Power Engineering International articles from May 2004

Power Engineering International archives from May 2004

Manana comes too soon.(Up Front)
May 1, 2004... It sounds like a Spanish James Bond movie but for most of us, tomorrow often comes too soon. Unfortunately, in today's power industry time is a commodity there is seldom enough of. It certainly makes analysing and preparing for the future a...

Enlargement opportunities: the ten new members of the European Union require more than $50bn of investment in their electricity infrastructure over the next 15 years. While this represents a huge opportunity, there are still barriers to overcome. Sian Green reports.(Analysis)
May 1, 2004... In May, the European Union (EU) celebrates the accession of ten new states to its membership. The enlargement sees an expansion from 15 member states to 25, a 25 per cent jump in surface area, and a 20 per cent increase in population to 450m...

Russia supplies Iraq plant.(International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Russia's Power Machines Group has signed a supply contract to deliver equipment to Iraq's Dibis thermal power plant. The order consists of two 160 MW gas turbines and two turbo-generators to be delivered by 2005. In a connected deal, Power...

UES to use cash in genco sell-off.(International)(Unified Energy Systems of Russia)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Russian government will use cash and UES shares as currency in the forthcoming auctions of UES's generating companies. The announcement was made by Victor Khristenko in April. The first genco auction will take place either by year-end...

EPS awards Mitsui Babcock contract for refurbishment.(International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Japan's Mitsui Babcock has won a stake in a $54.5m contract in Serbia to overhaul Lot 2 of Elektroprivreda Srbije's (EPS) Nikola Tesla power plant. The project is being funded by the European Union and managed by the European Agency for...

Africa eyes investment for its power potential.(International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Africa has the largest power potential in the world but the untapped market has yet to lure investors, recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan reveals. Only ten per cent of the population has access to electricity. In order to encourage...

Linking central Asia.(International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The refurbishment of a regional power transmission link in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will go ahead after the respective states inked agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The work includes rehabilitating 500 kV substations and...

FW completes repowering part 1.(International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Foster Wheeler has completed the first stage of its repowering of a 430 MW power plant in Estonia by installing its latest boiler and turbine equipment. The Narva Elektrijaamad's Eesti power plant now has 215 MW in operation. When...

Africa.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Africa: The African Development Bank has approved a $3.89m grant to finance a study on power trading and interconnection between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, all of which share the River Nile. The grant will cover 90 per cent of the cost of the...

Africa.(News Digest)(African Union of Electricity Producers and Distributors )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Africa: At least $64m will be used by the African Union of Electricity Producers and Distributors in the financing of electrification projects in bordering villages of Angolia, Naimbia, Lesotho and Zambia.

Bulgaria.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Bulgaria: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing up to [euro]50m ($59.7m) into a new facility that will help promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in private sector businesses across Bulgaria....

Hungary.(News Digest)(1880 MW Paksi Atomeromu (Paks) company)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Hungary: Hungary's sole nuclear electricity generating firm, the 1880 MW Paksi Atomeromu (Paks) company, expects to suffer losses totalling $23m this year due to the temporary shut down of its No. 2 generating block in March 2003.

Hungary.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Hungary: E.ON Hungary's board of directors has approved plans to launch construction of a gas turbine power station in Nyiregyhaza in north-east Hungary. Around $48.5m is to be invested in the new cogeneration heat and power plant, which will...

India.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... India: State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has successfully commissioned a 70 MW gas turbine power unit in Oman. The unit has been commissioned for Petroleum Development Oman, a joint venture between Oman government, Total, Shell...

Nigeria.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Nigeria: Siemens and ABB are holding talks with the Nigerian Government for the construction of two independent thermal power stations with a combined generation capacity of 726 MW.

Syria.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Syria: Areva T&D division has been awarded a turnkey contract in Syria for the supply of two high-voltage substations. The contract totalling [euro]33.5m ($40m), is with the Public Establishment of Electricity for Generation and Transmission.

UAE.(News Digest)(Dubai's Electricity and Water Authority )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... UAE: Dubai's Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is projecting a 14 per cent increase in power consumption this year, with water use set to jump nine per cent. The corresponding increases for last year were ten per cent for power and nine...

