UTILITY E-ALERT
#859 – February 1, 2008
Table of Contents
COAL – U.S.
COAL – WORLD
GAS/OIL – U.S.
GAS/OIL – WORLD
GASIFICATION
NUCLEAR
BUSINESS
HOT TOPIC HOUR
ACCESSING ALL THE PROJECTS AND INFORMATION ONLINE
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Three hundred and fifty papers were delivered at the EUEC Conference in Tucson this week. There were also lots of good exhibits which are covered with audio interviews and pictures.With over 1400 attendees and with even more expected next year, the conference will move to the Phoenix Convention Center.
Here are some of the insights from the presentations.
(Diane Fisher, Black & Veatch)
(Robynn Adracsek, Burns & McDonnell)
(Greg Odegard, Dayton Power & Light, co-author – Kevin Crawford)
(Robbert van Durme, Lechler Inc.)
(Vitali Lissianski, GE Energy, co-author – Pete Maly)
(Thomas Siedhoff, Reagent Technology Services)
(Jeff Arroyo, Sega, Inc., co-author – Ryan Zupon)
(Christa Russell, Schreiber, Yonley & Associates, co-author – Robert J. Schreiber, Jr.)
(Tom Campbell, ADA-ES, Inc.)
(Jennifer Stokke, Mazyck Technology Solutions, LLC,
co-authors – Anna I. Casasús and David W. Mazyck)
(Anna Casasús, Sol-gel Solutions, LLC, co-author – David W. Mazyck)
(Yan Cao, ICSET of WKU & Corning, Inc.)
35 Audio Interviews with Exhibitors, Speakers and other Experts
Pleated bags and more efficient pulsing systems were two technologies described by Darlene Lowman, Tom Anderson and Keith Ogilvie. Midwesco provides service and engineering, not just bags and parts.
At the Mississippi Lime stand Eric Van Rens cited the advantages of hydrated lime for both SO2 and SO3 removal. With multiple facilities and rail transport, hydrated lime can be supplied throughout the U.S.
Tom Siedhoff, Reagent Technology Services, points out that dry grinding consumes less energy. Regional grinding is an economical opportunity for wet limestone FGD operators.
Sunil Dave of Burns & ROE updated us on the latest pricing of FGD and SCR systems. Wet FGD costs in excess of $300/kW and SCR costs in excess of $150/kW are what utilities are paying for installed systems.
Jean Bustard of ADA-ES says that there are lots of variables which result in ACI costs ranging from less than 0.5 mills/kWh to 3 mills/kWh.
Rich Miller of ADA-ES says that a hedge against a surge in carbon prices is TOXECON.
Barron is far more than a fan rebuilder. According to Marve Breeding and Allen Ray, they provide new fans, dampers and make their own expansion joints.
Jim Dickerman of Chemical Lime discussed SO3 removal with lime and the advantages of wet lime FGD systems in minimizing capital cost.
Discussions with Bruce Mallet, David Evans, Michael Long, and Rocky Moser of Shaw
covered the very successful program to supply Mercury CEMS systems and services and also the support for greenhouse gas emission quantification and minimization.
We will cover more of the interviews in the next Alert and will be posting the interviews and pictures in the next two weeks.
COAL – U.S.
Dave Johnston, Mercer, Sutton, Sevier will use Dry Scrubbing
PacifiCorp 230 and 360 MW Dave Johnston 3 and 4 will have B&W spray driers and baghouses. Kiewit and TIC will provide the engineering and construction. Other projects where dry scrubbing is slated are TVA John Sevier, Progress Energy Sutton and PSEG Mercer. First Light Mount Tom will use a Babcock Power Turbosorp FGD with hydrated lime. AES Greenidge has had some hydration problems. So buying lime already hydrated is attractive.
Kiewit and TIC Supply Stacks on their Projects
While they are not bidding stacks for other projects, Kiewit and TIC are designing and supplying stacks for their turnkey projects. Examples are City Water & Light (Springfield, IL) Lakeside and San Antonio City Public Services Spruce 2.
Duke Receives Air Permit for Edwardsport IGCC Power Plant
Duke Energy Corp. has received an air permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for its planned $2 billion coal gasification plant in the southwestern Indiana town of Edwardsport. "The decision on the air permit is the last approval we needed to start construction," Jim Stanley, president of Duke Energy's Indiana operations, said in a news release. Duke said it anticipates that construction will be complete by 2012.
DOE Pulls Support for FutureGen
The U.S. Department of Energy has pulled its support of the 275 MW FutureGen power plant in Mattoon, Illinois. “This restructuring…is an all-around better deal for Americans,” said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman in making the announcement to scuttle the FutureGen program. Bodman said the Energy Department would solicit industry applications for participation in the new carbon capture projects. The idea is for the government to pay for building the carbon capture and storage facilities and industry to build the modern coal-burning power plant. Each project would be designed to capture one million metric tons of CO2.
