·        Electric Power May 14-16 - Rosemont

·        Investment in Refurbishing and Maintaining Coal Plants will Increase by 40 Percent over the Next Five Years

·        Asian Market for Stationary and Mobile Catalytic System Revenues to Approach $12 Billion this Year

·        Renewable Energy Briefs

·        Headlines for the April 26 , 2013 - Utility E-Alert

·        “Clean Coal Technologies” will be the Subject of the Hot Topic Hour on May 9, 2013

·        McIlvaine Hot Topic Hour Registration

Electric Power May 14-16 - Rosemont

The theme for ELECTRIC POWER 2013 Conference is “Flexibility & Adaptability: The New Hallmarks for Power Generation.”  Seldom have power generators been more challenged to be flexible and adaptable, and this year’s event will address the theme head-on!

With more than 250 experts leading nine conference tracks, three co-located events, and a variety of pre-conference workshops, there is coverage of both fossil and renewables.  There are a number of exhibitors. Here are a few along with details on the presentations relative to air pollution control:

EP13 Session 7B: Mercury and Air Toxics Standards I (MATS I) – Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) & Multi- Pollutant Emissions Control Systems

Wednesday, May 15 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Room: 1

EP13 Session 7C: Mercury and Air Toxics Standards II (MATS II) – Mercury Control

Wednesday, May 15 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Room: 1

EP13 Session 7D: Mercury and Air Toxics Standards III (MATS III) – Particulate Control

Wednesday, May 15 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Room: 1

EP13 Session 7E: Dry and Semi-Dry FGD Technologies

Thursday, May 16 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Room: 1

Investment in Refurbishing and Maintaining Coal Plants will Increase by 40 Percent over the

Next Five Years

Between 2012-17 the world’s coal-fired generating capacity will increase by more than 33 percent. Because of environmental regulations, the investment in modernization and rehabilitation of these coal-fired power plants will increase more than 40 percent over the five year period. This the latest forecast in the McIlvaine publication Fossil & Nuclear Power Generation: World Analysis & Forecast.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

(Megawatts)

Europe has reversed directions and is now counting on its coal-fired power plants to a much greater extent than had been anticipated a few years ago.  The price of gas and renewables is higher than projected. By contrast, coal generation has remained relatively inexpensive even with the latest pollution controls.  Even France, which is the champion of nuclear power, is planning to use coal generation for the next twenty years. One of the biggest needs at the older coal-fired power plants in France and elsewhere is to upgrade to modern controls. EDF has selected ABB to supply total plant automation systems and long-term service support for three 600 MW units at the Le Havre and Cordemais coal-fired power plants in France. Recently, EDF initiated an extensive program to modernize Le Havre 4 and Cordomais 4 and 5 units to extend their operating life by twenty years to 2035. These three units are the largest coal-fired units in the EDF fleet and were built to an identical design in the early 1980s. Each has a generating capacity of 600 MW.

Despite the boom in shale gas in the U.S., the EIA predicts that the U.S. will burn more coal in 2035 than it is burning today. However, most of this increase will come from modernizing existing power plants. Few new coal-fired power plants are likely to circumvent the anti-coal environmental advocates.  These power plants will need to spend over $30 billion just on new air and water pollution equipment to meet the many new regulations.

In Asia, most of the investment is in new coal-fired power plants. However, the base of existing coal-fired power plants is substantial.  East Asia has more than 50 percent of the existing coal capacity.   In Japan, there will be greater reliance on coal due to the nuclear problems. In China, tough environmental regulations are leading to substantial upgrades of existing coal-fired power plants. Some coal-fired power plants are being removed from service for months while new scrubber sections are being installed.

Many existing units are operating at low efficiency.  The price of coal has continued to increase. The result is there is a very attractive ROI on projects to reduce coal consumption. In some cases, the reduction in CO₂ also has economic benefits.

Fossil and Nuclear Power Generation forecasts and analyzes the markets for gas, coal and nuclear power plants for every country of the world.