Zimbabwe.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Zimbabwe: The cash-strapped Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is seeking cabinet approval to raise $600m through offshore investments to boost power generation at Hwange and Kariba Power Stations.

EHN and Airtricity seal wind power partnership.(Europe)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Spanish renewable energy group EHN has acquired a 50 per cent interest in the development company for the Arklow Bank offshore wind farm from Ireland's Airtricity. As part of the deal, the Irish renewables utility Airtricity has an...

Italian landfill project selects GE Jenbacher units.(Europe)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... One of Italy's most powerful landfill energy plants at Basse di Stura near Turin is to operate six, 1.4 MW GE Jenbacher gensets following the signing of an $8.2m contract between the Austrian-based equipment manufacturer and Amiat Spa. The...

Dutch research fuel cell plant.(Europe)(Akzo Nobel N.V.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Akzo Nobel, a Dutch chlorine and caustic soda manufacturer, and NedStack, a fuel cell development company, are investigating the feasibility of building a 200 MW power plant based on fuel cells. The plant would be supplied with hydrogen...

HRSG market link-up.(Europe)(Vogt Power)(Gruppo Ormis SpA)(heat recovery steam generators )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A new company, Vogt-Ormis Power, has been established to undertake project execution and aftermarket services for heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) in Italy. The venture is a collaboration between Babcock Power subsidiary, Vogt Power,...

World wind goals.(Europe)(European Wind Energy Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has set out its scenarios for global wind energy development in 2007 and 2012, describing the future prospects as "very promising". "The total wind power installed worldwide could quadruple from...

Celtic connector.(Europe)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Irish government has announced plans to develop two 500 MW electricity interconnectors between Ireland and Wales to enhance security of supply and integrate Ireland into the wider European energy market. Dermot Ahern, Minister for...

Austria.(News Digest)(Porr Technobau)(VA Tech Hydro)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Austria: A consortium led by Verbundplan along with VA Tech Hydro and Porr Technobau has been awarded a [euro]15m ($17.8m) contract to provide a small-scale hydropower plant at the intake of the Vienna Danube Canal in Nussdorf

Finland.(News Digest)(Westinghouse Electric Corp.)(TVO)
May 1, 2004... Finland: BNFL-owned Westinghouse Sweden and Finnish utility TVO have signed an agreement under which Westinghouse will supply reactor maintenance for TVO's two nuclear power plants at Olkiluoto for a four-year period starting in 2004.

France.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... France: The European Parliament has voted to adopt a directive linking the EU emissions trading scheme to other trading systems and C[O.sub.2] reduction projects under the Kyoto Protocol. European firms will therefore be permitted to use CDM...

Iberia.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Iberia: The introduction of the common Iberian electricity market (Mibel), linking Spain and Portugal's markets which originally planned to start on 20 April, has been postponed. Legislation was not approved in time and the Portuguese energy...

Italy.(News Digest)(Nathaniel Energy Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Italy: Nathaniel Energy Corporation has begun shipping parts of the thermal combustors to Italy under its $2.1m contract to supply two 1800 BHP thermal combustors for a waste-to-energy plant in Cologna Venetta.

Italy.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Italy: The Italian government has approved 39 new CCGT power stations with a total capacity of 21 398 MW. A further five plants, which will add another 3000 MW are expected to be approved shortly.

Spain.(News Digest)(Gas Natural SDG S.A.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Spain: Gas Natural plans to double its share of Spain's electricity market from its present five per cent by 2007 and is also looking to enter the Italian electricity market. The energy supply group currently has 4700 MW of generation capacity...

UK.(News Digest)(ABB Power Technologies)(Scottish and Southern Energy PLC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... UK: Scottish and Southern Energy has awarded ABB Power Technologies with a two-year contract to supply equipment to support the refurbishment of its high voltage transmission network, including the supply of 90 MVA 132/133 kV transformers.

UK.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... UK: Renewable Energy Systems is planning the development of a [pounds sterling]58m ($103.6m) onshore wind farm comprising 36 turbine units with combined capacity of 80 MW on the Dunmaglass Estate near Inverness in Scotland.

