Power Engineering International articles from August 2005

Power Engineering International archives from August 2005

The industry needs Atkins.(Up Front)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... I love a clever ad. A recent full-page print advert by BP said: "It's time to go on a low-carbon diet". Just so it's clear to the non-dieters among us, BP was drawing a parallel between its technology for producing clean power and that...

Powering poverty reduction: more than 100 years after the invention of the light bulb, over 1.6bn people around the world do not have access to electricity. Yet the provision of electricity--and something as simple as a light bulb--can transform lives, writes Sian Green.(Analysis)
August 1, 2005... At the G8 Summit in Gleneagles last month, world leaders agreed to a package of measures to help overcome poverty in Africa, including a pledge to increase aid to the continent by $25bn a year by 2010. British prime minister Tony Blair said...

South Africa builds first new plants for 15 years.(international)
August 1, 2005... South Africa's largest utility, Eskom, has contracted Siemens to build two new power plants to cope with the rise in electricity demand. The facilities will be the first to be built in the country for 15 years. The $276m contract awarded...

ADWEA finds finance for IWPP.(Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority)(Independent Water and Power Project)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... ADWEA, the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, has secured the $2.18bn necessary to complete the development of Taweelah B, the country's fifth Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP). Over $1.2bn was provided from Japan Bank for...

World Bank splashes out for West Africa power pool.(international)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The World Bank has approved a $350m lending facility that will support the development of a West Africa power pool. The project is seen as an important landmark in creating a unified electricity market for the region. Aimed at integrating...

Denmark funds Russian clean up for Emission Reduction Units.(international)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Two subsidiaries of the Russian power company, RAO UES, are to sell Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) to the Danish government after the Danish Environmental Protection Agency agreed to provide funding for two power plant modernization projects....

Mitsui Babcock buys Polish firm.(Energo Inwest Sp.z)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... UK based Mitsui Babcock has acquired a majority interest in the Polish company Energo-Inwest Sp.z.0.0. from Electrownia Rybnik SA, part of the EDF group. Energo-Inwest will continue to operate in Poland as a separate company focused on the...

Rolls-Royce extends Wasit.(international)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority has contracted Rolls-Royce to provide the generation equipment required to complete the latest phase of its plan to extend the Wasit power plant. Under the terms of the $40m contract, Rolls-Royce will...

Armenia.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Armenia: The World Bank has demanded an explanation from Armenian authorities after it was reported that a subsidiary of Russian utility RAO UES purchased the country's electricity distribution network for [euro]73m ($87.6m) without conforming...

Bahrain.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Bahrain: The country's power sector could be liberalized in five years time after the government commissioned a study into the process of turning the Ministry of Electricity into a government commission before opening it up to the private...

Czech Republic.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Czech Republic: State owned power group, CEZ, has been boosted by the government's decision to give it exclusivity in the rerun privatization of the country's largest brown coal mine, Severoceske Doly.

EDF.(Powertek plans to acquire EDF energy plants in egypt)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Egypt: Malaysian firm Powertek is in talks with EDF to buy its two gas fired thermal plants in Egypt. A deal would see Powertek assume 1366 MW of capacity together with the joint company that operates the plants.

Alstom and Initec Energia.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Egypt: Alstom and Initec Energia are to design, supply and install a 260 MW steam turbine generator package for the new 750 MW Talkha combined cycle plant.

Hungary.(biogas power station )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Hungary: A Ft1.5bn ($7.3m) biogas power station to be built in central Hungary will use 90 000 tonnes of manure and waste from local farms to generate enough electricity to supply up to 5000 households a year.

Middle East.(Gulf Cooperation Council's power grid Construction )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Middle East: Construction on the first phase of the Gulf Cooperation Council's power grid will begin in September. The first phase will link Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

Romania.(News digest)(Areva Transmission and Distribution)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Romania: Areva T & D has been awarded a [euro]16.6m ($20m) substation automation contract with Romanian transmission system operator, Transelectrica, to modernize the country's transmission grid.

