Power Engineering International articles from September 2005

Power Engineering International archives from September 2005

A long time coming.(Up Front)
September 1, 2005... It is always heartening to see when someone (especially a politician) finally delivers on a promise. In passing the US Energy Bill in August, US president George W. Bush said: "When I ran for president in 2000, I promised to invest--or asked...

Westinghouse shines for BNFL: interest in the sale of Westinghouse Electric Company shows the growing importance of nuclear technology in the global power industry, and puts BNFL in a good position, writes Sian Green.(Analysis)(British Nuclear Fuels PLC)
September 1, 2005... British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), the UK government-owned nuclear group, has issued an information memorandum for Westinghouse Electric Company, kickstarting the sale of the US-based nuclear power plant company that it bought six years ago....

MHI to power Saudi Arabian refining complex.(international)
September 1, 2005... A $1.1bn fuel oil fired cogeneration and desalination plant is to power one of the world's largest integrated refining and petrochemical complexes, which is to be built on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was...

ABB submits the bids to beat.(international)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... ABB is reported to have submitted the lowest bids for many of the GCC electricity grid project contracts, due to be awarded at the end of October by the GCC Interconnection Authority. The Middle Eastern authority is currently reviewing...

Iran restarts uranium conversion.(international)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Iran has removed the voluntarily placed UN seals at its uranium conversion facility in Isfahan and commenced with operations to develop its own nuclear fuel supply. The move has caused concern in Europe and the US. EU leaders have been in...

UES buys right to run in Armenia.(international)(Unified Energy Systems of Russia)(Electricity Networks of Armenia)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Russia's state owned electricity company, Unified Energy Systems (UES) has paid $73m for the right to manage the Armenian national grid company. The move follows similar deals brokered in Georgia and Tajikistan and further highlights the...

Pebble bed keeps company awake.(international)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The company responsible for developing the South African pebble bed modular reactor nuclear power plant has contracted SGL Carbon of Germany to provide graphite for testing. The announcement followed an international report was presented to...

Hungary feeds CHP demand.(international)(combined cycle power plant)
September 1, 2005... Babcock-Hitachi is to build a gas fired combined cycle power plant in northeast Hungary after it was awarded a [euro]40m ($49m) contract from the E.ON subsidiary, NYKCE. The 50 MW plant will provide power and district heating to the 115...

Afghanistan.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Afghanistan: The Asian Development Bank has issued a $50m loan to finance imports of electricity to Afghanistan. Around half of the figure is interest free with the remainder granted with low return rates.

Azerbaijan.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Azerbaijan: Siemens Power Generation is to build a $320m 500 MW combined cycle power plant in Azerbaijan that will be fired by natural gas.

Bahrain.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Bahrain: The Finance Ministry has announced a shortlist that includes 15 companies from eight countries for the 1000 MW Hidd independent water and power project.

Bulgaria.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Bulgaria: Russia's UES has been informed by a Bulgarian government commission that it will only be able to purchase one of two plants that it bid for in the country. The competition authority was concerned that UES would have too much market...

Ethiopia.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation is to spend over Birr10.1bn ($1.1bn) on improving electricity infrastructure in the current fiscal year.

Iraq.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Iraq: The majority of the Iranian government's $1.1bn investment in Iraq will be spent on rebuilding the country's energy infrastructure.

Kenya.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Kenya: Tanzania, Kenya and the Netherlands are to jointly fund an $111m transmission line project that will run between the two African nations to ease electricity supply fears in Kenya.

Lithuania.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Lithuania: Alstom has been awarded a [euro]27m ($33m) contract by Lietuvos Energija AB to modernize a 100 MW hydroelectric power plant that was built in the 1960s.

Oman.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Oman: Bechtel is to build a power station as part of a $2.2bn aluminium smelter project in the north of the country that will also see the construction of a desalination plant as well as a port.

Qatar.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Qatar: Dresser-Rand has completed a full-load, full-pressure performance test of a Rolls-Royce Trent 60 DLE gas turbine to be used on the gas compression package for the Dolphin gas project.

Russia.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Russia: Power Machines has been contracted by Mosenergo to supply its prototype GTE-65 gas turbine for a combined heat and power plant that will begin operation in 2007.

