Hot Topic Hour on February 23, 2012 is NOx Control – Low NOx
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 NOx 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 NOx reduction became an issue for fossil-fueled power plants
many years ago, the industry has made many advancements in the technology for
controlling NOx 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 NOx control technologies:
Richard (Rick)
Himes,
a Senior Project Manager in the Boiler Performance and Post Combustion Programs
at EPRI, will discuss “Holistic Impacts of NOx Control Technologies
on Boiler Equipment and Hg/SO3 Emissions." Potential tradeoffs may
exist when implementing control technologies and approaches for criteria
pollutants (NOx, CO, SOx, 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 10:00 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
COAL
– US
COAL – WORLD
GAS/OIL
– US
GAS
/ OIL – WORLD
CO2
§
South Korea Votes to Cap Greenhouse Emissions of Largest Companies
NUCLEAR
BUSINESS
HOT TOPIC HOUR
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 $550 billion. But they will
gain 496 GW of generating capacity compared to only 14 GW in the U.S.
These are the new conclusions in the McIlvaine Fossil & Nuclear Power
Generation: World Analysis & Forecast.
INSTALLED ELECTRICITY CAPACITY (GW) |
|
|
|||||
|
CHINA |
|
UNITED STATES |
||||
TECHNOLOGY |
2010 |
2020 |
Investment ($ billions) |
|
2010 |
2020 |
Investment ($ billions) |
Coal |
636.60 |
1,030.00 |
480.00 |
|
308.10 |
286.20 |
*30.00 |
Gas |
26.42 |
58.90 |
6.00 |
|
306.50 |
332.50 |
20.00 |
Nuclear |
10.82 |
80.83 |
140.00 |
|
101.20 |
111.20 |
50.00 |
TOTAL |
673.84 |
1,169.73 |
626.00 |
|
715.80 |
729.90 |
100.00 |
* Environmental, life extension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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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