Russia.(News digest)(increasing gas exports to Europe)
August 1, 2005... Russia: Deputy energy minister, Ivan Materov, has said Russia was interested in increasing gas exports to Europe via the projected North European gas pipeline.

Saudi Arabia.(News digest)(independent power plant)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Saudi Arabia: National Power Corporation has welcomed the commercial operation of the country's first Independent Power Plant. The Build, Own, Operate and Transfer project cost over $200m.

Turkey.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Turkey: GE has provided a fourth LM6000-PC aeroderivative gas turbine generator set and will provide a steam turbine generator set to the 362 MW combined cycle Bursa power plant.

Ukraine.(News digest)( World Bank provides loan for hydroelectric power infrastructure)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Ukraine: The World Bank is to provide a $106m loan in order for the Ukraine to develop its vast national hydroelectric power infrastructure. A state owned company will use the funds to modernize seven dams.

EU wins race to host ITER.(European Union)(International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... France will host the international nuclear fusion reactor ITER project after Japan pulled out of the bidding race in return for a generous concessions package. Lengthy negotiations between the project partners, Canada, China, Japan,...

Carbon-free electricity project at design stage.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A consortium of power and energy companies will design the world's first industrial scale project to generate carbon-free electricity from hydrogen at a site in the UK. The $600m project, involving BP, ConocoPhillips, Shell and Scottish...

New regulator states intentions.(europe)(Federal Network Operator )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Germany's Federal Network Operator has been given the responsibility of regulating the country's energy industry and promised to ensure the reliability and quality of supply. Many of the industry's leading players had feared a radical...

Norway's first gas fired power plant.(europe)
August 1, 2005... Siemens is to install Norway's first gas fired power plant as the country seeks to reduce its growing dependence on importing fossil fuel generated power from neighbouring countries. Norway has resisted using domestic gas fired generation...

EU campaigns for energy awareness.(europe)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The European Union has launched a campaign to raise public awareness on intelligent energy production and consumption. A recent Green Paper published by the EU highlighted that savings in energy consumption of 20 per cent are possible by 2020....

French greet wave power.(europe)(Total Energie Developpement SAS )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Encouraged by European and French legislation, Total Energie Developpement SAS and Iberdrola SA have signed an agreement with Ocean Power Technologies with a view to developing a wave power station in France. The parties will identify...

European Union.(News digest)(taken legal action Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Europe: The European Union has taken legal action against Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain for failing to liberalize their electricity and natural gas markets.

European Parliament.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Europe: To cater for the recent enlargement and new power relationships with Russia and Turkey, the European Parliament is to triple the funds allocated to gas and electricity transmission projects.

France.(News digest)(Gaz de France)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... France: The national government hopes to earn around [euro]4bn ($4.8bn) for the 22 per cent stake of Europe's third largest gas company, Gaz de France, which went on sale in early July.

GE Energy's Jenbacher.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Germany: A new 4.2 MW combined heat and power biogas plant, one of the country's largest, featuring GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine systems was commissioned in northern Germany on 1 July.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited.(News digest)(develop fuel cell based combined heat and power systems )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Germany: Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited Is to develop fuel cell based combined heat and power systems for the German residential market after it signed an agreement with the utility EWE.

Draft.(News digest)(nuclear waste final storage facility)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Germany: Draft legislation has been submitted to the government for the creation of a [euro]500m ($602m) nuclear waste final storage facility. Federal environment minister Jurgen Trittin said it had to be established by 2030.

Greece.(News digest)(electricity and natural gas markets )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Greece: After the EU issued legal proceedings against it for falling to open its electricity and natural gas markets to competition, Greece has announced plans to open the industries to industrial and commercial competition later this year and...

Netherlands.(News digest)(Gasunie)(Microgen Holdings PLC)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Netherlands: Gasunie and Microgen are to develop a new micro combined heat and power system with the intention of bringing the 'home power plant' closer to market.

Spain.(News digest)(energy sector economies )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Spain: The Spanish government's aim of achieving energy sector economies of [euro]8bn ($9.6bn) will involve reductions in electricity consumption of 8.5 per cent before 2007 and a reduction in the country's energy dependence of 20 per cent.