The FutureGen Alliance issued a statement saying it “remains committed to keeping FutureGen on track” but it was unclear how that would be possible without the federal funding. Michael Mudd, the alliance’s chief executive officer, called the project “America’s best hope for near-zero emission coal technology” as quickly as possible. “It will take four to five years for DOE to evaluate new proposals, place contracts, and conduct environmental reviews for new projects,” said Mudd in a statement on the Alliance’s Website.
“There was a consensus view that the price of this project will only increase,” said Deputy Energy Secretary Clay Sell of the FutureGen program. Sell said he and Bodman learned only last March that FutureGen’s cost had escalated from an original $950 million to $1.8 billion. “I knew (then) that we were in to something that would not end well,” Sell told reporters in a conference call Wednesday.
Virginia Air Pollution Control Board Seeks More Information on Wise County
Virginia officials are exploring whether Dominion Virginia Power could use different technology or another type of coal at a plant proposed in southwest Virginia that would lower air pollution. The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board voted to seek more information from the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the utility and the public about other options for the 585 MW CFB power plant proposed for Wise County. A DEQ spokesman says the board was not satisfied with Dominion's assertion that its plan to burn waste coal and wood products was the best option.
850 MW Washington County would use SCR, Wet FGD, Baghouse, Sorbent Injection
We reported in the January 18 Alert (#857) that a group of 10 electric power cooperatives filed a construction permit with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to build an 850 MW coal-fired power plant near Sanderville, Georgia. We have now learned that the proposed Washington County Power Station would burn Illinois Basin and PRB coal. The plant is expected to install SCR, wet scrubber, sorbent injection, and fabric filters and has an anticipated start-up date of 2013.
Allen-Sherman-Hoff has Contract with Basin Electric Dry Fork for MAC™ System Bottom-Ash Technology
Basin Electric Power Cooperative has chosen Allen-Sherman-Hoff (A-S-H), a Diamond Power International, Inc. company, to supply a completely dry, bottom-ash handling system for 385 MW Dry Fork. The MAC™ System (Magaldi Ash Cooler) is a unique bottom-ash extraction technology that, unlike conventional methods, requires no water to cool or convey the ash. This makes the system an ideal choice for plants like Dry Fork, located in water constrained areas.
“We are pleased to be working with Basin Electric, Sargent & Lundy and Babcock & Wilcox for this important project,” said Stephen Scott, General Manager of A-S-H Engineered Systems. “With 88 systems installed worldwide and an additional seven on order, the MAC System has become the technology of choice for a significant portion of the latest generation of new coal-based power stations and an increasing number of retrofits. Users report water savings, improved reliability, reduced operational and maintenance cost as well as the ability to recycle the dry, low-carbon ash byproduct into higher value products such as Portland cement substitute.”
Clean Air Group to Sue Xcel for Opacity Violations at Cherokee
A clean-air advocacy group alleges that Xcel Energy’s Cherokee coal-fired power plant in north Denver, Colorado has violated pollution standards thousands of times over the past five years. Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action on Monday notified Xcel that it plans to sue the company for 13,642 alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act, which the group said it gleaned from the utility’s filings with the state. Xcel spokeswoman Ethnie Groves said the group’s accusations are without merit. “Xcel has acted in full compliance with the law,” Groves said. “We are taking measures to decrease emissions across the board.” The clean-air group alleges Cherokee’s opacity level exceeded allowable limits more than 500 times over the past five years. The group also claims the plant’s opacity monitors exceeded downtime limits on thousands of occasions.
TIC to Upgrade Emissions Controls at Gallagher 1-4
TIC is the general contractor to upgrade Cinergy’s air pollution control equipment on the Gallagher 1-4 power plant as part of a system-wide air quality control program.
North Carolina Lawsuit against TVA Can Continue
North Carolina can proceed with a lawsuit that accuses the Tennessee Valley Authority of causing a "public nuisance" with pollution from its coal-fired plants, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, VA., said the lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Roy Cooper in January 2006 can continue.
Sierra Club Appeal of Taylorville Air Permit Denied
EPA denied the Sierra Club’s appeal of the air permit granted to the Taylorville Energy Center. The project is now poised to move forward once enabling legislation is passed by the Illinois General Assembly. On June 5, 2007, following a two year application process, the Illinois EPA granted the first U.S. air quality permit for a commercially-sized IGCC power generating facility to the Taylorville Energy Center (TEC), a $2 billion, 630 MW project being developed by Christian County Generation LLC (CCG). Independent power producer Tenaska is Christian County Generation's managing partner.
Kansas Legislature tries to Resurrect Sunflower Electric Holcomb
Supporters of the 2 x 700 MW Sunflower Electric Holcomb power project in western Kansas introduced legislation Wednesday that would require the state to approve construction of the plant while imposing limits on carbon dioxide emissions. Backers of the bill described it as a compromise between those who want the $3.6 billion plants and environmentalists who oppose the project because it would emit annually 11 million tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. House Bill 2711 and Senate Bill 515 would essentially allow Sunflower to reapply for its permits and would limit Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby’s authority by not allowing him to consider carbon dioxide emissions. It also would set into place allowable CO2 emissions for new plant which would be lowered by 20 percent after one year of operation and 30 percent after 10 years.