UK.(News Digest)(Chicago Climate Exchange)(International Petroleum Exchange of London Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... UK: The International Petroleum Exchange and the Chicago Climate Exchange are to work together to provide a marketplace for emissions trading in the European Union.

Vietnam opens first private power plant.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Vietnam's first and biggest 716 MW private power plant costing $450m, has been implemented at Ba Ria-Vung Tau's Phu My Power Industrial Park. The Phu My Thermal Power Plant No.3, is a build-operate-transfer (BOT) plant and is equally owned...

First large-scale wind project in Taiwan.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Taiwan is to implement its first large-scale wind power project. The 39 MW wind farm, scheduled for completion by spring 2005, is part of a ten-year plan by Taiwan Power Company. GE Energy will supply 26, 1.5 MW wind turbines through...

Philippines gets privatization underway.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Philippines' Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm) has sold off its first power plant as part of a privatization plan. The Talomo asset sold for $1.37m. The plant was sold to Hydro Electric Development Corp. which...

Indonesia, Malaysia eye joint transmission project.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Indonesia's PT PLN and Malaysia's Tenaga Nasional Berhad will start a feasibility study for a power transmission project connecting the two countries. The line will stretch some 60 km from the Malaysian Peninsula to Thailand's Riau,...

Singapore buys Australian assets.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... State-owned Singapore Power has bid A$5bn ($5.8bn) for TXU's Australian distribution assets. The assets, based in Victoria, consist of a gas and electricity distribution network, which is the third largest energy retailer in the country....

Russia to supply India with turbine equipment.(Asia-Pacific)(contracts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Russia's Power Machines Group, a power equipment company, will supply India's Sipat thermal power plant, an asset of state-owned National Thermal Power Company, with three electrical turbines. The new plant is located at Chattisgarh. Part...

China.(News Digest)(Engloway)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... China: Chinese company Engloway, has awarded a contract for supplying two 90 MW steam extraction turbines to a Russian company. The turbines will be installed at Tyan-Fu power station.

China.(News Digest)(contracts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... China: Dongfang Electrical Machinery, one of China's biggest power generating equipment makers, said it signed a $175m contract to supply four 700 MW hydro turbine generators for the Three Gorges Project of Yangtze River. The generators will be...

China.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... China: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corp, have received a [yen]4bn ($36.4m) to install a large flue gas desulphurization system at the Datang Hancheng No.2 power plant in Shanxi Province.

China.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... China: China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is making use of its troublesome sandstorms to produce electricity to facilitate its people and those in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. A windmill power station is under construction at the...

India.(News Digest)(contracts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... India: Global bids have been invited for the Sagardighi power project. The West Bengal Power Development Corp. has floated global tenders for the main plant package for the Sagardighi thermal power project. The tender documents for the...

Indonesia.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Indonesia: The Indonesia government is planning to stage road-shows in japan, Europe and the US to attract investors for a number of projects in the energy and electricity sector. Development of the two sectors in the next ten years would...

Japan.(News Digest)(Waseda University)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Japan: A group of two universities, including Waseda University, and seven companies including Sanyo Electric Co., have begun joint research into making hydrogen a viable fuel for Japan. The Honjo area in Saitama Prefecture will serve as the...

Japan.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Japan: FuelCell Energy's Asia-Pacific strategic partner, Marubeni Corp has placed a new order for 4 MW of DFC power plants. Fuel Cell Energy will manufacture the units and deliver the power plants to Marubeni customers in 2005.

Philippines.(News Digest)(National Power Corp.)(The Japan Bank for International Cooperation )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Philippines: The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has signed a loan agreement totalling up to [yen]6.8bn ($64m) with the National Power Corp. of the Philippines. The loan will finance submarine cables and boost power transmission...

Energy crisis hits Argentina.(Americas)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Argentina has been forced to introduce power rationing for large companies to ease an electricity supply crisis. The cuts, introduced by wholesale administrator Cammesa, are equivalent to 20 per cent of average consumption. The shortage of...

