July 2015 - Power Air Quality Insights 218

The best environmental and energy decisions are often not being chosen. The knowledge gap is not because of retirements but due to the avalanche of new information.

“The experienced people are retiring and their replacements lack the critical knowledge for decision making.” This is a widely held belief which places blame on the new recruits. The real problem is that the new recruit is accessing a knowledge base ten times larger than that faced by the previous generation. If he continues to use the decision making tools of the previous generation, the knowledge gap will only grow.

The assertion that we are losing net experience does not hold up under scrutiny. Asia is graduating large numbers of engineers. The many environmental and energy projects around the world are providing direct experience for hundreds of thousands of workers. The ratio of electrical to mechanical, civil and chemical engineers may be increasing; but so is the need for software, automation and smart valves and pumps.

Chinese power plants are now operating more ultra supercritical boilers and more air pollution control systems than the United States, Germany and Japan combined. In just two decades, the Chinese have achieved what took five decades in the big three user countries. So the knowledge gap cannot be blamed on lack of experienced engineers.

How serious is the knowledge gap? The answer is that the glass is half empty rather than half full. We are doing better than the previous generation but we are failing to maximize the available knowledge and move forward much faster and more economically. We should have air pollution control systems which achieve higher efficiency at lower cost. There should be no visible steam plumes which indicate lost heat and water.

Recovery of fertilizers, solvents, building materials and even rare earths from our environmental and energy systems are all possible. Sewage treatment and power plants should be co-located for many synergistic benefits. Better materials selection should greatly increase equipment life. Smart products and automation should lead to whole new ways to operate and maintain plants.

How do we take advantage of the knowledge explosion? Here are the building blocks of recommended change:

McIlvaine is building these blocks one area at a time. Areas can be defined as industries or technologies. The present industry focus is on the power industry with two knowledge systems. One is focused on coal-fired power plants and another on gas turbines. The first technology focus is on filtration and its use in every industry including power plant wastewater treatment and gas turbine air inlet filters but also on food, oil and gas, etc.

· Comprehensive knowledge systems offered at modest cost to suppliers and consultants and at no cost to end users.

· Coordination among organizations, e.g. for gas turbine intake housings. McIlvaine, American Filtration Society, International Filtration News, KCI (Stainless Steel World) and Combined Cycle Journal are coordinating relative to articles, conferences, etc.

Southern California Edison (SCE) has launched its sixth Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) solicitation for renewable electricity as part of its program to procure resources sized between 3 and 20 megawatts.

“Not only are we making progress toward the California Renewables Portfolio Standard goal of delivering 33 percent renewable power by 2020, but with this solicitation we also intend to provide customers who cannot otherwise install solar on their roof an option to source their energy demands directly from solar resources”

In this solicitation, SCE is seeking a total of 104.8 megawatts, with 54.8 megawatts meeting the utility’s RAM procurement targets. It also is seeking 50 megawatts of solar resources to support the launch of SCE’s Green Rate program, which is part of the Green Tariff Shared Renewables program created for SCE, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric. The deadline for submitting offers is Aug. 21.

The California Public Utilities Commission adopted the Renewables Auction Mechanism program for resources sized between 3 and 20 megawatts in 2011 as the primary procurement tool for system-wide renewable distributed generation to promote competition in the marketplace, encourage development and contribute to the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard.

In addition to meeting these targets, 50 megawatts from this solicitation will support SCE’s Green Rate program. Eligibility criteria are different, in some respects, for participation in this program. Offers must be for new solar-generating facilities in SCE’s service area that range from 0.5 to 20 megawatts in size.

The green tariff program allows customers, who may not be able to have solar on their roof, to meet 50 percent or 100 percent of their electricity demand from solar. The customer pays the difference in the cost to purchase this power. SCE will offer the program to its customers in 2016.

All power purchase agreements will be reviewed and become effective after approval by the utilities commission. Last year, SCE delivered 24 percent of its energy from renewable resources.

SkyPower Signs US $2.2 Billion Agreement to Develop and Build 1 GW of Solar Energy Projects in Kenya

SkyPower signed a landmark agreement with the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum for the development of 1 GW of world-class solar projects to be built in four phases in Kenya over the next five years.

The $2.2 billion agreement was signed in Nairobi, Kenya at the sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). Initiated by the U.S. government in 2010, the conference gathers entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, business leaders, mentors and high-level government officials to help increase support for innovators and job creators around the world.

GES 2015 hosted an unprecedented convention of high-level leaders from around the globe, including U.S. President Barack Obama and H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya. SkyPower proudly sponsored the summit as an official Solar Energy Partner.

"SkyPower's US $2.2 billion investment will create more than 25,000 total job years in Kenya and includes 200 MW of fabrication and assembly facilities, as well as a commitment of US $173 million toward education, training, and research and development," said SkyPower Executive Vice President Charles Cohen.

“We commend Deepwater Wind for their diligent efforts that have led to this milestone achievement.”

Deepwater Wind’s offshore foundation installation contractor set the first, 400-ton steel jacket on the sea floor on Sunday, July 26 at the wind farm site, roughly three miles off the Block Island coast. A joint venture between Weeks Marine and Manson Construction is serving as Deepwater Wind’s offshore foundation installation contractor.

