
• Doosan Signs Contract to Supply Turbines for Mong Duong 1, Vietnam
• 500 MW Sampur Coal-fired Power Project is Proceeding

 GAS/OIL – US

• LS Power Breaks Ground on NJ Combined Cycle Power Plant
• Toshiba Awarded Turbine Contract for 195 MW Texas Plant
• Power Plant to be Equipped with Caterpillar Natural Gas Engines

 GAS / OIL – WORLD

• Toshiba Secures Equipment Supply Contract for Mexican Power Plant
• Samalkot Project Ready for Power Generation
• Siemens Receives $1 Billion Order for Saudi Arabian Combined Cycle Power Plant 
• ABB Receives Saudi Power Contract
• Update on Ratnagiri Power Plant – Will be Ready by July 15, 2012

CO₂   

§  South Korea Votes to Cap Greenhouse Emissions of Largest Companies

 NUCLEAR

• Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Enters Nuclear Power Plant Industry
• NRC Approves First New Nuclear Generation

 BUSINESS

• GE Launches a New Gas Turbine Filtration Product, GE TS1000 Coalescer in Qatar
• Iraq to Award $3 Billion in Power Plant Projects This Month
• Rockland Subsidiary to Acquire 225 MW Gas-fired Power Plant from Sunoco
• CPP Expands Piping Business in India

 HOT TOPIC HOUR

• “Implementation of the MACT Rule” - Hot Topic Hour on February 9, 2012
• Hot Topic Hour on February 16, 2012 is “Power Plant Cooling Towers and Cooling Water Issues”
• Upcoming Hot Topic Hours

For more information on the Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/energy.html#42ei.

China to Outspend U.S. 6 to 1 on New Fossil/Nuclear Generation But Will Add 45 Times as Much Generating Capacity by 2020

China is pushing the U.S. off the world’s center stage. This transition is clear when one analyzes the power generation plans. In the 2010-2020 timeframe, China will outspend the U.S. on new generators by $550 billion.  But they will gain 496 GW of generating capacity compared to only 14 GW in the U.S.  These are the new conclusions in the McIlvaine Fossil & Nuclear Power Generation: World Analysis & Forecast.

Industrial production and energy consumption are directly proportional. California will continue to limit construction of new generators within the state, but will buy enough goods from China to fund generation increases in that country.

China will build more coal generation facilities in the decade than existed in the U.S. at its peak. The U.S. will invest $30 billion in environmental controls and life extension of its existing coal-fired power plants, but will be handicapped by the inefficiency of these plants. They will burn 20 percent to 30 percent more coal per kWh than will the ultrasupercritical plants operating in China and Europe. The price of coal is slated to rise substantially in the coming decade.  Since coal is the largest component of generation cost, this inefficiency will be increasingly costly.

The U.S. has shale gas which will replace most natural gas as fuel for gas turbines in the coming years. Nevertheless, there will be only modest investment in new combined cycle gas turbine plants through 2020.  The long term EIA outlook is for gas to grow from 24 percent of the fuel used for power generation in 2010 in the U.S. to 27 percent in 2020.  In the meantime, coal will fall from 45 percent to 39 percent.

China will spend $140 billion on nuclear construction in the decade while the U.S. will spend $50 billion. The estimated cost of new nuclear plants in China is less than half that of plants in the U.S.

It is clear that more than 100,000 MW of old U.S. coal-fired power plants will continue to operate for the next 30 years or more.  It is also clear that the U.S. would be much better off if this capacity were the latest ultrasupercriticals rather than the old designs. Even with a 25 year life the new power plant investment would be more than justified. Since there are ways to re-power existing sites with the new ultrasupercritcals and since these units would generate environmental benefits otherwise unattainable, there is every reason for these replacements to take place.

For more information on Fossil & Nuclear Power Generation: World Analysis & Forecast, click on:  http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/energy.html#n043.

Hydro Power Projects Advance Around the World

Although they don’t gather the same attention as wind and solar projects many hydro power projects are being developed around the world. These projects are covered in the monthly update and project data base included in McIlvaine’s Renewable Energy Projects and Update.

Congress Invests $59 Million in Hydropower Research and Development

The following is a statement from Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director of the National Hydropower Association, on the passage of the fiscal year 2012 budget.

“NHA commends Senate and House appropriations leadership on putting together a package that invests in hydropower technologies, both conventional and new marine and hydrokinetic.  The bill passed today provides $59 million to the Department of Energy’s Water Power Program, representing a 51 percent increase over the Administration’s request.

Research and development of more efficient and environmentally-friendly turbines allows the hydropower industry to maximize its contribution to the country’s renewable energy portfolio.  R&D funding also allows DOE to continue its important role in gathering baseline industry data, developing updated resource assessments and new growth analyses, studying project operations for maximization of both energy and environmental values, as well as studying new issues that affect the industry.

From conventional hydro and conduit projects to pumped storage to ocean and tidal technologies, growth throughout the hydropower sector will play a critical role in meeting our country’s clean energy and economic goals.  The tremendous support shown by Congress today sets a strong foundation to realize the benefits of affordable, reliable, sustainable hydropower generation.”

Hydropower Investment Could Create a Million Canadian Jobs

The Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) reported that a study it commissioned indicates hydropower investment could produce over 1,000,000 Canadian jobs over the next 20 years from construction activities alone.  These are known as FTEs, or “full-time equivalents,” where each represents one person employed for one year.  The employment opportunities would occur in every region of the country.  The business school, HEC Montreal, conducted the study, entitled Job Creation and Economic Development Opportunities in the Canadian Hydropower Market.