For more information on Fossil & Nuclear Power Generation: World Analysis & Forecast

http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72#n043

Asian Market for Stationary and Mobile Catalytic System Revenues to Approach $12 Billion this Year

Asia is now the leading purchaser of catalytic and thermal air treatment systems for mobile and stationary sources.  Purchases this year will be just under $12 billion. This is the latest forecast in Thermal/Catalytic World Air Pollution Markets published by the McIlvaine Company.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

Stationary system sales in Asia will be small compared to the mobile.

Stationary Thermal/Catalytic Revenues ($ Millions) Asia

The larger international companies are able to participate in this Asian market. Some of the smaller companies are merging to give them the size to pursue all the world markets.

CECO Environmental Corp. is acquiring Met-Pro Corporation. The combined companies offer a complete range of stationary air pollution control equipment. Met-Pro is a global, niche-oriented provider of product recovery, pollution control, fluid handling and filtration solutions across multiple diversified end markets.

Much of the petrochemical expansion is in Asia.  Johnson Matthey has developed a new low cost, base-metal Halocat^TM SC29 Catalyst specifically designed to reduce up to 99 percent of VOC and toxic organic compounds from PTA (purified terephthalic acid) manufacturing plants.

Mobile catalytic sales in Asia this year will be in excess of $11 billion. More than 50 percent of the world’s automobile production is in Asia, but the potential for growth is very large. Vehicle penetration in China still stands at only about 40 vehicles per 1,000 people, compared with approximately 700 vehicles per 1,000 people in the mature markets of the G7.

Mobile Catalytic Sales ($ Millions) Asia

The replacement catalytic sales in Asia are relatively small compared to the U.S. and Europe.  The reason is that the numbers of vehicles already on the road compared to new production is lower than on the other two continents.

For more information on Thermal/Catalytic World Air Pollution Markets, click on:

http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=48#n007

Renewable Energy Briefs

New York State Senate Passes Major Solar Energy Bill in Earth Day Vote

In honor of Earth Day, the New York State Senate unanimously passed legislation to extend the NY-Sun Initiative through 2023 and solidify the state's long-term commitment to solar energy. This bipartisan vote for the New York Solar Bill (S.2522) indicates growing support among lawmakers for delivering comprehensive solar policy to Governor Cuomo's desk this legislative session.

Business and environmental groups praised bill sponsor Senator George Maziarz and other Senate supporters for passing the solar bill, which will create thousands of jobs, lower solar costs and increase energy reliability for all New Yorkers.

With enough solar to power 27,000 homes, New York currently ranks 12th in the country for total installed solar capacity. 3,300 New Yorkers are employed in the state's growing solar industry. In 2012, $257 million was invested in New York to install solar on homes and businesses. This represents a 91 percent increase over the previous year and is expected to grow again in 2013.

MidAmerican Solar and SunPower Start Major Construction on World’s Largest Solar Power Development

MidAmerican Solar and SunPower Corp. marked the start of major construction at the Antelope Valley Solar Projects – two projects co-located in Kern and Los Angeles counties in California – with a community celebration. The 579-megawatt development will employ approximately 650 workers during a three-year construction period; generate more than $500 million in regional economic impact, the majority of which will be generated during construction; and serve California's growing electricity demand with clean, renewable solar power.

The Antelope Valley Solar Projects make up the world's largest solar power development under construction. When complete, the projects will provide enough energy to power approximately 400,000 average California homes.

The Antelope Valley Solar Projects are owned by MidAmerican Solar. SunPower designed and developed the projects and is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. SunPower also will provide operations and maintenance services for the plants via a multiyear services agreement.

The Antelope Valley Solar Projects will provide renewable energy to Southern California Edison under two long-term power purchase contracts.

Amonix Achieves World Record for PV Module Efficiency in Test at NREL

Amonix Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems, announced that it has successfully converted more than 36 percent of direct sunlight into electricity. A module showcasing Amonix’s latest-generation CPV technology has been in outdoor testing from late February to April of this year. During this period, the Amonix module demonstrated a peak operating efficiency of 36.2 percent measured on March 14, 2013 with a DNI of 876 W/m², an ambient temperature of 16°C and instantaneous wind speed of 1 m/s, breaking the previous 34.2 percent peak efficiency set by Amonix in May 2012.