Merchant wind project selects GE.(Americas)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Suncor Energy and EHN Windpower Canada, the developers of the 30 MW Magrath Wind Power Project in southern Alberta, Canada, has selected GE Energy as its wind turbine supplier. GE will provide 20 of its 1.5 MW wind turbines for the project as...

CERA reports US uncertainty.(Americas)(Cambridge Energy Research Associates)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... As a number of US states prepare for new control programmes on emissions of N[O.sub.x], S[O.sub.2] and mercury from power utilities, a report by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) highlights the uncertainty these new regulations are...

DOE researches low speed wind turbine.(Americas)(Department of Energy)(Northern Power Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Northern Power Systems has been selected to undertake a research project with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to design, build, erect and test a 2 MW wind turbine capable of cost-effective energy production at low wind speeds. The terms...

Consortium plans application for new US nuclear plant.(Americas)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A consortium made up of seven major energy companies is planning to submit an application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build America's first new nuclear power plant in a quarter of a century. The application is due to be submitted...

Proinfa priced.(Americas)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Prices have been set for renewable energy purchased under Brazil's Proinfa programme. The country's mines and energy ministry has established the guarantees under the programme and set out rules for qualification under the scheme. Federal...

Bahamas.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Bahamas: Bahamas Electricity Corporation has awarded a contract worth over $8m to Itron Inc. for the deployment of 100 000 Automatic Meter Reading devices and a mobile collector system.

Brazil.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Brazil: Construction has started on four wind farms projects in Santa Catarina state, which have a combined capacity of 96.6 MW. The farms have a total value of $86m and are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2006.

Brazil.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Brazil: Furnas has announced an $86m programme to upgrade two of its hydropower plants. The work involves upgrading six turbines at the 1050 MW Luiz Carlos Barreto station and a further six at the Mascarenhas de Morais station.

Brazil.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Brazil: BR Distribuidora is studying plans for a $225m, 350 MW biomass power station to be built in partnership with one or two producers of alcohol. BR Distribuidora is waiting for a decision from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Columbia.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Columbia: Columbia's state-owned transmission company ISA is reported to be planning investments totalling $185m in projects in Columbia, Bolivia and Peru in 2004.

Mexico.(News Digest)(Private sector participation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Mexico: President Vincente Fox has indicated his government's intention to create more opportunities for private sector participation in the energy sector, while stressing that the state power company CFE would not be privatized.

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... USA: Constellation Energy has sold its Puna Geothermal Venture in Pahoa, Hawaii to a subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc. The sale includes the 30 MW geothermal power plant and associated assets.

USA.(News Digest)(Buildings and facilities)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... USA: Siemens Westinghouse has introduced a single shaft combined-cycle reference power plant into the US market featuring the W501G gas turbine, with a nominal output of 400 MW and operating efficiency of over 58 per cent.

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... USA: Sempra Energy has applied to the Maryland Public Service Commission for permission to develop a $300m, 600 MW gas fired combined cycle power plant in Frederick County.

USA.(News Digest)(Omaha Public Power District)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... USA: Omaha Public Power District has approved a $300m contract to replace the steam generators at Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in Nebraska to enable the plant to continue operating until 2033. The generators are being manufactured by...

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... USA: A study by Black & Veatch into the economic impact of renewable energy in Pennsylvania has concluded that a shift from fossil fuels to sustainable resources would provide a windfall of economic benefits to the state, including a net...

FuelCell sells thermoelectric unit.(Companies)(RockWood Equity Partners LLC.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Connecticut-based hydrogen fuel cell developer FuelCell Energy Inc. has agreed to sell its thermoelectric generator product line subsidiary, Global Thermoelectric Inc. to RockWood Equity Partners LLC. The transaction is expected to close May...

European UPS alliance.(Companies)(Uninterruptible Power Supply)(Schaltanlagen Elektronik Gerate GmbH)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Two European firms involved in the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and power quality markets have formed an international technology and marketing alliance. Dutch firm Hitec Power Protection and SEG of Kempen, Germany say the alliance will...