Bronzeoak.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... UK: Bronzeoak is planning to construct an [pounds sterling]8.5m ($14.8m) biomass power plant in Somerset that will have an electrical output of 1.5 MW and a thermal output of 7 MW.

Eclipse Energy.(News digest)(offshore gas/wind hybrid energy generation projec)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... UK: Eclipse Energy expects to hear in the first quarter of 2006 whether its application to construct the world's first offshore gas/wind hybrid energy generation project has been successful.

Ministry of Defence.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... UK: The British wind energy industry received a massive boost as the Ministry of Defence relaxed the criteria for its objections and announced that trials had begun to test a new radar technology that would allow turbines to be erected nearer...

Partnership wins Vietnam contract.(asia-pacific)
August 1, 2005... A joint venture between Japan's Marubeni Corporation and China's Dongfang Electric Corporation has won an EPC contract to build a 600 MW coal fired power plant in Vietnam. "This is the first time that Chinese and Japanese firms have jointly...

Ratnagiri emerges from Dabhol deal.(asia-pacific)(Ratnagiri Gas and Power)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A settlement has been reached in the long-running dispute over the $3bn Dabhol power plant in India that has pitted GE and Bechtel against the Maharashtra government. As a result, ownership of the assets in the 2184 MW plant will pass to a...

China links grid to northwest.(asia-pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The State Grid Corporation of China has completed power transmission projects in the northwest and central areas to link the previously separate northwest grid. Following the completion of an upgrade to the 500 kV transmission link and the...

Philippines plant privatization is cancelled.(asia-pacific)
August 1, 2005... The programme to privatize National Power Corporation (Napocor) assets in the Philippines suffered a significant setback when the auction of the 600 MW Calaca power plant was cancelled. The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management...

China and India choose Siemens.(asia-pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Germany's Siemens Power Generation Group has been awarded contracts in both India and China. The largest is worth [euro]400m and is for the construction of a turnkey combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 1100 MW. The customer is Torrent...

North Korea offered electricity aid by southern neighbour.(asia-pacific)
August 1, 2005... South Korea has offered to supply up to 2 GW of electricity to it communist neighbour to the north provided it scraps its nuclear ambitions. At the recent inter-Korean economic talks officials from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)...

Bangladesh.(News digest)(electrification programme )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Bangladesh: The British government is contributing [pounds sterling]50m ($87.7m) over five years towards a [pounds sterling]161m rural electrification programme in Bangladesh aimed at connecting 1.35m households and businesses to the...

China.(News digest)(to reduce green house emissions)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... China: China will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by three million tonnes with the signing of an emissions reduction purchase agreement for its 98 MW Xiaogushan hydropower plant project under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto...

India.(News digest)(National Hydropower Corporation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... India: The National Hydropower Corporation has achieved financial closure on the 520 MW Omkareshwar hydroelectric power project in Madhya Pradesh, India, with a loan agreement of Rs1350 crore ($310m) involving a consortium of 11 banks.

Japan.(News digest)(REpower Systems to supply wind turbines)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Japan: Germany's REpower Systems is to supply 19 of its MD77-type 1.5 MW wind turbines to the developer and wind park operator Meiden for three wind projects in the northwest of Japan's main island Honshu.

Malaysia.(News digest)(GE Energy to supply gas turbine generators)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Malaysia: GE Energy will supply two Frame 9FA gas turbine generators for the Tuanku Jaafar Power Station, part of the Port Dickson Rehabilitation Project, Phase 2, in Malaysia.

Korea Electric Power Corporation.(News digest)(investments)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Philippines: A consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) is to invest around $450m in a planned 600 MW extension of the ilijan combined cycle gas fired power plant, targeted to come on stream by 2009.

The Asian Development Bank.(News digest)(finance for electric utilities)
August 1, 2005... Philippines: The Asian Development Bank has signed a MOU with the Philippine government on a $950m package of financial assistance to the country's power sector.