Zoning Changes Approved for 250 MW Highwood in Montana
Cascade County commissioners on Thursday voted 2-1 to approve a heavy industrial zoning designation necessary for construction of the Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission 250 MW Highwood coal-fired power plant proposed east of Great Falls, Montana.
COAL – WORLD
EnBW/Dow to Build 800 MW Coal-fired Power Plant at Stade Chemical Plant in Germany
EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg AG and the German unit of Dow Chemical Co. Tuesday said they have agreed to develop jointly an energy plan for the chemical company's Stade site in northern Germany. Under the agreement, the companies will jointly construct coal-fired and combined cycle gas turbine power generation capacity of more than 1,000 MW. The amount of investment in the project isn't yet clear, said EnBW spokesman Dirk Ommeln. But he added that the planned coal-fired power plant will be an 800 MW class facility. A similar power plant is currently being planned in Karlsruhe, southern Germany, for which the company will invest around €1 billion, Ommeln said.
Reliance Power receives SPV for 4,000 MW Krishnapatnam
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) on Tuesday handed over the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — Coastal Andhra Power Limited — set to execute the much delayed 4,000 MW Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) in Andhra Pradesh to Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Power Limited (RPL). Reliance Power had emerged as the lowest bidder for the project by bidding to supply power at an average of Rs. 2.33 per unit. RPL’s bid was much lower than the other two bids received from Larsen & Toubro (Rs. 2.68 per unit) and Sterlite (Rs. 4.18 per unit). This is the second UMPP for Reliance Power after the award of 4,000 MW Sasan UMPP in Madhya Pradesh. While Krishnapatnam will be run on imported coal, Sasan is a pithead coal project. RPL is hopeful of completing the project in 39 months.
China will close 13,000 MW of Small Coal-fired Power Plants in 2008
China will close more small coal-fired power stations in 2008 to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to eliminate 13,000 MW or about 30 percent more than the target of 10,000 MW set last year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Last year, China shut 553 small thermal power generators with a total capacity of 14,380 MW, 44 percent above the target. The State Council has set a target of closing 50,000 MW of thermal power capacity from 2006 to 2010.
600 MW Masinloc Project in the Philippines receives Loan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked around $700 million for lending to the Philippines this year, with around $250 million to be set aside for the winning bidder for the concession of the power grid operator National Transmission Corp., a bank official said. For the energy sector, the ADB will continue to support the privatization of National Power Corp.’s plants. The Monetary Board earlier approved a $450-million loan that Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. -- the winning bidder for the 600-MW coal-fired plant in Masinloc, Zambales -- planned to take out to expand the plant.
Delay in 2100 MW Mmamabula Coal Mine and Power Project in Botswana
South African power utility Eskom has strongly denied suggestions circulating in the industry that it was culpable in delaying the development of the Mmamabula coal-mine and energy project proposed for development in neighboring Botswana, which is also poised to become arguably the largest independent power producer (IPP) supplying into the power-hungry South African grid. The project, which could involve a 7.5 to 9-million-ton-a-year coal mine, as well as the 2,100 to 2,460 MW power plant, was being pursued by CIC Energy. Eskom Enterprises MD Brian Dames said he had been given a board mandate to support the IPP project, as well as conclude a mutually beneficial power purchase agreement with CIC. "We are ready to sign the contract with Mmamabula, but they are not ready," Dames asserted.
Israel could build 1,260 MW Addition at Rutenberg
A national infrastructure plan for the construction of two coal-powered electricity generating units (630 MW each) at the Rutenberg power plant in Ashkelon is currently being promoted in Israel. The two new units will be added to the four already existing coal-powered units at the site. An environmental impact assessment has been prepared for the plan, which is currently being reviewed by the environmental advisor of the National Infrastructure Committee. The Ministry of Environmental Protection said that a plan for a coal-fired power plant at the proposed site may be approved after the following conditions are implemented:
Oman could look at Coal for Fuel for IWPP at Barka or Sohar
Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has told IWPP project consultants they could be asked to carry out a separate feasibility study into the use of coal feedstock. The move is driven by fears over gas shortages. OPWP says a 48 percent increase in gas supplies to 7.2 billion cubic meters a year will be needed by 2013 to fuel power and desalination plants. If the coal option proves feasible, it will be the first time a Gulf state has developed a coal-fired power plant. The IWPP will be located at Barka or Sohar. It will have capacity of 700 MW of power and 26 million gallons a day of desalinated water. Although the UK's Berwin Leighton Paisner and Switzerland's Electrowatt Engineering Services have been selected as the legal and technical advisers on the IWPP, neither firm has signed a contract. The financial advisory contract is also still pending. The IWPP is due to be fully operational by 2011, and a coal-fired power plant could take 12 months longer to bring online than a gas-fired power plant, because of the sultanate's lack of experience with coal and the need to source supplies of the fuel from India.