This first of five foundation installations kicks off a busy construction period for the 30-megawatt Block Island Wind Farm. During the roughly eight-week construction period this summer, more than a dozen construction and transport barges, tugboats, crew ships and monitoring vessels will be active at the offshore construction site. Vessel and crane operators, engineers, welders, scientists, protected species observers and dozens of others are all involved with this momentous operation.

The five steel jacket foundations were fabricated at Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., which began fabrication work in late 2014 at its facilities in Houma, Louisiana. Rhode Island-based Specialty Diving Services provided fabrication work on components of the foundation substructures at its Quonset Point facility.

Submarine cable installation is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2016 and erection of the five Alstom Haliade 6 MW offshore wind turbines is scheduled for the summer of 2016. The project is scheduled to be in-service and generating power in the fourth quarter of 2016.

MGT Power and Macquarie sign Agreement on Teesside 299 MW Renewable Energy Plant

Macquarie Capital and Macquarie’s Commodities and Financial Markets group (together, ‘Macquarie’) have recently signed an agreement to support MGT Power Limited (‘MGT’) in the financing of the 299MWe Teesside Renewable Energy Plant, which has received a UK Government-supported Contract for Difference (‘CfD’).

The Project will be fueled by wood pellets and chips from certified sustainable forestry sources in the United States and Europe, with regular audits to ensure compliance with strict sustainability criteria mandated by the Project’s CfD. When constructed, the Project will have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than fossil fuel alternatives.

The £650 million investment required for the Project will be a major boost for the economy of North-East England, and is estimated to create at least 600 jobs during construction and sustain about 100 full time jobs once operational.

All major permits for the Project’s construction and operation have been secured and Macquarie Capital has commenced a debt raising process; financial close is targeted for Q4 2015.

Duke Energy, Samsung SDI and Younicos will team up to update Duke Energy's 36-megawatt (MW) energy storage and power management system at the company's Notrees Windpower Project in west Texas.

The system, one of the nation's largest, has been operating since 2012 with lead acid batteries. Over the course of 2016, these batteries will be gradually replaced with lithium-ion technology.

Duke Energy works closely with ERCOT, which signals to the battery storage system to either dispatch stored energy to increase frequency or absorb energy to decrease frequency, helping to smooth and balance peaks and valleys on the ERCOT grid. By rapidly storing or releasing energy, the system can respond quickly to regulate frequency and provide additional services for grid management.

Samsung SDI, as primary engineering, procurement and construction manager, will provide its high-performing lithium-ion batteries and associated Battery Management System (BMS).

Younicos is also providing system design, engineering, software integration and testing, along with post-implementation engineering services.

· SCE&G uses World’s Largest Crane to Lift and Set 2.4-Million Pound Module

· Entergy New Orleans to absorb Larger Share of Cost to buy an Arkansas Power Plant

· Florida PSC approves Duke buy of Calpine's Osprey Gas-fired Power Plant

· Symbion Power (US) partners with His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimamplanina (Madagascar) for Seven New Power Plants

· Hot Gas Filtration Questions Replace Regulations as the Most Important Air Pollution Control Subjects

“Gas Turbine Emission Control and Exhaust Systems” is the Hot Topic Hour on August 6, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. CDT

We will continue to expand this summary and to link to new articles and case histories on a custom website. We are seeking contributions from the industry. Please contact us and we can coordinate your contribution (rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com).

As you can see from the Route Map and Summary, we are linking to our previous Hot Topic Hour presentations and some supplemental material. We have addressed some issues where there is new information. We have not addressed many key segments such as silencers, diverters, options for D.O. catalysts and duct burners.

Over the next few weeks we will be adding background data on all these subjects (see Table of Contents in the Route Map and Summary). During the Webinar, we will be hearing from many people who will summarize with one or two slides the more detailed information which is found in the database.

There are many issues and options which vary by industry and geography. All are included in a comprehensive database which is part of Gas Turbine & Combined Cycle Decisions. For the next few weeks this database will be accessible to non-subscribers at

Subsequent to the Webinar, this website will no longer be freely accessible. It will be part of the Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Decisions. This includes a password protected website. Power plants can register for free. However, there is a charge for others.

Wayne S. Jones, Sales Manager, Power Generation, Air Pollution Control Catalyst & Technology, Haldor Topsoe, Inc.

*Gale F. Hoffnagle, CCM, QEP, Senior Vice-President and Technical Director, Air Quality Consulting Practice Manager, TRC Environmental Corporation

On Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Central time, McIlvaine hosts a 90 minute web meeting on important energy and pollution control subjects. These Webinars are free of charge to owner/operators of the plants. They are also free to McIlvaine Subscribers of Power Plant Air Quality Decisions and Utility Tracking System. The cost for others is $300.00 per webinar.

See below for information on upcoming Hot Topic Hours. We welcome your input relative to suggested additions.

DATE	SUBJECT	DESCRIPTION
August 6, 2015	Gas Turbine Emission Control	More Information
August 20, 2015	Total Solution Options	More Information