Singapore.(News digest)(SPL Worldgroup contracts with PowerSeraya Limited)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Singapore: SPL Worldgroup has been selected by PowerSeraya Limited, responsible for 30 per cent of power supply in Singapore, to provide customer care and billing systems ahead of full market deregulation and competition over the next three...

Sri Lanka.(News digest)(electric utilities)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Sri Lanka: The Public Utilities Commission and National Chamber of industries have called for sweeping reforms of Sri Lanka's power sector to avert a major power crisis. This would involve unbundling of the heavily Indebted Ceylon Electricity...

Thailand.(News digest)(finance given to renewable energy projects)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Thailand: A second sustainable energy investment fund of [euro]50m ($61m) is to be established in Bangkok to provide services and investment capital to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the Asian region. Seed funding is coming...

US seals surprise climate deal.(americas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The US has announced a pact with five Asia-Pacific nations to cut emissions of greenhouse gases through the use and transfer of 'clean' technology such as IGCC, carbon capture and renewables. The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development...

Neptune orders HVDC.(americas)(high voltage direct current)(Neptune Regional Transmission System)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Neptune Regional Transmission System (RTS) has placed orders worth $400m for the construction of an undersea high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link between New Jersey and New York states. The link will start operating in mid-2007...

US Senate passes energy bill.(americas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The US Senate has passed an energy bill that will provide tax incentives to boost oil and gas production in the US as well as encourage renewable energy development, nuclear power and energy conservation. President George W. Bush requested that...

Bio-oil gas turbine generates power.(americas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The demonstration phase of the West Lorne BioOil cogeneration project in Canada has commenced operation, supplying power to the Ontario power grid. The bio-oil fired gas turbine operated successfully with a performance comparable to a natural...

IFC supports Dominican Republic wind project.(americas)(International Finance Corporation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed an agreement to provide up to $23m for the development of the first wind power project in the Dominican Republic. The agreement comprises $10m of financing and a guarantee of up to $13m for...

Brazil.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Brazil: The Itaipu hydropower plant was forced to shut down 3000 MW of capacity in June after high winds damaged nine transmission towers and cut two transmission lines. Brazil had to import power from Uruguay and Argentina to meet demand.

Canada.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Canada: Canada has become the sixteenth member of the Methane to Markets Partnership (MMP), an international initiative that promotes the recovery and use of methane to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. MMP targets methane emissions from...

Chile.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Chile: Chilean distributor Chilectra has signed a power purchase agreement with the developers of the 155 MW La Higuera hydropower project for the supply of electricity generated by the project. La Higuera is due to start operating in 2008.

Colombia.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Colombia: The government is to invest peso40bn ($17.2m) in rural electrification in 2005, a rise of 41 per cent over 2004. Projects that will benefit include the peso 12.1bn project in Cauca department, which will connect 2857 consumers.

Cuba.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Cuba: Venezuela's state-owned development bank Bandes is to finance a $93m electrification project in Havana, Cuba. Funds will come from Bandes' recently created international cooperation fund (FACI), which will provide $20m for the project.

Mexico.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Mexico: Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) is due to sign a contract with Iberdrola Ingenferia y Construccion (Iberinco) to reinforce electricity infrastructure in five northern states of Mexico. The project consists of ten transmission...

Nicaragua.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Nicaragua: The first 10 MW phase of the San Jacinto geothermal power project has been inaugurated. Standard Bank and the project developer, Polaris Geothermal Inc., are in the process of raising financing for the second phase of the project.

GE Energy.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... USA: GE Energy has signed a contract to provide five LMS100 gas turbines to East Kentucky Power Cooperative. The turbines will be operated in simple cycle for mid-load and peaking requirements.

The Department of Energy (DOE).(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... USA: The Department of Energy (DOE) is making $2.5m available to 18 Native American tribes to advance the use of renewable energy and energy efficient technology on tribal lands. One tribe, the Citizen Potawatorni Nation, will tap the...

Robinson Power.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... USA: Robinson Power has been granted government approval for a $400m, 300 MW waste coal power plant in Pennsylvania.