Vertical wind turbine trials.(Companies)(testing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Mississippi-based Hunt Aviation is conducting field tests on a prototype high efficiency vertical axis wind turbine. The company's own engineering studies suggest that the design may produce over twice as much power within the same area as a...

Mirant loses $2.3bn in 2003.(Companies)(Reorganization and restructuring,Company sales and earnings)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... US power company Mirant, currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reported a $2.4bn net loss for 2003, compared with a deficit of $2.4bn for 2002. The 2003 results included a $2.1bn impairment of goodwill and a $1.6bn impairment related to...

AMSC takes stake in new HTS Co.(Companies)(American Superconductor Corporation)(HTS-110)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has taken a 20 per cent stake in HTS-110, a start-up company based in New Zealand that will design and manufacture electromagnetic coils, magnets and current leads incorporating AMSC's high temperature...

Ballard introduces Ecostar.(Companies)(product introduction)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Canada's Ballard Power Systems has launched its 75 kW Ecostar interactive power converter for the North American market specifically designed for photovoltaic applications. The liquid-cooled Ecostar features night-time isolation eliminating...

Ballard appoints distributor.(News Digest)(Heliocentric Energy Systems)(Distribution agreements)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Ballard appoints distributor: Ballard Power Systems has named Heliocentric Energy Systems as a distributor in North America and Europe of its AirGen portable fuel cell generator and Nexa fuel cell power module.

Black & Veatch new practice.(News Digest)(Management)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Black & Veatch new practice: Black & Veatch has established a Performance Management business practice aimed at enhancing the performance of utilities and minimising risk throughout the organisations.

CoorsTek coating deal.(News Digest)(CoorTek )(Heany Industries)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... CoorsTek coating deal: North America's largest technical ceramics manufacturer CoorTek has announced a partnership with Heany Industries. Heany provides state-of-the-art coating technologies to the chemical processing, power generation, wire...

Deritend/Parson partnership.(News Digest)(Alliances and partnerships)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Deritend/Parson patnership: Deritend Group and Parsons Peebles Machines have inked a sales agreement to provide a total repair and service solution in the UK for the full range of low and high voltage electric rotating machines.

Elsam NESA agreed.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Elsam NESA agreed: Danish competition authorities have finally approved the acquisition by Elsam of NESA subject to certain conditions, creating a substantial Danish power plant group.

GE acquires AstroPower.(News Digest)(Mergers, acquisitions and divestments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... GE acquires AstroPower: GE Energy has completed its acquisition of most of the US business assets of AstroPower, Inc., a solar power products manufacturer that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2004.

Nexans sales up.(News Digest)(Company sales and earnings)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Nexans sales up: Nexans has reported first quarter sales up 3.9 per cent, at constant metal prices. Strong sale growth in North America and Asia offset a weaker European market.

Slemens extend service.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Siemens extend service: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation's service division has introduced a performance-based long-term service programme with expanded scope that delivers more value to power plant owners and includes more responsibility...

Siemens sets goal.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Siemens sets goal: Speaking at the Hanover Fair, Dr. Udo Niehage, president of Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution said the company almost doubled its earnings in 2003 and wants to become market leader in the medium term.

PG & E emerges.(News Digest)(Pacific Gas & Electric)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... PG & E emerges: Three years after its Chapter 11 filing, Californian utility Pacific Gas & Electric has emerged from its Bankruptcy reorganization following a settlement last summer with the Californian Public Utilities Commission.

Growth opportunities.(Power-Gen Europe)
May 1, 2004... Today's world installed power generation capacity is currently estimated at around 3910 GW, and Alstom believes the average value of the overall world power generation market to have been around $160 billion per annum over the last three years....

A united front: the start of the single Iberian electricity market presents new challenges for market players. The benefits of the new market will eventually be seen, however, including increased competition, reduced transaction costs and greater coordination between system operators.(Iberian Market)
May 1, 2004... By July, Mibel--Mercado Iberico de Electricidad, the Iberian electricity market--should be up and running, the anticipated start date being 20 April 2004. However, given the ambitious timetable, coupled with the change in the Spanish...