Power Engineering International articles from January 2007

Power Engineering International archives from January 2007

Is CCS ready for action?(Up Front)(carbon dioxide capture and storage)(Column)
January 1, 2007... I am very pleased to report that I have now experienced my first POWER-GEN event. I attended POWER-GEN International, which was held in Orlando, Florida, USA, at the end of November, and apart from it giving me the excuse to escape the dreary...

Energy showdown on the cards: the European Commission's new energy policy aims to liberalize the energy sector. Although good news for users, the large energy groups are less than thrilled writes Heather Johnstone.(Analysis)
January 1, 2007... The European Commission's (EC) eagerly awaited energy strategy, which was unveiled on the 10 January 2007, includes ambitious proposals on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting energy security. However, by far the most controversial...

Gazprom gas dispute with Belarus spreads to Europe.(international)
January 1, 2007... A dispute between Belarus and Russia's Gazprom, which doubled the price of gas for the former Soviet state, has escalated to include Europe. From 2007-2011 Russian gas will be priced at $100 per 1000 [m.sup.3] in line with Europe. The...

UN task force to develop post-Kyoto climate change framework.(international)
January 1, 2007... The Club of Madrid and the United Nations Foundation (UNF) have formed an independent task force to develop and propose a framework for a post-Kyoto agreement on climate change. The task force of up to 20 people will be chaired by Ricardo...

Norton Rose to advise on Gulf power interconnection project.(international)
January 1, 2007... International legal practice Norton Rose has won a tender to advise the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) as part of a project which will connect the electricity systems of United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia,...

Areva wins Moscow grid upgrade deal.(international)(AREVA Inc. wins contract in Moscow )(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Areva's transmission and distribution division has won a $6.9bn contract to modernise Moscow's electricity network. The contract will see Areva build and upgrade about 4300 MW of generating capacity; substations of varying voltages with a...

Suez bags massive desalination deal.(international)
January 1, 2007... A Suez led consortium is to develop what is said to be the world's largest desalination project, the Marafiq independent water and power (IWPP), located at Jubail in north east Saudi Arabia. The 2750 MW and 800,000 [m.sup.3]/day project is...

Kuwait calls for emergency power.(international)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Kuwait has approached regional power contractors to develop emergency power stations in order to stave off an electricity shortage. The energy ministry wants around 500 MW of new capacity to be installed by April ahead of the summer peak...

Bosnia.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Bosnia: CEZ is to invest [euro]1.5bn ($1.9bn) on a 600-700 MW coal-fired station and a mine at Gacko in Bosnia in a deal with Siberia's ERS. The joint venture company Novo Elektrarne, majority owned by CEZ, will develop the project.

Bulgaria.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Bulgaria: Two units 440 MW VVER Kozloduy nuclear power plant have been disconnected from the grid and shut down as part of a European Union Accession Treaty-agreed deal.

Cameroon.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Cameroon: Power monopoly AES Sonel plans to more than double the number of people connected to its transmission and distribution network, adding 15 000 consumers annually for the next 15 years.

Hungary.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Hungary: Eon plans to build a combined cycle gas-fired plant in Gonyu, in the northwest of the country. The [euro]270m ($349m), 400 MW plant is due on line in 2010.

Oman.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Oman: Suez, government-owned Mubadala Develeopment, and the National Trading Company of Oman are to develop a 678 MW, 26.4 MIGD desalination plant at Barka. The deal also includes the purchase of an existing plant at the site.

Poland.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Poland: A contract to build a [euro]95m combined heat and power plant in Czestochowa has been won by Fortum. The coal-biomass co-fired station with produce 120MWth and 64MWe. The plant in due on-line in late 2009.

Qatar.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Qatar: ABB is to expand the national power and telecommunications systems in a $450m deal. The contract includes three substations, which are due for commissioning in the first half of 2008.

Mosenergo.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Russia: Mosenergo is developing a [euro]280m ($363m) combined cycle plant at TPP26 in Moscow. Alstom will deliver the 420 MW turnkey GT26 gas turbine-based system on a turnkey basis for 2009.

