Turbine safety
‘Control of safety risks at gas turbines used for power generation’ is a new title issued by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The guidance provides advice on identifying hazards – fire, explosions, mechanical and electrical – and reducing them to acceptable levels. One particular concern is the accumulation of gas within the acoustic enclosure surrounding the turbine that may then cause explosions. The HSE has carried out work on dilution ventilation that will likely go forward to be used by the EU as a standard.
Fortum CHP
Finland’s Fortum Engineering and Härnösand Enerji & Miljö AB are to develop a biomass-fired combined heat and power station in Sweden. The bubbling fludised bed boiler will burn wood residues and peat and will produce 11.7 MWe together with 32.9 MWth. Generating should begin in late 2001 and hand over in early 2002.
UK gas Plant
UK energy minister Helen Liddell will not raise objections to a proposed 180 MW gas-fired CHP station for Avonmouth, despite the de facto moratorium on gas-fired projects. The plant, proposed by Northern Electric Generation, will supply the Sevalco carbon black works.
Alstom order
A E9 million npower order for the supply and maintenance of a 12.9 MW gas turbine genset has been won by Alstom. The turbine will form part of a 23 MWe and 80 tonnes/hour of steam CHP plant at Grimsby, UK. Delivery is scheduled for June 2001.
Mexican trade
An EU-Mexico free trade agreement has been signed that will see an end to all industrial goods tariffs by 2007. The agreement should ease trade between Mexico and European suppliers of generation equipment, putting them in a similar position to those companies operating from the US and Canada. EU tariffs will be phased out by 2003, Mexican by 2007.
Nuclear merger
The definitive terms of a merger between the nuclear operations of Siemens and Framatome have been announced. Framatome will have 66 per cent and Siemens 34 per cent of the new joint venture, Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power (ANP). Annual revenues for the combined company, due to become fully operational before the year end, are estimated at 3 billion Euros.
Canada alliance
Rolls Royce Industries Canada is to form a long-term R&D alliance with the Canadian government. Rolls will invest C$160 million ($108 million) at its facility in Montreal together with C$53.3 million from the Technology Partnerships Canada programme. The five-year programme is aimed at improving environmental performance of turbines.
Genesisplus
ABB Energy Information Systems’ Genesisplus system, which allows generators to trade power under the UK’s new electricity trading arrangements, is the first to have passed testing by the National Grid Co, the company claims. The system manages market interfaces and provides trading and operational support.
Norwegian PV
The largest photovoltaic system in Norway, at 16 kWe, has been developed at the University of Science and Technology at Trondheim. The array has been integrated into a double glass façade mounted on the existing cladding. BP Solarex developed the system.
UK plant bids
PowerGen of the UK has received bids for three generation stations that it plans to sell for around $1.5 billion. The proceeds will be used to ease financing for its recent acquisition of LG&E Energy Corp, although the plant sale is not necessary to complete the LG&E buy. The sale is due to conclude this year.
Fuel Cell deal
Johnson Matthey, the UK chemicals and metals firm, has signed an agreement with TXU for the development of domestic fuel cell powered CHP system. The 3kW system will run on natural gas and is partially supported by the Department of Trade & Industry fuel cell programme. An 18 month evaluation will be followed by demonstration units in the US and Europe.
Alstom e-ISO
An Alstom ESCA Corp-led alliance has developed an e-business electricity operation system for the MidWest Independent System Operator (MISO) in the US that will be installed and operational by November 2001. Joining Alstom are Open Access Technology International, Perot Systems Corp and TenFold Corp in a group called the Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) Alliance.