critical power

Fuel cell-powered combined heat and power (CHP) units could be profitable for 90% of UK households, according to a report by Ecuity Consulting LLP.

The report, developed on behalf of UK fuel cell developers, highlights that the installation of more than 5.3m fuel cell CHP units by 2030, allowing power consumers to generate heat and electricity themselves, would reduce energy bills by 21%. The fuel cell powered homes would produce 5GW of flexible energy capacity, which is equal to 14 gas fired power stations, according to the report.

“By de-centralising power generation and producing it in your home instead of centralised power stations, our technology empowers the consumer to produce clean, affordable, efficient and controllable energy where it is needed in the home, at twice the efficiency of centralised power stations,” said Mark Bugler technical director, at IE-CHP.

Fuel cells can be run on natural gas as well as zero carbon alternatives such as biomethane and hydrogen. Therefore it reduces CO2 emissions, the report says. The study bases its assumptions on the installation of fuel cell units in other countries, such as Japan and Germany.

The report “Fuel cells the smart power revolution” can be found here: http://www.ecuity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/FUEL-CELLS-THE-SMART-PO...

A 5MW solar-diesel hybrid power plant connected battery storage is to be installed in Bolivia's Pando province.

Solely diesel generators are currently powering the remote area, located 4,000 metres above sea level and not connected to Bolivia's national grid. The 5MW solar plant is designed to meet half of Pando's capital city Cobija's power demand. The city has 45,000 residents.

Inverter manufacturer SMA is to provide controlling systems, central inverters and battery storage. "The SMA Fuel Save Controller records the energy flows in the stand-alone grid and uses that information to determine the maximum permissible PV power. In this way, we can guarantee permanent system stability and ensure smooth control of the gensets," said SMA senior vice president off-grid and storage Volker Wachenfeld.

Spain's engineering firm Isotron is currently carrying out the construction of the plant.

The plant is aimed to reduce the annual consumption of 20m litres of diesel and save $3m of fuel costs.

The solar power plant is set to start generating 2MW of electricity later this year and increase the capacity over the following months. According to SMA, it is worldwide the biggest plant of its kind.

The plant is fully state-owned.

Dutch critical power supplier DBR is to deliver a gas genset to GDF Suez E&P Nederland’s offshore gas platform E17a-A located in the North Sea.

The 275kVA genset comprises of a gas powered MAN engine and a Leroy Somer air-to-air cooled generator. The system is designed to operate for 1,200 hours between maintenance intervals, according to DBR.

Due to limited space on the manned gas platform, DBR customised the genset design. “By placing the air cooling unit outside the engine room and reducing heavy components to a minimum we have come up with an efficient design that meets our client’s requirements,” said DBR sales manager Henri Hafkamp. The genset uses a single instead of a double frame and is manufactured with robust components to decrease risks of vibration.

The delivery is set for the end of 2014.

DBR recently struck a deal to supply emergency/harbour diesel gensets for six new pipelaying vessels from IHC Merwede.

GDF Suez E&P Nederland has 34 gas producing platforms and an annual gas production of 6 billion Nm3.

Microturbine manufacturer Capstone Turbine has signed a contract for a factory protection plan (FPP) for nine C1000 microturbines at Horizon Power Systems locations.

Energy supplier Horizon Power Systems aims to cover nine turbines that currently operate in remote central gas gathering plants in the US Rocky Mountain and mid-continent regions, with the 9MW FPP.

The FPP is an addition to $175m in product backlog and increased the total contract backlog for Capstone Turbine’s FPPs to a record of over $55m.

The Capstone Turbine FPP is designed to secure the reliability of the company’s turbines offering a risk-transfer solution that aims to limit the monetary risk of unplanned maintenance over the contract life. Capstone Turbine power packs, in which the turbines are integrated, reduce flared gas and cycle it back into the production process.

"Most oil and gas producers work in remote locations where an electric utility grid is not an option or unreliable. The Capstone Turbine microturbine becomes the sole source of critical low emission power that our customers have come to rely on," said Sam Henry, president of Horizon Power Systems.

The FPP is set to run over nine years.

Horizon Power Systems has currently over 600 Capstone Turbine microturbines in operation.

Chinese Highpower International and Californian Andalay Solar have teamed up for the development of a solar energy storage system (ESS).

The ESS is aimed to enable Andalay Solar’s customers to go off-grid or to deploy a hybrid system, which should reduce utility grid fees.

Highpower International’s ESS comprises six 2.4KWh lithium-ion battery modules and an output converter. The ESS is to be integrated with Andalay Solar’s solar AC/DC systems. In case of the hybrid system option, the utility grid network and the solar system will generate the energy. The system will be designed to provide enough power to sustain household and electronic appliances and all power outlets.

“Energy storage has become an important focus of the solar industry and will be an essential component of system design and installation," said Steven Chan, CEO of Andalay Solar. Chan said that the company wants to focus on customer’s cost-savings and return on investments.

“Andalay Solar's extensive technical know-how, first-hand experiences and understanding about the demand from end customers in the solar market is ideal for commercializing our advanced storage solution,” said Bryan Bai, vice president of sales at Highpower International.