Siberia's Tyumen.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Russia: The Tarasovskoye oil field in Siberia's Tyumen region is to be the site of a 52 MW gas-fired station developed by Wartsila and owned by Rosneft for opening in 2008.

Saudi Arabia.(News digest)(contracts for power stations)(General Electric Co. gets power stations contracts from Saudi Arabia)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Saudi Arabia: Three power stations with a combined total of 2 900 MW of capacity are to be built. GE is to supply the plants based on 23 of its Frame 7FA turbines. The [pounds sterling]950m deal will see the first turbines begin operations in...

Turkey.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Turkey: EnBW and Ciner Group, a local industrial conglomerate, have signed a letter of intent for cooperation in the Turkish electricity market.

Uganda.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Uganda: Testing of the 390 MW Kiira hydroelectric station is underway, with engineers bringing the fifth 42 MW turbine set on stream at the plant, 76 km east of Kampala. The plant had originally been due to begin operations in 1994.

Brussels sets out target on greenhouse gas emissions.(europe)
January 1, 2007... The European Union (EU) has set what been called the world's most ambitious goal for fighting global warming--cutting, by 2020, greenhouse gas emissions to 20 per cent below the level of 1990. The EU is prepared to go further and would...

EU emissions trading scheme will fail--report.(europe)
January 1, 2007... The European Union (EU) emissions trading scheme will ultimately fail to deliver in its current form, according to a recent report by an independent market analyst. Datamonitor says that over-allocation of emissions credits in phase one of...

UK to get first coal plant for 20 years.(europe)
January 1, 2007... Eon has submitted a Section 36 planning application for UK's first new coal fired units in over 20 years. Having submitted a scoping document for the two supercritical coal-fired 800 MW units at its existing Kingsnorth power station in Kent...

German nuclear phase-out goes on.(europe)
January 1, 2007... Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that the current programme of dismantling all of Germany's 17 nuclear reactors is to continue, adding that there is no intention of going back on the policy of abandoning nuclear power. However, while...

Belgium.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Belgium: Venture capital company 3i is to invest [euro]30m ($39m) in order to acquire a minority stake in Electrawinds, a local independent renewable development company.

Denmark.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Denmark: Cable company Nexans is to develop a 42 km transmission cable for Dong Energy's Horns Rev 2 offshore wind farm on the west coast. The turnkey, [euro]30m ($39m) contract is expected to be finished in autumn 2008.

Aker Kvaerner is to develop a [euro]50m ($65m) multi-fuel CFB boiler for an industrial plant for Porin Prossivoima.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Finland: Aker Kvaerner is to develop a [euro]50m ($65m) multi-fuel CFB boiler for an industrial plant for Porin Prossivoima. A CHP plant is being developed at Pori on the west coast that will use the 177 MW boiler system, due for delivery in...

TVO.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Finland: TVO's Olkiluoto 3 reactor project is not now expected to begin operations before the end of 2010, some 18 months behind schedule. The delay is due to a mixture of both technical and administrative problems.

France.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... France: Suez has reaffirmed the validity of its proposed merger with Gaz de France, despite the postponement of the project to the second half of 2007 and uncertainties over the timetable.

Dillinger Hutte steelworks.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Germany: Dillinger Hutte steelworks has awarded a [euro]100m ($637m) contract for the turnkey development of a 90 MW gas fired CHP plant to Austrian Energy and Environment. Partners include Steag, VSE and Rogesa. The plant is to be built by...

New Rheinfelden hydro plant.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Germany: The new Rheinfelden hydro plant is to be fitted with four 25 MW Voith Siemens Hydro Kaplan turbines in a consortium deal with Alstom. The [euro]380m ($492m) plant is backed by EnBW and is due to commence operations in 2010.

Italy.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Italy: Fortore and Irpina windfarms are to be fitted with 69 Vestas turbines generating 138 MW. Turnkey delivery of the turbines to developers IVPC Power 3 is due to begin in the second quarter 2007.

Spain.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Spain: Industry association Unesa reports that local power companies invested an estimated [euro]5.5bn ($7.1m) in Spain in 2006, up from [euro]4.84bn in 2005. Of the total outlay [euro]2.58bn went on generation, and [euro]2.26bn on transmission...