Electricity generation projects already under consideration for 2011-2030 would create 776,000 FTEs for construction firms and their suppliers, which is the equivalent of 38,800 positions lasting 20 years.  A further 224,000 induced FTEs are forecast to be created by increased spending by those directly or indirectly employed by the projects.  “These results highlight what appears to be one of the best kept secrets of the Canadian energy sector,” said CHA President and CEO Jacob Irving, “the multiple benefits of Canada’s extraordinary hydropower potential.”

First New Hydro-Power Unit Put into Operation at Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP

JSC RusHydro announced that the new hydro-power unit #1 has been put into industrial operation at the Company’s Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP.

The hydro-power unit #1 is the fifth hydro-unit put into operation at the plant, but unlike the first four, which have been restored and put into operations in 2010; this hydro-unit is brand new.  The launch of hydro-unit #1 signifies a first step of the second phase in restoration of the Sayano-Shusheskaya HPP, in the course of which nine more new units will be installed in the HPP’s generator hall (including four to replace the units launched in 2010).

Until 2014 three units will be launched at Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP annually.  In the result by 2014 the plant will be fully equipped with the newest equipment with enhanced operational characteristics, meeting all reliability and safety requirements.  The new hydro-power units’ lifespan will be extended up to 40 years, with a maximum turbine efficiency of 96.6 percent.  Its power and cavitation characteristics will also be enhanced.  The turbines will be equipped with an advanced process safeguard system, which automatically shuts down a unit in case of unacceptable deviations of monitored parameters

A contract to manufacture basic power equipment to restore the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP was concluded between RusHydro and Power Machines in November 2009.  In accordance with the contract, Power Machines is to produce ten hydro-turbines, nine hydro-generators with a capacity of 640 MW per generator and six excitation systems (one new generator and four excitation systems have already been manufactured and installed in hydro-power units put into operation after repair in 2010).

IDB to Finance Construction of Chaglla Hydropower Plant in Peru

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $150 million non-sovereign guaranteed loan to help finance the construction of a 406-megawatt hydroelectric plant in Peru, a project that will help the country meet growing demand for energy while helping to diversify its energy matrix and reduce its carbon footprint.

 The Hidroeléctrica de Chaglla project will be the country’s second largest hydropower power facility, representing about 13 percent of the country’s installed hydropower capacity once construction is completed by 2016.  The plant is expected to prevent greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 467,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.

 The IDB loan will be granted to Empresa de Generación Huallaga Sam a subsidiary of Odebrecht Energia SA, both of which are part of Brazil’s Odebrecht Group.  Drawing from its successful experience in Brazil, Odebrecht will implement an innovative professional training program, known as “Creer Peru”, for local communities in areas related to civil construction.

 The training program aims to give employment priority to local communities that lack qualified labor.  It is designed to offer qualification programs for the Peruvian workforce in technical areas related to civil construction including carpenters, electricians, masons, welders, etc.  Once certified, many of the participants are hired for Odebrecht construction projects.  The skills they acquire are universal and can be helpful in seeking employment opportunities long after the construction phase of any particular project is complete.

The total cost of the project is $1.2 billion.  The IDB loan (A loan) is expected to be coupled with a syndicated B Loan from international commercial banks for a total IDB A/B loan of approximately $400 million.  Additionally, it is expected that Bankco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) will be participating in the long-term debt package with a parallel loan of $323 million.

EBRD Supports Renewable Energy Generation in Croatia

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is helping Croatia to develop its sources of renewable energy with a syndicated loan of up to €123.2 million to Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP), Croatia’s state-owned electricity utility, to finance the construction of the Ombla hydropower plant.

The construction of the new power generation facility that will have a generation capacity of 68 MW will help Croatia to improve its energy security and also diversify its energy supplies.  The construction of the hydropower plant will also increase the supply of potable water to the city of Dubrovnik.

Structured under the EBRD’s A/B loan scheme, the financing facility to Hrvatska Elektroprivreda includes an €80 million portion for the bank’s account, with the remaining €43.2 million to be syndicated to commercial banks.

Andritz Receives Major Order for a Hydropower Plant in Egypt

Andritz Hydro was awarded a contract from the Egyptian Ministries of Energy and Water Resources for the supply and installation of four bulb turbines, generators and the electrical and hydromechanical equipment for the rebuild of the Assiut barrage, the oldest dam in the Egyptian section of the River Nile.  The order value amounts to approximately 107 Meur, the contract is scheduled to be put into force during the first quarter of 2012.

The Assiut rebuild will not only considerably improve the conditions for irrigation and shipping, but also create a means of generating electricity from renewable hydropower.  As of 2017, the four Andritz Hydro bulb units with a total output of 32 MW will provide approximately 75,000 households with environmentally-friendly electricity.

For decades, Andritz Hydro has been using very efficient bulb units with particularly high flow rates, especially for very low heads.  For the Assiut project, Kaplan runners with only three blades will be supplied, perfectly suiting the low design head and its variation margin from 3 to 6.5 m.  Despite their relatively low output, the turbines and generators, which are mainly produced in Andritz Hydro workshops in Germany and Austria, have rather impressive dimensions, for example the turbine runners will have a diameter of 5.6 m.

 For more information on Renewable Energy Projects and Update please visit

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/Renewable_Energy_Projects_Brochure/renewable_energy_projects_brochure.htm

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Bob McIlvaine
President
847 784 0012 ext 112

rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com

www.mcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com

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