Over the entire testing period, the Amonix module earned a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) outdoor efficiency rating of 34.9 percent, a new world record, under international standard operating conditions for concentrator photovoltaics of 900 W/m², 20°C ambient temperature and 2m/s wind speed, breaking the previous 33.5 percent rated efficiency record also set by Amonix in May 2012. The module uses Boeing Spectrolab 40 percent high efficiency solar cells and Amonix’s proprietary CPV technology to achieve world record performance.

Isolux Corsán Enters Peru Hydroelectric Market with a €760 Million Contract

Isolux Corsán has been awarded a contract for the construction of the Molloco hydroelectric power plant located in the southern region of Arequipa (Peru). This is the company's first hydroelectric project in the country.

The estimated total investment, as of the date of commencement of work based on the official studies, and pending completion of definitive studies, will exceed €760 million.

The group will build this plant, which will have a total capacity of 300 MW, as part of a consortium with the Brazilian companies, Enex and Engevix. This facility, located in the provinces of Caylloma and Castilla, consists of two hydroelectric plants and will produce energy from the water resources of the Molloco River basin and in part from the Palca river. 

The project, coordinated by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru, comprises three reservoirs (Machucocha, Molloco and Japo), the derivation of part of the Palca river to the Illigua river and two adduction conduits, the first to the Llatica hydropower plant (with a capacity of 142 MW) and the second to the Soro hydropower plant (capacity of 159 MW). The 220 kV electric transmission system will go to Cerro Verde. The construction of this plant, which will begin in 2015, has an execution period of five years.

The 330 MW Sarulla Geothermal Power Project in Indonesia Plans to Begin Construction within One Year

Ormat Technologies, Inc. announced that Sarulla Operations Ltd. (SOL) has signed a Joint Operating Contract (JOC) and Energy Sales Contract (ESC) for the 330 MW Sarulla geothermal power project in Tapanuli Utara, North Sumatra in Indonesia.

Ormat participation in this project includes two roles. Ormat designed the plant and will supply its Ormat Energy Converters to the power plant. In addition, Ormat, through its subsidiary Ormat International, Inc., holds a 12.75 percent equity stake in SOL, which owns and operates the Sarulla project. As a supplier, the company expects to recognize revenues of $254 million related to the equipment sales over the construction period. Other members of the consortium that owns SOL include Medco Energi Internasional Tbk (Medco); Itochu Corporation (Itochu); and Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc (Kyushu).

Under the JOC, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), the concession holder for the project, has provided SOL with the rights to use the geothermal field and under the ESC PT PLN, the state electric utility will be the off-taker at Sarulla for 30 years.

The Sarulla project is the largest single contract geothermal power project to capitalize on the large scale potential of highly productive Indonesian geothermal resources. The project will be implemented in three phases of 110 MW each, utilizing both steam and brine extracted from the geothermal field to increase the power plant’s efficiency.

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

Headlines for the April 26, 2013 – Utility E-Alert   

UTILITY E-ALERT

#1122 – April 26, 2013

Table of Contents

 COAL – US

• Proposed Effluent Limits for Electric Power Plants
• LA plans to Convert 1,784 MW Intermountain Power Plant to Gas-firing
• Consumers Energy Confirms Plans to Mothball 320 MW B.C. Cobb Coal-fired Power Plant
• WPL Settlement includes FGD at Edgewater 5 and NO_x Control at Columbia 2
• Public Meetings set for Kentucky Power Proposal to Close 800 MW Big Sandy 2
• Environmental Groups oppose Upgrade of Minnesota Power Boswell 4
• TVA sued over Planned Gallatin Retrofits

COAL – WORLD

• Bangladesh and India sign Pacts for 1,320 MW Rampal Power Plant
• Maamba Collieries to Borrow $550 Million for 300 MW Zambia Power Plant
• Odisha (India) to renew MoUs for Seven IPPs
• Malaysia selects Five Consortia for 2,000 MW Project 3B Coal-fired Power Plant
• Work could begin soon on 1,600 MW Uppur Power Plant (Tamil Nadu, India)
• 220 MW Pljevliga II Power Plant in Montenegro in Bid Stage

GAS/OIL - US

• Old Dominion Electric Cooperative seeks to build 1,000 MW Wildcat Point Power Plant
• Gemma Power Systems has EPC Contract for Moxie Liberty 825 MW Project

