Power Engineering International articles from November 2005

Power Engineering International archives from November 2005

Ex-girlfriends and hot meals.(Up Front)
November 1, 2005... It has been a tough time for US power suppliers, especially those in the hurricane-battered Gulf coast areas. The name-list of hurricanes that have struck in the last 15 months is so long, you could almost be forgiven for mistaking it for a...

Critical consolidation: security of supply has become a critical issue in Europe's electricity markets, helping to cultivate conditions ripe for a new wave of consolidation. Sian Green reports.(Analysis)
November 1, 2005... "The key question is clear: the UK faces a profound challenge in the energy field as it moves to a low carbon economy with secure sustainable supplies," said Malcolm Wicks, the UK's Minister of State for Energy, speaking at the inaugural Energy...

Southeast Europe energy community formed.(international)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Ten Southeast European countries have signed up to an agreement with the European Union for the creation of an energy community to regulate the natural gas and electricity markets in the region. Signatories to the agreement included Albania,...

Aggreko supplies temporary power plant.(contracts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Power rental company Aggreko has supplied a 40 MW temporary power station to the Senegalese utility Societe Nationale d'Electricite to supplement the grid supply and alleviate power constraints in the capital Dakar and beyond. Annual GDP growth...

Canadians in pole position.(SNC-Lavalin to build the power plant for Elektrownia Patnow II)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Canadian construction firm SNC-Lavalin has won an EPC contract worth $298m to complete a 460 MW lignite fired supercritical power plant in Poland for Elektrownia Patnow II (EPII). When completed in about 28 months, the plant will be Poland's...

Awards made for GCC grid works.(international)(GCC Interconnection Authority)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Supply and construction packages worth an estimated $3bn have been awarded by the Damman-based GCC Interconnection Authority in respect of the GCC electricity grid project. Six companies won the 13 contracts for the first phase of...

Croatia gears up for growth.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Croatia's state-owned power monopoly Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP) has agreed a seven-year [euro]200m ($240m) loan facility with a consortium of local and foreign banks in order to fund its investment projects until 2008. Electricity...

Barka RFQ issued.(request for qualification)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The requests for proposals (RFP) for Oman's latest independent water and power project (IWPP) at Barka is expected to be issued late October after a request for qualification was issued for the brownfield project. Interested parties have...

Bulgaria.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Bulgaria: The modernization of the Teshel hydropower owned by Bulgaria's national electric company NEK has been completed by VA Tech Hydro, substantially increasing turbine efficiency.

Egypt.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Egypt: The Upper Egypt Electricity Production Company has awarded Hitachi and Sumitomo a Yen5bn ($43m) order for a 250 MW steam turbine power generation system for a new power plant 95 km south of Cairo.

Hungary.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Hungary: The International Atomic Energy Agency has declared Hungary's sole nuclear power station at Paks in south central Hungary to be safe and suitable for a life extension.

Nigeria.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Nigeria: Rolls Royce has won an $82m order from Technip on behalf of Total Upstream Nigeria to supply six RB211 industrial gas turbines for power generation for the Akpo oil & gas field offshore Nigeria.

Nigeria.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Nigeria: The Nigerian government has secured a $172m loan from World Bank institution the International Development Agency to be invested in the country's power transmission system.

Russia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Russia: Power and telecommunications cable company Nexans is to open its first manufacturing plant in Russia. The plant will have 200 employees and involve an upfront investment of [euro]20m ($24m).

Russia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Russia: The International Atomic Energy Authority has warned that the concrete sarcophagus build over the fourth block of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant following the explosion in 1986 could become unstable and should be replaced within the...

Russia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Russia: United Energy Systems' board of directors has approved the acquisition of a 22.4 per cent stake in Power Machines.

Slovakia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Slovakia: The announcement that Slovakia's National Property Fund is to begin selling off majority stakes in six municipal heating companies in November has resulted in at least ten companies signalling interest.

Slovenia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Slovenia: Despite an over-reliance on fossil fuels, a recent study has found that Slovenia's ability to avert or recover from sudden or prolonged energy shocks is better than in 11 other Central and Eastern European countries.

UAE.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... UAE: Germany's Fitchner has been appointed by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority to act as consultants for the utility's largest power and water project, the M station to be built at Jebel Ali.

Ukraine.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Ukraine: Invensys Nuclear has won a contract from DICS Intertrade to supply four of its Tricon safety controllers for the pressurized water reactors at the Rovno nuclear power plant at Kuznetsovsk.

