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  • Propelling Hybrid Electric Solutions
    rowing interest in hybrid-electric power systems is expanding the search for new propulsion and energy-storage systems in the workboat sector, where compliance with emerging environmental regulations and a relentless pursuit of operational efficiency are driving change. To meet demands for cleaner more efficient power, owners are examining the potential for less conventional methods of energy generation and storage – such as fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, super-capacitors, flywheels, wind and solar – to propel their vessels. In the workboat sector, where quick energy delivery is commonly required during peak-loading conditions by everything from tugs to offshore support vessels, the combination of lithium ion batteries and super-capacitors is gaining market traction. In fact, the hybrid partnership is becoming big news. Electric-hybrid propulsion systems are not new to shipping; the passenger ship sector has been applying diesel-electric propulsion for decades. But recent advances in hybrid-electric power and energy storage technologies are bringing additional benefits. In examining those benefits, it is first important to differentiate between hybrid propulsion and a hybrid power system – two concepts that are often confused. Defining Principles Hybrid propulsion usually utilizes internal combustion engines and electric generators to supply power to the propulsion shaft and thrusters, as referenced in the passenger-ship sector. Hybrid power denotes at least two different types of electricity generating equipment (i.e., diesel generators) or storage (lithium batteries) to provide power for propulsion and hotel loads (which includes onboard climate control, communication, entertainment, lighting, refrigeration, etc.) demands. Hybrid propulsion systems are already widely used in the marine industry, such as onboard offshore support vessel and harbor tugs. To date, the North Sea area has been the focal point of this activity, driven by government-led environmental mandates and restrictions. Many OSVs serving this area have been retrofitted or built with hybrid systems. Hybrid power, on the other hand, is starting to impact vessel-system designs, and the technologies for the associated energy-storage and management systems are fast evolving. Hence, industry standards for these novel technologies have yet to be established. Realizing Potential Benefits Many of the potential benefits of hybrid power remain theoretical as the technology is still young in the workboat arena, but the new distribution systems could improve on the advantages that hybrid power has over conventional power systems, including better energy efficiency, reduced emissions, dynamic performance and noise elimination. For example, when an OSV is in normal operations, a hybrid power system could reduce the minimum number of diesel generators that are required to run constantly. This is possible because the energy storage systems ([ESS], i.e., lithium batteries or super-capacitors) can provide the added power for the occasional peak demand caused by shifting currents or waves. When they operate in harsher environments or more demanding operational routines, multiple generators could run at a constant speed and the ESS supports the electrical distribution system with extra power to relieve the stress of added load demands, such as with dynamic positioning. Engine maintenance, fuel consumption and carbon-related emissions could be greatly reduced. The fast-reacting ESS acts as an energy buffer for the comparably slow-starting generators to improve electrical power response time and to help improve the safety and reliability of the vessel. As the technology behind hybrid power is new to the industry, ABS recently published several documents to expand industry understanding about the associated safety practices, as well as the benefits and risks of adoption. These include: An Advisory on Hybrid Electric Power Systems A Guide for Use of Lithium Batteries in the Marine in Offshore Industries A Guide for Use of Supercapacitors in the Marine and Offshore Industries The Supercapacitor Guide, the most recently published, is helping to establish safety guidelines for any owners, operators, shipyards, designers and manufacturers involved in the production or use of these new technologies. The maritime industry is increasingly interested in using supercapacitors as an energy-storage solution when quick delivery of energy is required during a peak loading conditions, such as when OSVs use power thrusters for dynamic positioning while station-keeping. Other diverse examples of how they and other energy storage systems could enhance operations include: When used for load leveling or peak-shaving, supercapacitors act as an energy buffer to supply or absorb power, allowing generators to be operated at a near constant load. Their ability to optimize power loading and reduce running hours can reduce maintenance requirements. With optimal loading, a higher average load can be maintained, resulting in a more stable and efficient operation of the prime movers. The supercapacitor-battery partnership could be used as additional power sources when generators shut down. In some instances, they can be used for blackout prevention, fault ride-through and assist in blackout recovery. They may be also used as part of an emergency power source for essential and emergency services. Dynamic Positioning Vessels. Supercapacitors could be used to supply thrusters and act as a spinning reserve in dynamic-positioning mode and/or as standby power for fault ride-through on DPS-2 or -3 vessels operating in closed bus. Heave Compensation. On Mobile Offshore Drilling Units or OSVs supercapacitors could be used as a buffer for heave compensation equipment and to harvest regenerative power from cranes. Renewable Energy Storage. Supercapacitors may be used as an energy-storage device on vessels or offshore installations with cyclic renewable energy sources to stabilize the fluctuating power flow connected to the shipboard electrical distribution system. They can also be installed in combination with batteries to potentially protect the batteries from extreme peak loads, extending battery life and achieving both high-power and high-energy density. Low Temperature Environment Usage. Supercapacitors can be used in the low temperature environments that significantly constrain battery performance. Clearly, supercapacitors have great versatility and potential to enhance operations. They also have the low internal resistance that makes higher currents possible, compared to the capabilities of battery applications. Charging and discharging a battery involves a temperature-dependent electro-chemical reaction between the electrodes and the electrolyte. An Electric Double Layer Capacitor distinguishes itself from a battery – in that the charging and discharging process does not involve a chemical reaction and is largely independent of temperature. Looking Ahead While the early interest and application of hybrid power systems has come from OSV and tug owners, technically, there is no limit to the size of vessel that could be powered by a combined supercapacitor-battery ESS. River, inland and portside operations have similar opportunities for hybrid development. For example, both lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors are scalable, allowing the owner to expand from cell, to module, to pack, iteratively increasing the storage capacity as required. Numerous side-by-side batteries could be run by a power-management system, which has sub-sets for capacitor management and battery management. Any supercapacitor or battery will have its own management system for safety requirements, which would run in accordance with its design. This would interact with the vessel`s power-management systems. The scalability of the systems could make them appropriate for a drillship, a small ferry, and many other applications. It all depends on what size ESS the owner wants to put onboard. Because ABS sees the potential for energy-storage systems to improve the electric and propulsion systems for a range of vessels, we have been helping industry to engage with the hybrid technology by participating in a variety of workshops and conferences. Beyond the development of a series of hybrid propulsion and power guides and advisories, ABS has also completed several technology-focused, Approval-In-Principle projects and our type-approval program has included several marine battery suppliers. At present, most of the hybrid work ABS is seeing is related to retrofitting, activities undertaken to improve the operating efficiency of existing ships. But when the industry starts designing and building new ships and systems with energy storage, instead of retrofitting out inefficiency, it may be possible to discover that a ship needs fewer installed generators. Then, lower capital expenses could be coupled with opportunities for lower operating expenses. The Author Domenic Carlucci is the ABS Manager for Machinery, Electrical and Controls Technology. Since joining ABS in 2008 Carlucci has held several senior roles in asset integrity management, life cycle risk and reliability, design and plan review, and product and service development. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear trained Surface Warfare Officer. He received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and a Master`s in Business Administration from the University of Houston.