Russia.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Russia: The mayor of Moscow has called for a new company to be set up to share management of the city's power gird with the state owned power company UES.

Russia.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Russia: Two Russian scientists have placed a $10 000 bet that the world will cool over the next decade. They will compare the average surface temperature between 1998 and 2003, with temperatures recorded between 2012 and 2017.

Spain to limit big player influence.(europe)(Endesa S.A. and Iberdrola)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A Spanish government White Paper has proposed limiting the power of Endesa and Iberdrola to influence electricity prices. Under the proposals, the two groups, which control 75 per cent of electricity production, will no longer be able to...

Eurelectric issues Vienna Declaration.(europe)(renewable energy use)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The body representing electricity industries across Europe has set out its vision for the role of electricity in the future of a prosperous Europe, embodied in its Vienna Declaration. Members of Eurelectric foresee electricity playing a...

UK nuclear cleanup costs rise.(europe)(Nuclear Decommissioning Authority)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The UK's government-backed Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has estimated that it will cost at least [pounds sterling]8bn ($14.4bn) more than the previous forecast of [pounds sterling]48bn to dismantle and clean up Britain's civil...

E.ON and RWE in carbon price probe.(europe)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The German Cartel Office (BKA) has launched an investigation into the emissions trading activities of the two major energy groups E.ON and RWE. Complaints from German industry have accused the two companies of abusing their dominant position as...

Framatome orders EPR simulator.(europe)(European Pressurized Water Reactor)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Areva and Siemens joint subsidiary Framatome ANP has placed an order for a full-scale European Pressurized Water Reactor plant simulator with L-3 Communication Mapps. The simulator will be delivered in 2007 to the privately-owned...

REpower secures [euro]26m Portuguese wind order.(europe)(REpower Portugal to supply wind turbines to Energi E2 Renovables Ibericas S.L.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Portuguese subsidiary of Germany's REpower Systems, REpower Portugal, has won an order worth [euro]26m ($31.8m) to supply 13 of its 2 MW MM82 wind turbines to Energi E2 Renovables Ibericas S.L. and its local partner Eolica Sao Juliao. The...

Finland.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Finland: The first shipped component for Finland's new third nuclear reactor, a 200 t steel part of the reactor containment liner, has been delivered by Rautaruukki Oyj at the Olkiluoto site.

Germany.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Germany: E.ON plans to invest at least a further [euro]300m ($367m) in extending and modernizing its electricity and gas networks across Germany over the next three years.

Germany.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Germany: Increased European electricity prices were reflected in RWE's first-half figures which saw operating profits up 5.3 per cent to [euro]3.4bn ($4.16bn). Net profits rose 5.2 per cent to [euro]1.4bn.

Italy.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Italy: Endesa will spend [euro]65m ($79m) in 2008 installing desulphurization technology at two units of its 976 MW Monfalcone coal fired plant in the Fruili-Venezia-Guilia region of Italy. The project will capture 70 per cent of the plant's...

Netherlands.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Netherlands: A group of 21 Dutch commercial tomato growers has ordered 17 GE Energy Jenbacher gas fired cogeneration systems to produce power, heating and C[O.sub.2] fertilization.

Spain.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Spain: Endesa is to commence the contracting process for its [euro]200m ($245m) 'New Capacity Plan' that includes the construction of 20 combined cycle power plants across France, Portugal and Spa n over the next five years.

Spain.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Spain: Gamesa Eolica has won a turnkey order worth over [euro]10.5m ($12.8m) to supply and construct a 14 turbine 11.9 MW wind farm for Enel Union Fenosa Renovables at La Losilla, Albacete Province.

UK.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... UK: Scottish ministerial consent has been granted allowing Scottish & Southern Energy to proceed with the development of the first large-scale conventional hydropower station in Scotland for 50 years at Glendoe in Inverness-shire.

UK.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... UK: Carron Energy is to seek permission to build an 800 MW gas fired power station on the River Usk near the Welsh town of Newport, alongside the existing 360 MW Uskmouth power plant.

UK.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... UK: According to Scottish Power, the higher wholesale electricity prices that it passed on to customers in the spring have slowed down the rate of new customer acquisition in the first quarter.

UK.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... UK: E.ON UK has returned its 900 MW Killingholme power station in Lincolnshire to full service. The plant, originally mothballed in 2002/2003, is thought to be the first gas fired plant in the UK to have been brought back into operation.