Logica launches remote metering revolution.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... LogicaCMG has launched a service set to shake up the metering industry with claims that is can reduce current costs by over 20 per cent. The so-called Instant Energy service uses the same technology as mobile phone text messages to provide...

E.ON to build UK's largest biomass plant.(europe)
November 1, 2005... E.ON is to spend [euro]130m ($157m) building the UK's largest dedicated biomass power station in Lockerbie, Scotland. When commercial operation begins late in 2007, the 44 MW power plant will provide 70 000 homes with power. The plant will...

Alstom to build GT26 plants in Italy and Germany.(europe)
November 1, 2005... In the last month Italian energy company Energia SpA and the German company RWE Power have both charged Alstom with the task of constructing natural gas fired combined cycle power plants based on the GT26 gas turbine. By 2008, Alstom will...

First firing for first frame 9FB plant.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The first project in the world to use GE Energy's Frame 9FB gas turbine technology has entered the test phase and should be in commercial operation by the end of 2005. The 800 MW Group III of the Arcos de la Frontera combined cycle plant...

WWF names and shames Dirty Thirty.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Nine of the EU's top 30 biggest C[O.sub.2]-emitting power plants are located in Germany, according to a new report published by the WWF. The report found that five of Germany's largest emitters were in the top ten. Poland was the second most...

France removes wind restrictions.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The end of lengthy discussions over France's new energy law has seen an agreement to completely remove the size restrictions necessary for wind farms to qualify for financial incentives. It was previously feared that the 12 MW limit would not...

Europe.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Europe: Eurelectric has warned that over the next two years, the electricity sector will face a shortfall in emission allowances of over 300m t of C[O.sub.2]. It urges that long-term allocation of allowances was critical for planning and...

Belgium.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Belgium: Frost & Sullivan has reported a renewed interest in alternative fuels due to the ongoing price volatility in oil supplies. Biofuels are deemed to have become more attractive due to being cleaner and offering greater self-sufficiency.

France.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... France: EDF has awarded VA Tech Hydro a contract to carry out modernization and rehabilitation work at the Kembs hydropower plant in Alsace. The work is expected to increase the plant's power output by 17 per cent.

France.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... France: Solar Integrated Technologies is to install a 435 kW photovoltaic roofing system at one of the most environmentally friendly distribution centres in the world. The centre, near Paris, represents the company's first contract win in...

Portugal.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Portugal: Endesa and Energais de Portugal intend to bid for the [euro]2bn ($2.4bn) wind park contracts that will add 1700 MW to Portugal's wind power generation capacity.

Portugal.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Portugal: The world's largest solar power plant is to be built near Moura in 2006. The 62 MW plant will use 350 000 solar panels spread over an area the size of 150 football pitches.

Spain.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Spain: Over the next two years Endesa is to invest several hundred million euros improving its distribution network after the European Investment Bank issued it with a [euro]600m ($724m) 15-year loan.

Spain.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Spain: Spain's Industry Minister has presented a revised national plan for the electricity and gas sectors. The plan envisages an increase in spending of 59 per cent to [euro]12.6bn ($15.2bn) by 2011 to develop the infrastructure.

UK.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... UK: Climex Alliance, a pan-European spot carbon emissions exchange, is to be launched after two European carbon emissions exchanges agreed to link up with the UK based power exchange, UKPX.

UK.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... UK: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Tonga has spent two days in discussions with the wave energy specialist, Wavegen, about utilizing the company's technology in his Pacific Kingdom.

UK.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... UK: SeaScape Energy, jointly owned by Elsam and EDF, has contracted Siemens to supply 3.6 MW wind turbines for a new 90 MW offshore wind farm due to start generating from September 2007.

UK.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... UK: There is the potential for waste to produce up to 17 per cent of the UK's electricity needs by 2020, according to a report published by the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Renewable Power Association.

China to develop 650 MW reactor.(Shanghai Electric Group)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... China National Nuclear Corporation is to design and manufacture two 650 MW nuclear generation units using domestic technology as part of a [yen]15bn ($1.8bn) expansion project at the Qinshan power plant. The project is the first time a Chinese...

Wartsila racks up four more in SE Asia.(south east)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Wartsila has won two contracts for power plants on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia and a further two contracts for plants in Indonesia. The first Cambodian contract, awarded by the IPP Cambodia Electricity Pte Co. Ltd., is for a 45...

Brunei builds on growth.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A new power plant in Brunei Darussalam is to use equipment supplied by GE Energy to generate 110 MW for the country's electricity grid. The Bukit Panggal combined cycle power plant is being built to meet the rise in demand triggered by the...