Asia Energy awaiting Decision on 1,000 MW Power Plant and Coal Mine in Bangladesh
The United Kingdom-based Asia Energy has
sought an early government decision on whether Bangladesh will accept its $2.5
billion investment proposals in the energy sectors there, a company executive
said on Saturday. The company had submitted an investment proposal of $2.5
billion in October 2005 to develop the Phulbari mine in Banbladesh’s northern
Dinajpur district. It would do so through the open pit system and set up a 1,000
MW mine mouth power plant. "Phulbari coal will power the northwest and rest of
Bangladesh," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Asia Energy Corporation (Pty)
Bangladesh Ltd Gary Lye was quoted as saying by the Financial Express
(FE), the country's lone financial daily. "As mine development and power plant
construction takes time, the decisions should be taken without delay." However,
the government is yet to approve Asia Energy's development scheme as it was
waiting for adoption of a national coal policy. A draft coal policy has been
framed and it is expected to be approved by the government within a few months.
Yeniköy Yatağan Electric
Production could use Waste Steam to Heat Cities of Yatagan and Mugla, Turkey
A new project is underway to use the steam that goes to waste from the Yatağan thermal power plant for heating Yatağan and Muğla, Turkey. This project, which will be completed in two-and-half years, aims to help heat 16,500 houses and will become a model for similar plans in the rest of Turkey. The cost of heating using this steam will be six times cheaper than using coal, thus contributing to the fight against air pollution in Yatağan. The chimney gas handling facilities of the Yatağan thermal power plant started operating in 2007 and since then SO2 has been drastically reduced, said Nuri Şerifoğlu, General Manager of Yeniköy Yatağan Electric Production A.Ş. (YEAŞ).
Last fall, a project to build a second power plant in Yatağan came on the agenda. Yatağan residents, who have been suffering the adverse effects of air pollution and are in a struggle to make the Yatağan thermal power plant stop operating, staged a protest against the plan in late October. Five years ago studies were carried out on the Yatağan power plant, and a court decision required Yatağan’s closure. However, it keeps operating under a decision of the council of ministers who cited the employment provided by the plant.
PLN Signs Loans for 600 MW Suralaya and 600 MW Paiton Projects
Indonesia state electricity firm PT PLN signed Wednesday a loan agreement worth US$615 million with China Exim Bank to finance the construction of two power plants in Java. The bank will provide loans of $330.8 million for the 600 MW Suralaya coal-fired power plant in Banten and $284 million for the 600 MW Paiton coal-fired power plant in East Java, Indonesia.
Clyde Pumps is supplying Additional Boiler Feed Pumps for 250 MW Paras and 250 MW Parli Extensions in India
Clyde Pumps, incorporating Weir Pumps Glasgow, has received an award for an additional four advanced class boiler feed pumps from BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.) for their extensions at the Paras and Parli power stations in India.
Asahi, Ireland Prefers Gas-Fired Power Project, not Coal, Peat, Timber-fired
The Asahi Development Committee has called on County Manager Des Mahon to facilitate the bringing of gas to Asahi, Ireland and to engage with RWE and Rockland Capital to make this happen. This comes in a week when controversy arose over a survey, which found that 82 percent of respondents were against the development proposed by Mayo Power Ltd, which would see the development of a peat, timber, and coal-fired power station. Michael O’Donnell, Chairman of the Asahi Development Committee, has asked that the record be set straight. “We are pro-development and pro-jobs,” he said. “It is our opinion that the Asahi site is ideally suited for a power generating plant with its access to two 110KV lines. We believe that if this happens there will be real potential to attract new industry onto the site, but it should be gas.”
Thai Companies want to build Power Plant in Cambodia to Supply Electricity to Thailand
A group of three leading Thai companies are studying plans
to build a 3,660-MW coal-fired power plant in Cambodia to supply electricity to
Thailand. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to study joint
investment in the plant in the Cambodian coastal province of Koh Kong, near the
Thai border. The companies include Italian-Thai Development,
Electricity Generating EGCO and Ratchaburi Electricity
Generating Holding.
Helsinki will stay with Coal
for Power and Heat
The Helsinki (Finland) City Council on Wednesday approved an energy policy report that sees the city's power and heat stations burning coal for a decade to come. Contrasting with earlier plans, the report says Helsinki will keep using coal in heat and electricity generation beyond the existing coal-burning stations' projected lives. However, the report adds that the possibility of switching the Hanasaari and Salmisaari power and heat stations to pellet or chip is to be looked into.
RWE Cancels Proposed Coal-Fired Power Project
RWE has cancelled a proposed coal-fired power plant. "We are certainly ready to make investments," RWE boss Ulrich Jobs told the Financial Times Deutschland. "But we will only pursue new projects if economic conditions are back in place." The €2.2-billion (3.3-billion-dollar) project planned in western Saarland, Germany had been withdrawn in November following its defeat in a local referendum (probably the 1,600 MW Ensdorf 4, 5 project). But RWE has now decided against building it elsewhere because the company would have to pay for tradeable carbon emissions quotas for the plant under European Union regulations currently being discussed in Brussels.
Pakistan wants 20,000 MW of New Coal-fired Power Plants
Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Wednesday constituted a five-member inter-provincial committee to work out in 10 days a plan for international competitive bidding to produce 20,000 MW of coal-based power by 2019 from coal reserves in Thar, Pakistan. Mr. Soomro said that in order to sustain the pace of economic development the requirement for energy had increased and Thar coal could play a pivotal role in this respect. He said the country had about 185 billion tons of coal reserves and a fast-track strategy should be evolved for its maximum utilization.