UK.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... UK: The International Marine Contractors Association has issued a paper to members sharing information and soliciting industry feed-back on how it can tap the offshore renewable energy market.

Australia urged to cut emissions.(asia-pacific)
September 1, 2005... Australia's plan to cut its greenhouse gas emission through the recently signed six-nation technology pact may be inadequate, says the International Energy Agency (IEA). The agency praised the country's government for establishing one of...

EGAT selects Siemens to add 700 MW.(asia-pacific)(Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand)(combined cycle power plants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has awarded a Siemens-led consortium the turnkey contract to build a new 700 MW combined cycle power plant in Songkhla province. Demand for electrical capacity in Thailand is expected...

Globeleq buys Asian capacity from El Paso Corporation.(asia-pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The emerging markets power company, Globeleq, is to purchase El Paso Corporation's South Asian power generation assets for $109m. To be closed in stages, the transaction will see Globeleq acquire over 600 MW of capacity by the end of the...

Interest free World Bank loan to improve Vietnam's grid.(asia-pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The World Bank has approved a $200m interest free loan to support the development of Vietnam's transmission and distribution system, as the country strives to keep up with the pace of demand. Electricity demand growth averaged 15 per cent...

Huaneng orders largest FGD system in China.(asia-pacific)(flue gas desulphurisation)(Austrian Energy and Environment )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Austrian Energy and Environment is to supply equipment for the largest flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) unit in China after it was awarded a contract from Huaneng Power International. The supplier of thermal generation and environmental...

Philippine power fears intensify.(asia-pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Philippine President has called on Congress to approve the latest draft of an energy bill designed to protect the country from the recent surge in oil prices. The country has been on alert since the price of oil began to climb above...

Australia.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Australia: Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas is to provide 48 of its 1.65 MW wind turbines to power a desalination plant in Western Australia.

Bangladesh.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Bangladesh: The country has welcomed the start of it first ever generation from wind. The four turbine 900 kW wind farm is located in the southeastern district of Feni.

China.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... China: Construction of the first offshore wind farm in China is set to begin next year in the northern coastal province of Hebei.

China.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... China: Lufeng has emerged as the preferred location of the fourth nuclear power plant to be built in the Guangdong province.

India.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... India: Five countries, including Australia and Qatar, are negotiating with Gail for the contract to supply LNG to the Dhabol project when it re-opens in September 2006.

Indonesia.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Indonesia: The government is to work with local administrations to settle the land acquisition problems hindering the construction of Java's extra high voltage transmission line.

Nepal.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Nepal: India's Power Grid Corporation is to investigate the viability of constructing the first 220 kV transmission line in Nepal.

New Zealand.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... New Zealand: The nation's major electricity suppliers have said that the proposed $500m North Island transmission project is the best option for securing power supplies in Auckland.

Pakistan.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Pakistan: The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has loaned the Pakistan government around $150m to rehabilitate the Lower Chenab canal system and upgrade its load dispatch system.

Philippines.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Philippines: A geothermal project in the Visayas, designed to ease a power supply shortage in the region, is to receive financial backing from the World Bank.

Philippines.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Philippines: PSALM, the company created to oversee the privatisation of Napocor's generation assets, has again delayed the deadline for the sale. It is now aiming to sell in the first quarter of 2006.

South Korea.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... South Korea: The government has accepted a blueprint that will see the country develop a hydrogen-based economy by 2040.

Sri Lanka.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Sri Lanka: The Ceylon Electricity Board has received funding from China to create three hydropower plants with a combined output of 239 MW.

Taiwan.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Taiwan: The Taiwan Power Company is to use Invensys Process Systems control technology in the upgrade of its nuclear power station located in Ping Tung.

Vietnam.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Vietnam: A 330 MW coal fired power plant is to be built in the northern province of Ninh Binh costing $402m.

Bush signs $12bn energy bill.(americas)(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... President Bush signed into law the United States' first national energy policy for over a decade, stating: "We need to conserve more energy; we need to produce more energy. We need to diversify our energy supply, and we need to modernize our...

Build starts on first H-System in America.(americas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Construction has started on Calpine Corporation's 800 MW Inland Empire energy centre, the first power plant on the North America continent to use GE Energy's H-System gas turbine technology. GE will finance, own and operate the facility for...