British authorities.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... UK: British authorities have given the go-ahead for two major offshore wind farms--the London Array and Thanet, to be built in the Thames Estuary. The two projects will generate up to 1.3 GW when fully operational.

Vestas.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... UK: Vestas has won an order for the 180 MW Robin Rigg offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth. The order has been placed by Eon UK Renewables and comprises 60 turbines as well as a five-year operations maintenance contract.

New Zealand lays out green agenda.(asia-pacific)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... A detailed action plan to maximise renewable energy and energy efficiency in New Zealand has been launched by Auckland for public discussion. The draft strategy seeks input to help set targets for the growth of renewable energy and achieve...

China chooses nuclear reactor technology.(asia-pacific)
January 1, 2007... Westinghouse AP1000 pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology has been selected by China for use in its multibillion dollar nuclear development programme. Westinghouse Electric Co and its consortium partner, The Shaw Group, have publicly...

Indonesia reopens tender for four power plants worth $1.2bn.(asia-pacific)
January 1, 2007... Jakarta has reopened the tender for the construction of four power plants worth $1.2bn. The four coal fired power plants consist of the 300 MW Banten power plant in Teluk Naga, Bantem, the 300 MW Pcitan power plant in East Java and the 600...

EGAT excluded from IPP bids.(asia-pacific)
January 1, 2007... State-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) are not allowed to bid for the next round of electricity production licences under the independent power producer (IPP) scheme. Thai energy minister Piuasvasti Amranand said...

India sets out huge hydroelectric expansion plans.(asia-pacific)
January 1, 2007... A new policy to encourage hydroelectric development in India is expected to attract more private investment cash, a senior government advisor has said. C Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister's economic advisory council, has said that...

Joint venture buys up Philippines hydroelectric plant.(asia-pacific)
January 1, 2007... A joint venture of Norway's SN Power Corp and Aboitiz Power Corp has purchased the 360 MW Magat hydroelectric power plant in Isabela after submitting an offer of $530m. The sale was conducted by the state-run Power Sector Assets and...

Dunhuang city in Gansu province will be the location for the world's largest solar PV power station.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... China: Dunhuang city in Gansu province will be the location for the world's largest solar PV power station. The 100 MW development will cost around $765m and will take five years to complete.

Sanmen Nuclear Power.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... China: Sanmen Nuclear Power company has selected Washington Group International to provide project management training services in both China and the USA.

The China National Technical Import and Export Corp (CNTIC) and Harbin Power.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Indonesia: The China National Technical Import and Export Corp (CNTIC) and Harbin Power have won contracts for two thermal power stations. CNTIC will develop a 625 MW $473m project in Suralaya, Harbin a 660 MW, $522m project in East Java.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Indonesia: The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for a strategic partnership on development of biomass energy.

China has signed a development deal for a 600 MW hydro plant on the Shweli River in the northeast of the country near the Chinese border.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Myanmar: China has signed a development deal for a 600 MW hydro plant on the Shweli River in the northeast of the country near the Chinese border. The project, to be located some 27km south west of Nahkam, will supply some 4 GWh annually to the...

More small-scale hydro plants are planned over 2007 with plans to build in the water-rich states of Shan and Kachin.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Myanmar: More small-scale hydro plants are planned over 2007 with plans to build in the water-rich states of Shan and Kachin. Seven small plants are being developed to supply power to rural off-grid locations.

Pakistan.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Pakistan: Russia is planning to invest in coal-mining and associated power projects in the Sindh region, with a recent delegation visiting the region. Meanwhile, the Alternative Energy Development Board has received 13 proposals to develop 180...

Philippines.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Philippines: The Department of Energy is offering three geothermal sites with total potential of 100 MW for development in the 2006 Philippine Energy Contracting Round.

Sri Lanka.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Sri Lanka: Ceylon Electricity Board has signed a civil construction contract for the Upper Kotmale Hydro power project with Japan's Mayoda Company. The project covers the construction of the 35m dam and a 35km tunnel.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Thailand: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has established a marketing and information base in Thailand as part of its plans to expand overseas orders. The new company was established with Thai partners.