Pakistan courts private players to keep up with demand.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Pakistan's federal government is encouraging independent power producers to take a larger role in the country's power generation sector as it seeks to keep up with the rise in electricity demand predicted in the near future. The country is...

Bangladesh is keen on coal.(Asia Energy)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Asia Energy is to build a 500 MW coal fired plant in Bangladesh alongside its planned coal mine at Phulbari in the north west of the country. The plant will use pulverized coal technology to generate 3700 GWh per year by burning 1.5...

PSALM opens bidding.(Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The Philippines' Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) has started the bidding process on four power plants with the intention of having them privatized by 1 January 2006. The plants include the 100 MW Pantabangan...

Australia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Australia: An Australian sustainable housing designer is to install a 10 kWh energy storage system from VRB Power Systems Inc. in a solar powered kit as part of a project to develop sustainable housing solutions.

Australia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Australia: Monash University has won the 2005 IEEE International Future Energy Challenge with the design of a flexible electrical utility inverter for distributed generation systems. It is capable of achieving 90 per cent conversion efficiency....

China.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... China: Shares in Southern Power Grid Corporation could soon be available as the country tries to raise the capital required to fund the necessary mass expansion in power generation capacity.

India.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... India: The Dhabol power project's new owners have said that at least one 'block' will be in operation by May or June 2006, with the other two scheduled to follow by November that year at the latest.

Indonesia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Indonesia: Turbine Air Systems is to manufacture, supply, deliver and commission a 2600 t packaged turbine inlet cooling system to provide augmentation and efficiency improvements for two Rolls Royce RB211 gas turbines at Panaran power station...

Malaysia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Malaysia: Both domestic and international bidders are preparing to submit tenders to Tenaga Nasional Bhd for the contract to construct a 300 MW independent power plant in Sabah.

Malaysia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Malaysia: The first landfill gas-to-energy plant in Malaysia, developed by GE Energy, has taken top prize honours in the recent renewable energy project competition at the 2005 ASEAN Energy Ministers meeting in Cambodia.

New Zealand.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... New Zealand: With nearly 160 conditions attached, a judge has ruled that Mighty River Power can proceed with converting the mothballed Marsden B power plant to run on coal.

Singapore.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Singapore: Tuas Power Ltd has announced the completion of the natural gas fired Blocks 3 and 4 at its power facility, raising the company's licensed generation capacity from 1935 MW to 2670 MW.

Sri Lanka.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Sri Lanka: The Asian Development Bank has approved a $2m grant to help finance utility access for those affected by the tsunami.

Vietnam.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Vietnam: A project to strengthen high voltage transmission in the north and increase network capacity to major urban and industrial zones has been boosted by the provision of a $48m loan from the French Development Agency.

Vietnam.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Vietnam: AES and state owned Vietnam Coal Corporation are to develop Mong Duong 2, a 1000 MW thermal power plant in Quang Ninh at a cost of $1bn.

Nuclear the energy answer for Ontario.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Canada's largest nuclear producer, Bruce Power, has begun a C$4.25bn ($3.6bn) project to bring extra nuclear energy onto Ontario's electricity grid. After the Ontario Power Authority gave the project its approval, Bruce awarded AMEC a...

Canadian contracted for SIEPAC grid.(Sistema Interconectado para la America Central)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The Canadian construction and engineering firm Dessau-Soprin has been awarded a C$20m ($17m) contract to oversee construction of the first regional power grid in Central America. Sistema Interconectado para la America Central (SIEPAC) will...

Hydro to feature heavily in first Brazilian power auction.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Brazil is expected to offer around 14 hydroelectric power projects with a combined capacity of over 2200 MW in the country's first annual power project auction. The first auction will be held in December giving companies the opportunity to...

Two consider building new generation IGCC plant in US.(integrated gasification combined cycle)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The standard commercial offering for IGCC projects developed by GE Energy and Bechtel has received interest from two parties seeking to build the first cleaner coal power plant in the US in nearly ten years. American Electric Power has...

New nuclear build gathers momentum.(americas)
November 1, 2005... The US utility industry is to prepare licence applications to build a new generation of nuclear reactors at three sites in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Utility consortium, NuStart Energy Development is planning to apply for two...

Venezuela to double generation.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... By 2024 Venezuela will have doubled its present generation capacity and created a more stable and comprehensive transmission and distribution network, if the government's new $24bn plan is fully met. Under the proposals, over the next 20...