Can 1,600 MW Kingsnorth proceed without Carbon Capture?
There have been reports that the Department for Business may drop conditions that the power project at Kingsnorth (UK) only goes ahead with carbon capture and storage (CCS) provisions. E.ON wants to start building in summer 2008. E.ON said it was possible to draw up proposals to make the site "carbon capture ready" which could allow retrofitting of the technology once it was commercially available, but there was no "current reference for viability at any scale" for CCS.
Mercury Market in China by Naiqiang Yan
Coal-fired pollutants are the main sources of deteriorated air quality in China. The Chinese government has spent over a decade trying to control these pollutants. Sulfur dioxide has been regarded as the overwhelming primary air pollutant since 1995. The importance of FGD technologies employed at coal-fired utilities has been fully realized by the Chinese Government, and some regulations have been put forward to encourage or persuade utilities to try FGD systems in cooperation with domestic FGD suppliers or overseas suppliers.
The overseas suppliers have finally got the run on the domestic suppliers by cooperation with Chinese companies and after about 5-8 years of technology demonstrations and market expansion. By now, over 70 percent of the installed FGD systems in China are partially or fully imported from overseas (from about five to seven overseas suppliers). Core technologies or equipment are still dominated by overseas suppliers although China has earmarked lots of the most experienced native experts of FGD. At present, installing FGD systems has become compulsory for most power plants and industrial utilities. In summary, it has taken about 10 years for the Chinese FGD market to develop from its initiation to wide application.
With the expansion of the FGD market, the DeNOx (except for Low NOx Burner technologies) market will gradually be enlarged in the next five years. Though there are about three to five power plants that have installed SCR systems, it is estimated that DeNOx will be more prevalent by 2012 in China. At present, it is still a good opportunity for overseas suppliers to enter the Chinese DeNOx market by cooperation with a Chinese partner.
As for mercury control from coal-fired power plants in China, the Chinese government has paid attention to this issue and has begun to encourage Chinese researchers to carry out research, which includes measuring the amount of mercury emissions, mercury emission characteristics in China and how to retrofit the existing Air Pollution Control Devices (e.g. FGD) for mercury control. It is estimated that actions will begin in industrial application by 2010, and the mercury control market is supposed to mature by 2015. However, the market for Mercury analyzers and CEMs is now blooming in China.
GAS/OIL – U.S.
FirstEnergy to Complete Calpine’s Fremont Energy Center
FirstEnergy Generation Corp. plans to purchase a partially complete, 707 MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle generating plant in Fremont, Ohio for $253.6 million. FirstEnergy said the facility, formerly known as Fremont Energy Center LLC, will be purchased from Calpine Corp. Construction began in September 2001 and Calpine has indicated the plant is about 70 percent complete. It could take 12 to18 months and about $150 million to become operational. FirstEnergy has not yet completed its engineering review, which will help it finalize the cost estimate and the timeframe for construction.
MMC Chula Vista to use GE Packaged Power Gas Turbines
MMC Energy, Inc. is buying two LM-6000 PC Sprint natural gas-fired turbines from GE Packaged Power, Inc. for around $31 million. The turbines will be used in MMC Energy’s Chula Vista Energy Upgrade Project, a 100 MW natural gas-fired power project in San Diego County, California.
TIC/Bibb & Associates are EPC Contractors for Bartow Repowering
TIC and Bibb and Associates are the EPC Joint Venture partners for the complete design and installation of a 1,200 MW combined cycle plant, the Progress Energy Bartow repowering project in Florida. Mobilization for the new facility is scheduled for January 2007. The facility will consist of four Siemens 501FD combustion turbines powering four Vogt HRSGs and one Mitsubishi 420 MW steam turbine.
GAS/OIL – WORLD
254 MW Gas Turbine Power Plant in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The state electric utility Turkmenenergo of Turkmenistan is to sign a contract with the Turkish company Lotus Proje Akaryakit Enerji Madencilik Telekominikasyon Insaat Sanayi Taahhut ve Ticaret A.S. for the design and construction of a new power station in Ashgabat totaling €120 million. The gas turbine power station will have the capacity of 254 MW. Construction is expected to start in March 2007 and be finished in February 2010.
Electrabel to Build Natural Gas-fired Power Plants in Germany
Electrabel is examining the details of constructing one or more natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants with capacity of 800 MW in Germany. The plant(s) will be equipped with the best technology that is currently available and will reach efficiency surpassing 57 percent.
Goa District, India could build 2 x 250 MW Gas-fired Power Plants
The Power Minister Mr. Aleixo Sequeira said the state government was seriously considering setting up two gas-based power plants of 250 MW in each of the two districts of Goa, India to attain self-sufficiency in the state’s power requirements. Mr. Sequeira told The Navhind Times that the gas requirement for these two plants would be met from the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline.