GAS/OIL – WORLD

• Namibia seeks Bids for Delayed 800 MW Power Plant
• Iran plans to change all Gas-fired Power Plants to Combined Cycle Operation
• Three Bidders for Power Project in Jamaica
• WorleyParsons wins Saudi Electricity Combined Cycle Project Contract

GASIFICATION

• Mississippi Power requests $600 Million for Kemper County IGCC Power Plant

BIOMASS

• Drax wins Loan to switch UK Power Plant to Biomass from Coal

COMBUSTION TECHNOLOGIES/BOILER EFFICIENCY

• German CHP Law Makes High Efficiency Combined Cycle Plants Economically Feasible
• Emerson Upgrades Automation for E.ON’s 800 MW Surgut Power Plant in Russia

NUCLEAR

• Egypt restarting Nuclear Energy Program with Russian Help
• Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant on Schedule for 2015 Opening
• Tohoku Electric cancels Plan to build Namie-Odaka Nuclear Power Plant in Japan
• Fluor to provide Project Development Services for North Anna Unit 3

BUSINESS

• Japanese Firms boost Exports of Coal-fired Power Systems
• EDF and China Datang signed a Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Thermal Energy
• $11 Billion Market for NO_x Control in 2014
• Scrubber Revenues to Exceed $2.6 Billion in East Asia Next Year

HOT TOPIC HOUR

• “Particulate and Condensable Removal” was the Subject of the Hot Topic Hour on April 25, 2013
• “Fossil-fired Power Industry Water Flow and Treatment Issues and Markets” is Hot Topic Hour on May 2, 2013 (Free Registration)
• Upcoming Hot Topic Hours

For more information on the Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System, click on: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72

“Clean Coal Technologies” will be the Subject of the Hot Topic Hour on May 9, 2013

The Utility MATS, Boiler MACT, pending CSAPR and proposed GHG rules, along with the flood of natural gas on the market at low prices, may well delay the construction of new coal- fired power plants for the immediate future and cause coal-fired boiler operators to consider shutting existing plants. But rather than delaying construction of new plants and closing existing plants, owners may consider alternatives for combusting coal cleanly. Technologies exist for burning coal more efficiently and with lower pollutant and GHG emissions. Boiler operators need to embrace clean coal technologies as quickly as possible to ensure that coal will continue to provide a significant share of our growing need for steam and electricity.

Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology is one alternative that offers the means for efficiently burning a wide variety of fuels while maintaining low emissions potentially without the need for add-on pollution control equipment. And, when gas prices rise, CFB can be a good choice for new coal-fired power plants. The technology is flexible enough to cleanly burn all ranks of coal as well as “carbon neutral” fuels such as a wide variety of biomass helping operators to meet the renewables mandates of many states. The inherent high efficiency of CFB combustion and or co-firing with coal will also help reduce CO₂ emissions.

Ultra-Super Critical Combustion, Ultra-Supercritical PC Boiler, Advanced Ultra-Supercritical Compression Boiler and Ultra-Supercritical Circulating Fluid Bed Boiler technology all offer significantly greater efficiency compared to conventional coal-fired power plants. Greater efficiency will reduce fuel consumption for production of a kW hour and thus proportionally reduce the cost of the power as well as all pollutant emissions and waste streams including CO₂.  They also offer operating advantages such as the ability to operate efficiently under low load and to quickly adapt to continuous variable loads.

Oxy-fuel coal combustion provides near zero emissions of coal combustion products with improved efficiency and may offer the fossil-fueled power producing utility industry the solution to a number of significant problems – mandated GHG reduction, regulations requiring near zero emissions of a growing number of pollutants, high capital costs of flue gas cleaning equipment and increasing fuel and operating costs. The oxy-fuel technology is less complex than other clean coal technologies and the process can be retrofit to existing coal-fired power plants or incorporated into new plant designs. Also, if oxy-fuel combustion is combined with circulating fluidized bed technology, it should allow the combustion of a wide range of fuels including co-firing of all forms of biomass, sludge and waste with coal or as the only fuel.