Argentina.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Argentina: Alstom has sold its 100th GT 13E2 gas turbine in a contract that will see it construct a 465 MW combined cycle power plant for Argentinean aluminium company Aluar.

Bolivia.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Bolivia: Combustion Energy and Steam Specialists Ltd. have raised [pounds sterling]5m ($8.9m) from the sale of an unused Frame 6FA gas turbine to EGSA for the expansion of their existing power station.

Brazil.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Brazil: An Alstom led consortium has been awarded a [euro]150m ($181m) contract to modernize six units at the 1050 MW Luiz Carlos Barreto de Carvalho hydroelectric plant in Brazil.

Brazil.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Brazil: In a consortium with VA Tech T&D, Siemens is to build a 345/230/138 kV substation as part of a [euro]80m ($96.5m) contract to upgrade the country's electricity supply network.

Brazil.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Brazil: Wartsila is to build an 83 MW power plant in Manaus for a subsidiary of Servtec group that will feature five of its 18V46 generating sets.

Chile.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Chile: The UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) executive board has officially registered the Chile Methane Recovery Project. It is the first CDM project that Tepco has been involved with.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: A coalition of the country's largest electric utilities and coal companies has agreed to partner the US Department of Energy in creating the world's first near-zero emissions coal fired power plant.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: GE Energy has been awarded a ten-year multi cycle contractual service agreement to provide nuclear instrumentation and associated technical and field services for Entergy's fleet of boiling water reactors.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: Nevada Solar One, a 64 MW solar power plant in Nevada, will be the world's largest solar development for 14 years when it enters operation in 2007.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: Powerspan is to test a carbon dioxide removal technology at a plant in Ohio. In preliminary tests the technology demonstrated a C[O.sub.2] removal rate of 90 per cent.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: Siemens is to supply FPL Energy with 600 MW capacity of its 2.3 MW wind turbines. It is the company's first wind turbine contract in the US since it acquired Bonus Energy.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: The first citywide use of broadband over power line technology has been deployed in the Washington D.C. suburb of Manassas.

USA.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... USA: The US Department of Energy has awarded Waukesha Engine a $7.6m grant to develop an engine able to achieve 47 per cent thermal efficiency while further enhancing emission reduction capabilities.

Solar nanotech partnership.(MT Technologies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Spanish renewable energy company Acciona Energia has established a joint venture with MT Technologies, a nanotechnology company operating in the field of photovoltaics. The intention of the partnership is to develop bioactive electricity...

Alstom succeeds with carbon capture pilot.(companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Alstom is developing a conceptual design for an 80 MW air-fired circulating fluidized bed boiler with oxyfuel firing following the successful tests on the technology at its laboratories in Windsor, CT, USA. In June 2005 Alstom completed...

Drax rejects advances.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Shareholders of Drax Group, owners of Europe's largest coal fired power station have rejected a third takeover approach, this time from a consortium comprising International Power and Mitsui & Co. The offer put an indicative value of [pounds...

European Court to rule on Gas Natural bid jurisdiction.(companies)
November 1, 2005... The European Commission (EC) is to refer Gas Natural's takeover bid for Endesa to the European Court to decide if Brussels or Madrid should rule on competition issues. Both Italy and Portugal have asked the EC to investigate the bid with...

Austrians win Alstom division.(companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Austrian Energy & Environment (AE&E), a subsidiary of Vienna-base A-TEC Industries AG, has signed an agreement to acquire significant parts of the Industrial Boiler and Plants division of Alstom. The division reported turnover of [euro]400m...

EDF sale proceeds.(companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Shares equal to 15 per cent of EDF are to go on sale to investors for [euro]29.50 to [euro]34.10 ($35.80 to $41.40) valuing the company at up to [euro]63bn in the face of protests from employees, trade unions and the general public. The...

B&V adds consultants.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... B&V adds consultants: Black & Veatch has bought the business and technology consulting services firm of Fortegra, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, which specializes in the energy and utilities industries.

Babcock & Wilcox reorganizes.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Babcock & Wilcox reorganizes. As part of its process towards exiting bankruptcy the Babcock & Wilcox company, certain subsidiaries and representatives of asbestos claimants have filed a joint plan of reorganization with courts.

Cable connection.(News digest)
November 1, 2005... Cable connection: General Cable Corporation has reached an agreement to acquire the wire and cable manufacturing business of Safran for [euro]75m ($90.7m). The businesses acquired have traded under the names Silec and Sagem.