Mexico to add 835 MW of hydro and wind capacity.(americas)
September 1, 2005... The Russian company, Power Machines, and the Spanish firm, Gamesa Eolica have been contracted to supply hydro and wind technology that will add an extra 835 MW to Mexico's national grid. In its first contract in the country for eight years,...

MHI awarded contract as Chilean market heats up.(americas)
September 1, 2005... Spurred by recent economic growth, Endesa Chile has contracted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to construct a combined cycle gas turbine power plant that can be fuelled by both natural gas and oil. GDP growth in Chile reached 6.1 per cent in...

Nuclear plant given 25-year life extension.(americas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is to extend the life of a Canadian nuclear power plant after the local authority declared that the $1.4bn cost represented the best balance of cost and risk for its ratepayers. The plant in New...

GE to develop hybrid fuel cell.(americas)(GE Energy )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The US Department of Energy has charged GE Energy with the task of developing a highly efficient, multi-megawatt solid oxide fuel cell based power system that operates on coal. The ten-year three-phase agreement is worth $83m to GE. Its...

Canada.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Canada: AMEC is to provide consultancy services for a project that would be the first privately built power line to cross the border between the US and Canada.

Canada.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Canada: Ontario Power Generation has opted to enhance the performance of its ten existing nuclear units rather than refurbish two of the units at its Pickering A power plant.

Canada.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Canada: The largest merchant wind farm in Canada is to be built in Alberta. The 70.5 MW project will be powered by 47 of GE Energy's 1.5 MW wind turbines.

Chile.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Chile: Chile has become the fourth Latin American nation to join the international Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership.

Chile.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Chile: Globeleq has sold its 17 per cent stake in the 379 MW San Isidro gas fired power plant to the plant's operator, Endesa Chile.

Mexico.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Mexico: Iberdrola SA plans to invest a further $1bn in Mexico up to 2010, bringing its total investment in the country between 1999 and 2010 to $3.8bn.

Mexico.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Mexico: The government is to use 1.5 MW of gas fuelled Capstone micro turbines to power three of its office buildings in the country's capital, Mexico City.

Peru.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Peru: BTEC Turbines has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract for a power plant project approximately 16 km from the northwest city of Tumbes.

Uruguay.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... Uruguay: The state power company UTE has contracted GE Energy to build two 100 MW gas fired power plants in the capital city, Montevideo, for $80m.

USA.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... USA: A 300 MW power facility in Florida has been successfully converted to use the latest clean coal technology. The demonstration project took eight years to finish and cost $320m.

USA.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... USA: Florida Power and Light Company has contracted Washington Group and Framatome to replace the steam generators at unit 2 of its St. Lucie nuclear power plant.

USA.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... USA: Southern California Edison and Stirling Energy Systems are investigating the possibility of creating the world's largest solar energy facility. Eventually, a 20 000 solar dish array could produce 850 MW.

USA.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... USA: The proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste facility will protect public health for 1 million years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

USA.(News digest)
September 1, 2005... USA: The week ending 23 July saw the US electricity industry set a new record for power supply, having provided 95 259 GWh. The new record eclipsed the previous high, set in 2002, by over 5 per cent.

Big field race for Westinghouse.(companies)(Westinghouse Electric Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Up to 15 companies have expressed an interest in purchasing Westinghouse, the US-based nuclear construction firm being sold off by UK government-owned British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL). Leading contenders are thought be General Electric of the US...

Electrabel board backs bid from Suez.(companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The board of Belgian electricity utility Electrabel has recommended to shareholders a cash and shares offer valued at around [euro]11.4bn ($14.1bn) by French utility group Suez for the remaining 49 per cent of equity that it does not already...

British Gas agrees home CHP partnership with Ceres Power.(companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... British Gas has signed an agreement with Ceres Power to commercially develop domestic heat and electricity boilers. The boilers will incorporate fuel cells developed and supplied by Ceres Power, fuelled by domestic natural gas supplies. ...

Mitsui acquires rights to 'Isoengine' from RWE npower.(companies)(Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company (MES) has acquired the intellectual property rights for the 'Isoengine' research and development project from RWE npower. This comprises 11 patents and the body of knowledge developed by npower over...