Contact Energy could add another 100 MW Gas Turbine at Stratford, New Zealand
Contact Energy is likely to build yet another
100 MW gas turbine station at Stratford, New Zealand in addition to the one
announced three months ago. The company says it needs to replace the 300 MW peak
load generating capacity of the New Plymouth station, which is now permanently
out of service.
Origin to add 126 MW at Mt. Stuart,
Australia Power Plant
Origin’s Executive General Manager Major Development Projects
Andrew Stock said: “The $92 million power station expansion will provide a 45
percent increase on the output of the existing 288 MW installation at Mt.
Stuart, Australia. “Contracts have been signed with GE Energy for
the supply of a 126 MW Frame 9E gas turbine generator set. Although Mt. Stuart
currently runs on jet fuel, this generator and our existing two turbine
generators on site can, in the future, be converted to run on natural gas.”
GASIFICATION
Peabody Energy/GasPoint Energy Plan Coal-to-Gas Facility in Wyoming
Peabody Energy and GasPoint Energy announced plans to build more than one coal-to-natural gas facility in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. Although the project does not include an electrical generation component, it will likely include carbon capture and sequestration.
NUCLEAR
Russia Plans 11 GW of New Nuclear Power Plants by 2015
Russia wants to put in operation "two GW of nuclear power generation capacity a year" starting from 2012, Peter Shchedrovitskiy, deputy director of the Nuclear Energy Complex, said during a science conference, Itar-Tass reported. At the same time, it is planning to actively build nuclear power plants abroad. By the end of the federal targeted program on the Development of Russia's Nuclear Energy Complex to 2015, "it is planned to put in operation 10 new power generating units with the total capacity of 11 GW." Ten more units will be in various phases of construction, Shchedrovitskiy noted. The total operational capacity of nuclear power plants by 2015 should exceed 33 GW.
Murray & Roberts/Westinghouse/Shaw Group to Submit Proposal for Nuclear Power Plant to Eskom
Construction group Murray & Roberts, along with its U.S. partner, will submit a proposal for the first new nuclear power station in South Africa to Eskom. “The group in partnership with Westinghouse and Shaw Group from the United States will submit a proposal for a first nuclear power plant and fleet option on January 31,” it said.
Murray & Roberts has also secured the construction contract to Hitachi for both the coal-fired Medupi and Bravo boiler contracts (12 units of 750 MW) collectively valued at about R15 billion.
Clyde Pumps to supply Pumps for Hongyanhe Ningde Nuclear Power Plants in China
Clyde Pumps incorporating Weir Pumps Glasgow, signed a memorandum of understanding with CNPEC (China Nuclear Power Engineering Co.) worth approximately £20 million for the supply of critical safety-related pumps for the Hongyanhe (Units 1 & 2) and Ningde 1,000 MW nuclear power plants currently under construction. These pumps will be delivered progressively through 2009 and 2010.
Areva to submit Bid to Eskom for Nuclear Power Plants
Areva confirmed on Thursday that it had submitted bids to South African power utility Eskom, which initiated an "invitation to negotiate" in November last year. In a statement, Areva said it had formed a consortium comprising South African engineering and construction group Aveng, French contractor Bouygues and EDF. Areva South Africa chairperson Dr Serge Lafont told Engineering News that its submission related to the ‘Nuclear-1' program, which could involve the construction of a two-unit nuclear power plant, with a capacity of between 3,000 and 3,500 MW. Lafont said it also planned to submit a second bid later this year for the possible ‘fleet' strategy by Eskom, which might result in the construction of 20,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2025.
FP&L Making Case for Nuclear Power Plant Expansion
Florida Power & Light (FPL) began making its case to state regulators on Wednesday that the two nuclear reactors it wants to add at Turkey Point are the best option for keeping South Florida humming. ''Nuclear power is the backbone for FPL's system, providing safe and low-cost energy, 24-7,'' FPL attorney Wade Litchfield told the Public Service Commission, which opened a three-day hearing in Tallahassee on what could be the state's first expansion of nuclear power in decades. FPL is weighing two designs that would more than double output -- 2,200 MW costing $12 billion to $18 billion or 3,000 MW costing $16 billion to $24 billion -- and go online around 2018.
BUSINESS
Kansai Electric Power Co. successfully injects CO2 into Coal Beds
Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co. is the first to successfully inject carbon dioxide into coal beds. The company said Monday it has succeeded in an experiment to inject a large amount of carbon dioxide into deep coal beds by using nitrogen, Kyodo News reported. The technology is able to put about 6.6 tons of carbon dioxide into the coal beds. Using the nitrogen allows better absorption of the carbon dioxide and enhanced recovery of coal-bed methane. General Environmental Technos Co., a Kansai Electric subsidiary, has been testing the technology in Yubari, Hokkaido since 2004 in a project promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Energias do Brasil hires Maire Tecnimont to build 720 MW Pecem Power Plant
Brazilian companies Energias do Brasil and MPX Mineração e Energia have hired Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to build the 720 MW Pecém thermoelectric power plant, Energias do Brasil said in a statement. The plant will go into production in 2011, with a bonus payment if Maire Tecnimont finishes the project ahead of schedule. Total investment in the project is US$1.3 billion and when it goes into operation it will add 720 MW to Energias do Brasil's installed capacity.