Siam Cement Group.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Thailand: Suez subsidiary Glow energy has signed two major power supply contracts worth $500-$600m with petrochemical companies affiliated with the Siam Cement Group. In order to meet the new contracts Glow plans to develop additional...

Siemens to build two gas power plants in Argentina.(americas)
January 1, 2007... A Siemens led consortium has been awarded contracts worth some $1.6bn from Argentina for the turnkey construction of two combined cycle gas fired power plants. The 830 MW plants will be built in Campana in the province of Buenos Aires and...

Alstrom secures $500m coal clean up contracts.(americas)
January 1, 2007... Alstom has won three successive USA contracts worth over $518m to clean emissions from ten coal fired power stations in Texas, Kentucky and South Carolina. Alstom will supply emission control systems for S[O.sub.x], particulates and...

Cape Wind prospects improve after Supreme Court ruling.(americas)
January 1, 2007... Controversial plans to develop a 130-turbine wind farm off the USA's coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts have been given a significant boost by a Supreme Court ruling. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has issued a ruling reaffirming...

ConocoPhillips and EnCana combine to create North American oil concern.(americas)
January 1, 2007... ConocoPhillips and EnCana have created an integrated North American oil business. The upstream partnership will consist of EnCana's Foster Creek and Christina Lake projects located in the prolific eastern flank of the Athabasca oilsands in...

Environmental campaigners raise Patagonia concern.(americas)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The development of potential hydroelectric generation sites in southern Chile's Patagonia threaten the region, environmental campaigners say. The protests come as a joint venture between Endesa Chile and local power major Colbun plans to...

Colombia plans major capacity hike.(americas)(electric utilities projects will increase capacity)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Colombia is planning six projects with a combined capacity of 871 MW by 2011. The projects include the 54 MW El Morro gas-fired plant. A second planned thermal project is the 50 MW coal fired Argos facility, due to begin operating in early...

Inter-American Development Bank.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Brazil: A $400m loan from the Inter-American Development Bank has been approved for SOL Coqueria Turbarao to finance a 180 MW integrated coke and cogeneration project in Vitoria, in the state of Espirito Santo.

Foster Wheeler.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Brazil: Foster Wheeler is to design and supply a 150 MW CFB boiler island to Votorantim Metais Niquel by November 2008. The pet-coke fired plant will be adjacent to an existing facility in Acampamento Macedo, near Brazilia.

Wartsila.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Brazil: Wartsila has announced plans to invest $1.6m developing its services workshop in Manaus. The investment will fund and equip a new workshop to meet regional demand.

Chile.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Chile: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has received an order from Empresa Electrica Guacolda for the turnkey delivery of a 152 MW coal-fired plant in Huasco, due on line in September 2009.

Colombia.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Colombia: Independent power producer Termobarranquilla has signed a ten-year service agreement with Alstom. The maintenance contract covers gas turbine parts and an upgrade for the five GT11N2 turbines installed in Barranquilla on the Caribbean...

Oklahoma's Markham Ferry hydro plant.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... USA: Oklahoma's Markham Ferry hydro plant is to be upgraded in a [euro]50m ($?m) deal with Alstom. The Grand River Dam Authority awarded the contract to supply and install four 27 MW Kaplan turbines. The first refurbished unit is due on line in...

Point Beach.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... USA: Point Beach nuclear plant, a 1 033 MW facility in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, is to be sold by Wisconsin Energy Group to FPL Energy under a $1bn deal.

FERC.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... USA: Regulatory authority FERC has approved an upgrade at the Oswego Falls West hydroelectric plant, located in New York state. Operators Brookfield Power are installing two new 500 kW turbine generators, increasing output to 7.36 MW by early...

US Bankruptcy Court.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... USA: The US Bankruptcy Court has approved Calpine's planned sale of its 590 MW Aries power plant, in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, to Kelson Holdings for $233.6m.

Vestas.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... USA: Vestas is to supply turbines for the second phase of the Solano wind project in Rio Vista, California. The 63 MW order comprises 21 turbines of 3 MW each. The turnkey delivery is due to begin in September with commissioning in the second...