Many people believe that conversion of coal-to-gas or coal-to-hydrogen will be the key technology for future generations of clean coal combustions plants. Gasification offers one of the most versatile and clean ways to utilize our most abundant natural resource, coal-to-fire boilers or gas turbines.

An Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant can operate with emissions well below those from a conventional PC boiler and at increased efficiency which means less CO₂ emitted. IGCC is generally more expensive than other technologies but may be more competitive and the technology of choice if CCS is required.

Pre-Combustion Coal Cleaning and Upgrading/Treatment Technologies that remove pollutants before combustion in most any type of boiler could be a very cost effective way to meet emission limits.

Improving boiler and plant efficiency through combustion optimization and system automation and control are other ways to “clean” the coal combustion process and extend the life of existing plants. However, these subjects will be covered separately in future Hot Topic Hours.

The following speakers will discuss these and other technologies available that will allow coal to provide a low-cost, widely available energy source to meet our nation’s needs for the next 20 years and beyond. The speakers will also discuss their experience with the clean coal technologies and equipment available now and the ongoing research, development and future commercialization of clean coal combustion technology.

Jose Carlos Sanchez, Project Manager in the Environmental Controls Group of EPRI’s Generation Sector will present the “Feasibility of Advanced Coal Cleaning Processes at Power Plants.” Significant advances in combustion-zone and post-combustion environmental controls have occurred over the past three decades, but further technological progress is required to achieve near-zero emissions (NZE) of regulated pollutants at coal-fired power plants. Conventional coal cleaning processes remove sulfur- and/or ash-forming mineral matter, to meet specifications set by power producers. Advanced coal cleaning (ACC) involves thermal, mechanical, and/or chemical processing to allow removal of both a higher percentage and a wider variety of problematic constituents, including organic sulfur, mercury, and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) precursors. EPRI is studying the feasibility of implementing ACC at power plants.

Eric Chung, Senior Manager, Power & Utilities Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, Strategic Decisions Group will present, “Is converting coal to gas the right move?  How to make a complex critical asset decision in the face of uncertainty.” As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulators continue to introduce rules that impose limits on carbon dioxide and other emissions from new and existing power plants, utilities with aging coal-fired power plants appear to be increasingly interested in evaluating the conversion of their coal assets to burn natural gas. The question is how should leading utilities approach this complex decision?

Keith Moore, President of Castle Light Energy Corporation will discuss their Coal Beneficiation and Clean Combustion System™ (CCS) for coal-fired power plants. The United States electric generating energy sector is currently undergoing an onslaught of immutable regulatory requirements that is forcing many utilities to reconsider their coal-fired power plant strategy.  As a result of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) enforcement of the 1991 Clean Air Act, new stringent pollution emission control regulations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxide (NO_x) and mercury (Hg), to name just a few, have had a major impact on some 1,200 coal-fired power plants, resulting in closure or abandonment of many older, smaller power plants.  Further, natural gas now competes with coal as a low-cost fuel source.  The result is an unprecedented opportunity to generate ~ $1.8 billion/yr if the threatened plants can be re-engineered with reduced operating cost and cost-effective SO₂, NO_x mercury and CO₂ emissions control to meet EPA regulations.  Castle Light Energy plans to exploit this opportunity through the deployment of its field-demonstrated, patented, Coal Beneficiation and Clean Combustion System™ (CCS) on coal-fired power plants.

To register for the “Clean Coal Technologies” on May 9, 2013 at 10 a.m. (DST), click on:  http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm

McIlvaine Hot Topic Hour Registration

On Thursday at 10 a.m. Central time, McIlvaine hosts a 90 minute web meeting on important energy and pollution control subjects. Power webinars are free for subscribers to either Power Plant Air Quality Decisions or Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System. The cost is $125.00 for non-subscribers. Market Intelligence webinars are free to McIlvaine market report subscribers and are $400.00 for non-subscribers.

To register for the “Hot Topic Hour’, click on:

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

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You can register for our free McIlvaine Newsletters at: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/Free_Newsletter_Registration_Form.htm.

Bob McIlvaine
President
847 784 0012 ext 112

rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com

www.mcilvainecompany.com

191 Waukegan Road Suite 208 | Northfield | IL 60093

Ph: 847-784-0012 | Fax; 847-784-0061

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