Global Orchard of Decision Trees Needed to Address Greenhouse Gas Problem
Actions taken to address global warming will have impacts on most human activities. By the same token, most human activities impact global warming. Robert McIlvaine of the McIlvaine Company says the ubiquitous nature of this problem demands a new approach. Rather than individual Decision Trees focused on narrow aspects, there is a need for a global orchard of synergistically juxtaposed and fruitful Decision Trees.
The pollination from one Decision tree to another will make a huge difference. China generates CO2 to create the goods which California buys. Therefore the Chinese CO2 Reduction Decision Tree is impacted by the California Consumption Reduction Tree.
There is presently limited capacity to deliver wind turbines. This impacts not only the Wind Energy Decision Tree but other renewable and fossil energy options.
The world’s wealth is finite. Energy, security, healthcare, poverty and other uses of this wealth will be negatively impacted by increases in expenditures to reduce global warming. Pollination between trees will be necessary to obtain the right balance.
A small corner of the Global Orchard has been created with a number of Decision Trees developed by the McIlvaine Company. The Power Plant Air Quality Decision Tree is nourished by a powerful mix of communications media depicted as the root system.
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/Tree of Decisions.pdf
McIlvaine also has decision systems on wind, solar, biomass and other renewable energy subjects as well as one covering biofuels. The overview of this Global Orchard shows the juxtaposition of trees for suppliers, investors, consultants, regulators, and operators.
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/Orchard Trees.pdf
The benefits of the pollination ability of the orchard are demonstrated with decision recommendations for the operation of coal-fired boilers. Changes to existing coal-fired power plants could cause net reductions of CO2 by 35 percent. Replacement of these plants with new supercritical boilers and the incorporation of other technology could make a net 55 percent reduction.
Net CO2 emissions with incremental technology additions including credits as a percent of an existing coal-fired boiler without changes:
|
Technology |
Base CO2 Emissions % |
Efficiency improvements |
Co-firing biomass |
Waste heat for ethanol |
Hydrochloric acid byproduct |
Reduction from the combination % |
|
Existing Coal-fired boiler |
100 |
10 |
5 |
15 |
5 |
35 |
|
New ultra supercritical coal-fired boiler |
70 |
30% is already achieved |
5 |
15 |
5 |
55 |
These are net reductions and take into account the CO2 emissions from the whole process of oil exploration through refining and gasoline transportation as opposed to ethanol production using the coal-fired power plant waste heat. The elimination of chloralkali plants and their resultant CO2 contribution is included.
The CO2 reduction costs of either retrofitting existing coal-fired power plants or the construction of new supercritical plants is very low compared to renewable energy alternatives or to CO2 capture and sequestration. Furthermore all the technology is in place.
The resistance against operating a coal-fired power plant as a chemical plant is symptomatic of the individual Decision Tree thinking. The concept of the coal-fired power plant as a major chemicals producer is possible only with Global Orchard insights.
The resistance to any new coal-fired power plant is also individual Decision Tree thinking. When it is accepted that coal will continue to be a major fuel for power plants for the foreseeable future, then it is necessary to apply the Global Orchard view and optimize the mix of new and old plants.
For more information on the Global Orchard, click on: www.mcilvainecompany.com or
E-mail: editor@mcilvainecompany.com
HOT TOPIC HOUR
Carbon Cost and Availability were only Two of Many Mercury Issues Discussed in the Mercury Hot Topic Hour Yesterday
More than 80 people participated in the Mercury Control Hot Topic Hour yesterday. There was a good mix among questions and answers generated from participants and review of highlights of the DOE NETL Mercury Conference and EUEC Conference.
Some of the questions from the utilities are thought provoking. One was triggered by a paper given Thursday at EUEC by Brian Rupp of AEP.
We received an e-mail from Brian Rupp of AEP correcting a statement in the February 1 (859) E-Alert. Brian says, “I was looking through your web site, and notice a reference to a presentation that I gave at the 2008 EUEC Conference in Tucson in January. I was not on the Hot Topic Hour Call (Jan. 31) when this was discussed, and I would like to clarify a statement I made, because what I said seems to be misrepresented on the site. Under the heading: Carbon Cost and Availability were only Two of Many Mercury Issues Discussed in the Mercury Hot Topic Hour Yesterday the web site implies that I suggested capturing flyash and carbon separately in the ESP. This was not the case. I was discussing results (and I listened to my presentation again to make sure I am being consistent) that show that carbon in ash is present in a much smaller concentration in the front field of the ESP during normal operation. Carbon in ash becomes more concentrated as you move back into the ESP. This is consistent with many other presentations/papers that I have seen. What I suggested is that by removing and storing the ash from the ESP (not the flue gas) separately by rows, that it may be possible to have ash from the front rows with a low enough carbon content to maintain ash sales. I did not make any reference to capturing ash and carbon separately in the ESP, but rather possibly taking advantage of the fact that they are not captured in equal ratios in all rows of the ESP.”
