critical power online

Global installations of gas gensets from 2013 to 2018 will total 60 GW of capacity, according to a new report from Pike Research.

The installation of 60 GW capacity worldwide will generate almost $10bn in annual revenue, said the report.

“Until recently, the natural gas genset market has experienced steady growth, but a boom in unconventional gas resources and tightening regulations limiting stationary generator emissions point to accelerating growth over the next decade,” says Pike Research senior research analyst Mackinnon Lawrence.

“The number of specialised segments within the genset market – spanning power classes, applications, and end-use customers – offers a rich ecosystem of opportunities for market participants,” he added.

ABB has secured a contract worth US$160 million with Jurong Shipyard Pte to design, supply, install, test and commission the main electrical systems for seven drill ships. The ships will drill wells in oil and gas fields off the southeast coast of Brazil.

The ships will be powered from on-board subsystems that in turn are powered by ABB’s integrated electrical package.

This will include complete electrical systems including generators, distribution switchboards, transformers, drives and motors to power the ships’ thrusters and drilling systems. All ABB solutions meet or exceed IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and the customer’s standards for safety, and are in full compliance with strict IMO (International Maritime Organisation) regulations to ensure uninterrupted drilling operations.

The deliveries for the order will commence this year, and the vessels are due for delivery to the ship-owner in 2015.

Spanish genset manufacturer Himoinsa has launched its 500kW power generator in a 10-foot container, named Power Cube, in Europe. 

Originally designed for and launched in the North American market, Himoinsa has adapted Power Cube for the European market. In a statement, the company said its size and shape is suitable for with projects with reduced space availability where 20 feet containers cannot be used.

The Power Cube has an electric fan which allows reduction of acoustic emissions and, therefore, the use of the unit in residential areas and events. It is often in these scenarios where high power is required, there is little space available, and low noise generation is required. In addition, self-sufficiency is ensured by rapid external fuel inlets.

The set is prepared to be synchronised and give extra power in ISO sizes of 20 feet for 1000 kW, 30 feet for 1500 kW, 40 feet for 2000 kW etc.

NEC Italia SpA has announced an agreement with Italian utility service provider Acea Spa to develop lithium-ion energy storage systems (ESS) for Acea’s substations.

NEC will provide one 180kW/ 100kWh substation and one 100kW/ 50kWh substation to Acea in Rome, due to be operational in September 2013. The ESS, which will greatly advance Rome’s smart grid system, will provide improved quality of utility services, reduce energy losses and improve the management of energy from distributed sources such as wind and PV.

The larger of the two systems will be connected to Acea’s low-voltage electricity grid to provide backup power in the event of a power outage. The smaller system will be connected to the mid-voltage grid to regulate and even out energy from distributed generators by compensating for power fluctuations.

“NEC is proud to partner with a visionary company like Acea, who understands the importance of Smart Grids for successfully meeting the demands of utility companies as well as reducing environmental burdens,” said Ugo Govigli, Vice President, Smart Grid Solutions, NEC Europe. “These ESS were designed entirely by the NEC EMEA Energy competence centre which was established in Italy in 2011. We expect these developments to pave the way into new energy market segments throughout EMEA.”?

Crestchic has formed a partnership with Technical Solutions to supply loadbanks to the growing Russian market.

Technical Solutions will exclusively supply Crestchic AC Resistive and Reactive (inductive) loadbanks, as well as DC and MV loadbanks, containerised transformers and associated control equipment, systems and software. Paul Brickman, sales and marketing manager at Crestchic, explained: “We worked with the team on various pilot projects last year that were extremely successful – around a dozen machines have been ordered in the last six months, which is phenomenal.

“As the Russian market continues to expand in the oil and gas, shipbuilding and power generation sectors, and particularly as we see the growth of data centres, it is crucial that we meet demand via a local point of contact. Formalising our relationship means that we can offer viable solutions delivered through a permanent local team to our existing and potential customers in Russia.” 

Alexander Rodikov, general director at Technical Solutions, added: “We have seen a marked increase in demand for loadbanks in the Russian market since starting work with Crestchic in late 2011. Being named as an official partner in Russia will give us the freedom to capitalise on what is a very exciting period of growth in the market.”