Transformer downsize.(companies)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Power technology group ABB is to consolidate its global transformer business in response to overcapacity and increasing raw material costs. The main focus of the consolidation programme, which will run until 2008, will be to improve...

EU approves VA Tech acquisition.(companies)
August 1, 2005... The European Commission has given its approval of Siemens' takeover of VA Technologie AG (VA Tech) on the condition that Siemens immediately sells VA Tech's hydropower business. Siemens will now integrate VA Tech's transmission and...

GE uprates its most advanced gas turbine system.(companies)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... GE Energy has uprated its advanced 109H gas turbine technology from 480 to 520 MW. The company said that it has used lessons learned during testing and operation of the 109H unit at Baglan Bay, Wales, to improve the design of the H System...

Westinghouse to be sold by UK nuclear group, BNFL.(companies)(Westinghouse Electric Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... UK nuclear group BNFL has said that it is to sell Westinghouse Electric, its US-based nuclear power plant manufacturer, and is reported to have received approaches from several interested parties. The announcement came as the company announced...

Areva selling off.(News digest)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Areva selling off: French nuclear group Areva is seeking a buyer for its FCI subsidiary. FCI's four business units focus on energy transport networks and high-tension transformers. The subsidiary accounts for 12 per cent of Areva Group turnover...

Dresser buys.(News digest)
August 1, 2005... Dresser buys: A unit of Dresser-Rand has agreed to acquire some of the assets of Tuthill Energy Systems (TES), a manufacturer of single and multi-stage steam turbines and portable ventilators and a division of Tuthill Corporation. TES...

El Paso sells.(News digest)(GP China Limited)(acquisition)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... El Paso sells: El Paso Corporation is to sell its interests in four power plants in China to GP China Limited for $71m. The plants are the Meizhou Wan, Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi power plants.

Exelon approves.(News digest)(Exelon Corp. acquires Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Exelon approves: Shareholders of Exelon Corporation have voted in support of the company's proposed acquisition of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). The takeover will create Exelon Electric & Gas, one of the largest utilities in the USA....

FuelCell Energy JV.(News digest)(FuelCell Energy Inc. enter into a product development and distribution agreement with Enbridge Inc )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... FuelCell Energy JV: FuelCell Energy Inc. and Enbridge Inc have signed an exclusive product development and distribution agreement for a new multi-MW product aimed at natural gas pipeline applications in North America. The Direct...

Global Energy decides.(News digest)(Global Energy acquires KW International Ltd. )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Global Energy decides: Global Energy Decisions has acquired KW International Ltd. (KWI), a leading energy trading and risk management software firm. The acquisition will help Global Energy to increase the range of operational and financial...

IEE opens in China.(News digest)(Institution of Electrical Engineers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... IEE opens in China: The IEE, the largest professional engineering society in Europe, has opened an office in Beijing, China. The organization, which has over 120 000 members--20 000 of which are outside the UK--aims to provide services to...

Vestas builds in China.(News digest)
August 1, 2005... Vestas builds in China: Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is to build a blade factory in the Tianjin Economic Development Area in north China. With an investment of $30m, the factory will produce 39 m-long blades for its 2 MW V80 wind turbines.

The challenge of change.
August 1, 2005... The Asian electricity industry is undergoing significant structural change driven by healthy rates of economic growth. The industry restructuring objectives vary across the region but are aimed at improving power supply reliability and...

Diary dates.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... September Balkan Power Conference 7th-9th September Sofia, Bulgaria www.balkanpower.org POWER-GEN Asia 13th-15th September SUNTEC, Singapore www.powergenasia.com Metering, Billing & CRM/CIS Europe 2005...

Once bitten, twice shy: both growth and M & A activity in the power sector are picking up again, according to PWC's latest utility survey, but this time caution is in the air. Investors have an eye on climate change legislation and are focusing on home and regional markets rather than developing global strategies.(REPORT)
August 1, 2005... Investment in the world's utility companies appears to be largely back on track, after a few years in the sidings. PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PWC) 2005 Global Utilities Survey reveals record levels of merger and acquisition (M & A) activity with...