Participants discussed ways to maximize the salable flyash. Don Hug of Clyde Bergemann advised that this is possible but a limiting factor is the precipitator efficiency requirement.
Full scale activated carbon injection (ACI) tests on PRB at AEP were not surprising but bituminous and lignite showed deviations from expectations. In one case longer term deterioration in performance was possibly due to the change in flyash on the collection plates. Mercury and chlorine in the coal varied by orders of magnitude.
Gordon Criswell of PPL Montana indicated that testing of carbon injection ahead of the wet particulate/SO2 scrubber showed substantial removal of mercury.
Otter Tail Power is faced with mercury control for an existing unit with a pulse jet filter and no scrubber as well as on a new unit with an SCR, pulse jet filter and a wet scrubber. Sid Nelson of Sorbent Technologies explained how the brominated activated carbon acts as a catalyst. Some of the mercury it does not capture will be oxidized and removed in the scrubber. So Otter Tail could minimize carbon consumption in the new unit with the combined capture in the filter and scrubber.
Excerpts from the DOE NETL Mercury Conference were used as a launching pad for further discussion. The full text of these papers can be found at
http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/07/mercury/index.html#overview
George Offen of EPRI provided papers at both the NETL and EUEC conference. Some of the areas where EPRI is helping move the technology involve
Alstom described progress with their Mercure sorbent additive at NETL
-Native capture is 27%-50% by AH/ESP and 23 percent by FGD
-Not all of oxidized mercury was captured by FGD
-A large amount of oxidized mercury was reduced to elemental in FGD
-90% of uncontrolled mercury emission was captured at 0.8 lb/MMacf
-90% of input mercury was captured at 0.5 lb/MMacf
-No stack opacity increase during injection
-No leaching of mercury from flyash
-75% of uncontrolled mercury can be removed before ash sales loss
-88% of input mercury may be removed before ash sales loss
There was a good discussion of costs and availability of carbon. Sid Nelson of Sorbent Technologies raised the question as to whether carbon could reach $2/lb and noted a recent 70 percent increase by Norit and Calgon Carbon. Calgon Carbon presented data showing hundreds of millions of pounds of increased capacity beyond 2012. On the other hand, Jean Bustard of ADA-ES showed data at EUEC projecting as much as 1 million lb/yr requirement in 2015 if there were new Federal rules. It was agreed that there is flexibility. Brominated carbon will capture more mercury. You can add an extra step in the production to impregnate carbon. So each pound of brominated carbon may be the equivalent of two pounds of untreated activated carbon. However, it was also pointed out that the bromination does not always increase efficiency.
Alternative technologies that may not be competitive at $1/lb AC may be more than competitive at $2/lb. So you do have the classic price-sensitive demand.
McIlvaine indicated that the Chinese demand would be another factor and displayed the analysis by Naiqiang Yan (appears separately in this Alert).
Other Technologies were also discussed Based on Presentations Made at the Two Conferences
A URS two year demonstration of the Johnson Matthey gold catalyst is about to begin at LCRA.
GE partially gasified coal for 70 percent mercury removal is 75 percent less costly than ACI.
Alstom KNX, with bromine, added with the coal results in high removal but some re-emission problems. One of the utilities participating in the Hot Topic Hour volunteered successful KNX testing and no re-emission at his plant.
NaHS from B&W improves wet FGD mercury capture by 10-25 percent without adverse effects or re-emission.
PowerSpan Eco at First Energy at 30 MW achieves 80-85 percent removal of mercury.
Mazyck has demonstrated (at lab scale) a photocatalytic sorbent with 99 percent removal using silica titania material.
Praxair PAC from pulverized coal is very effective at the 1-MW level. Tests are continuing with the promise of lower cost than AC.
Corning’s honeycomb mercury absorber achieved 90 percent removal in long term testing.
BASF (Englehard) mineral-based mercury sorbents derived from flyash and sorbents from molecular sieve materials perform well compared to brominated PAC in some tests but not others. BASF is continuing the research and is optimistic.
Agitators and Mixers are “Hot Topics” for February 7
The energy required to achieve oxidation of the gypsum slurry is significant. There are various approaches to achieve the quality and minimize cost. On February 7 at 9:00 a.m. CST, experts will build on the excellent presentations made last March and provide updates and new insights.
To find our more about these topics or register, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm
|
February 7, 2008 |
Oxidation and Mixing |
|
February 21, 2008 |
Dampers, Expansion Joints (9:00 a.m.) |
|
February 21, 2008 |
Pumps (1:00 p.m.) |
|
March 6, 2008 |
Mercury Monitoring |
|
March 13, 2008 |
SCR Catalysts |
|
March 20, 2008 |
Particulate Choices for Low Sulfur Coal |
|
March 27, 2008 |
SO3 Issues and Answers |
|
April 3, 2008 |
Calcium Reagents |
|
April 10, 2008 |
Optimization Systems |
|
April 17, 2008 |
Corrosion Material Options |
|
April 24, 2008 |
Mercury Control |
Please see the link below for Recordings of Available Hot Topic Hours
Available Recorded Hot Topic Hours
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