Venezuela.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Venezuela: VA Tech Hydro is to modernise the Pena Largo Hydro plant in the Andes. The project includes two Francis turbine runners to replace the existing 20 MW units. The two refurbished units are due for commissioning in mid-2008.

Eon plans mammoth boost in generation investment.(companies)
January 1, 2007... Germany's Eon will invest a total [euro]25.3bn ($33bn) over the next three years, with the vast majority going on its power generation and network assets. Of the total fixed asset expenditure of [euro]22.4bn some [euro]11.4bn will be used...

Hydro and Statoil form oil and gas merger.(companies)(Norsk Hydro ASA mergers with Statoil ASA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Two of Scandinavia's largest oil operators have merged their oil and gas activities to create what is the largest offshore operator in the world. With the boards of both companies recommending the merger, the new company will have a...

Investment in renewable energy technology reaches record highs.(companies)
January 1, 2007... Renewable energy technologies saw more than $70bn in new investment over 2006, up 43 per cent on 2005. According to research firm New Energy Finance, there are more than 1200 private equity funds targeting environmental projects, which in...

GdF sets timescale for Suez merger.(companies)(Gaz de France mergers with Suez)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Gaz de France (GdF) will hold an extraordinary meeting on June 25 this year for shareholders to vote on its planned $102bn merger with Suez to create Europe's second-biggest utility. The decision taken by GDF's board means that almost the...

M & A activity set to pick up in 2007 ahead of liberalization.(companies)
January 1, 2007... European utilities will continue consolidating in 2007 in the run-up to full market liberalisation, says independent researchers Datamonitor. In a recent report it says that the new year has already begun with renewed speculation over the...

Electricity drives AES.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Electricity drives AES: The Electric Drive Transportation Association is being joined by AES. The body represents battery, hybrid and fuel cell transportation technologies.

Poweo power pact.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Poweo power pact: IPP Poweo has struck a power exchange deal with Electricte de France (EDF), granting the company access to 160 MW of power from nuclear capacity for 15 years. As part of the deal, EDF will have access to some of Poweo's...

Dutch courage from Centrica.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Dutch courage from Centrica: A [euro]1.5bn ($1.9bn) bid for assets expected to be auction by Nuon and Essen as part of their imminent merger is being lined up by Centrica. The UK company is hoping to expand its presence in the Netherlands.

Ride on MAN.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Ride on MAN: Swedish truck and genset manufacturers Scania may have escaped the clutches of a hostile takeover bid from MAN, which has hinted that it may not prolong the offer that is set to expire soon.

GE dries out.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... GE dries out: A definitive agreement for the sale of its hydroelectric business has been signed by GE. Pescarmona Group of Companies is set to take on all of GE's worldwide hydroelectric business, except for its operations in Scandinavia.

Climate's Italian stallion.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Climate's Italian stallion: Enel has announced a [euro]4bn ($5.2bn) investment campaign that includes [euro]3.3bn on renewables that will expand capacity by 1 700 MW over five years. A further [euro]270m will go on energy efficiency and...

3i makes big lift.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... 3i makes big lift: Venture capital company 3i has agreed a buyout deal for Dockwise Transport, a Dutch heavy lift transport company that specialises in the marine and oil and gas industries. The deal is reported to be worth in the region of...

Tognum fuels up.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Tognum fuels up: RWE has sold its 18.1 per cent stake in MTU CFC Solutions, a fuel cell joint venture, back to majority owners Tognum. The move aims to allow Tognum the capability to expand its operations in the stationary fuel cell market.

Pulp friction.(News digest)
January 1, 2007... Pulp friction: Metso has completed the acquisition of Aker Kvaerners pulping and power business after receiving approval from the European Commission. The deal was reported to come in at approximately [euro]335m ($434m).

Korean current fun.(News digest)(Voith Siemens Hydro GmbH und Company KG signs joint ventures with Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company Ltd. and Nuclear Power Corp.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Korean current fun: Voith Siemens Hydro has announced the formation of a new joint venture in South Korea that is to develop and test large tidal power plants. Partners include Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co, Posco and the provincial...