    2018 01/23

  • Showcase QSG12-latest Cummins generator set at the 2018 Middle East Electricity(MEE)
    Cummins will showcase its latest QSG12 generator set at the 2018 Middle East Electricity(MEE) , which will hall at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the UAE from 6 to 8 March 2018. [MEE is a major Expo for us to showcase our Cummins Generator sets and other products to the industry we are in" says by Alok Joshi, director of Cummins Power Generation charge of Africa and Middle East. [A lot of diesel generator set manufacturers are also present, many of them powered by Cummins. thereby, it is not only a good platform to launch new products, but to engage with other OEMs as well." Higher-efficiency air-handling and advanced combustion enable the QSG12 to return to the simplicity of a waste-gated turbocharger, and achieve near-zero emissions without the need for a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. As a result, internal loads on the QSG12 are reduced to free up extra power potential, while heat rejection is lowered by over 40% compared with engines using cooled EGR. According to Joshi, the diesel generator set markets in Africa and the Middle East are growing, due to the unreliability of power grids and growing industrialisation, respectively. However, prevailing economic and political conditions continue to hamper growth in major markets. [The biggest growth area at the moment is in West Africa, where the focus is on markets such as the Ivory Coast and Senegal." Speaking of the new range, Joshi says, [Our new product range is based on the QSG12 power plant, which has a much higher power density. This means that we now have a true prime-power capability to offer our customers, based on both an emissions-optimised and a fuel-optimised variant," Joshi explains. [It is a definitive step forward for us, and also a much-improved product. It even has the capability to run parallel with both other gensets and grids."

    2018 01/11

  • Heavy Use Of Generators Puts Nigeria`s Climate Plans In Jeopardy
    The continued heavy reliance on fossil fuel-powered generators in Nigeria by government institutions, businesses and households for electricity supply constitutes a major threat to the nation`s climate change plans, `FEMI ASU writes Diesel or petrol generators are often used in most countries as backup or emergency power when the national grid fails or during power outages or to provide energy in remote areas. But in Nigeria, generators have become the primary source of electricity for most businesses and households, as supply from the national grid remains abysmally low. Mrs. Nwamaka Okoye`s Housessories Limited, which designs and manufactures furniture in Lagos, has been depending 100 per cent on diesel-powered generators for the past six years because of the poor supply from the national grid. [We have to have two generators so that one will stand by for the other because they are designed to be standby generators; so since we are running them continuously, we have to turn off the generators for one hour everyday so they can rest," Okoye, who is the managing director of the company, told our correspondent. The use of diesel/petrol generator has over the years spread to almost every part of the country despite its negative health and climate effects. [In Lagos, you will see that many times, there is a lot of smog and it is hard to breathe sometimes because there are generators everywhere. Even somebody who has a barbing salon has to run `I-better-pass-my-neighbour` (nickname for the smallest generator)," Okoye said. The proliferation of generators, or what Schneider Electric described as [the alarming reality of mass generator dependency," exposes communities to harmful emissions of greenhouse gases. The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, described the situation as a big challenge, at least from the point of view of pollution and the huge impact on the environment. He said, [We haven`t seen any reduction in the use of generators in the country. If anything, it has been on the increase because energy demand is increasing with population and the public power supply has not actually been improving. [We have power generation of about 4,000MW and a population of over 180 million. Ideally, our energy consumption should be close to 50,000 megawatts. If you do the ratio of generators to public power supply, it will be around 70 to 30 per cent or even 80 to 20 per cent." After many years of government`s failure to solve the nation`s electricity woes, the power sector was privatised in 2013 in a bid to attract private capital and significantly improve electricity supply. But power generation has in the last four years mostly hovered between 3,000MW and 4,000MW, unchanged from what it was pre-privatisation. It stood at 3,688.6MW as of December 22, 2017, down from 4,265.2MW on December 8, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. [Generators are too many in Nigeria; there is no major building, especially in the cities, where you will not see a generator. When you go to big organisations like the NNPC, CBN and BoI, you will see that they have up to four big generators, with a size of 500KVA, operated on 24-hour basis, and they are burning fossil fuel that emits carbon dioxide," the Executive Director, Greenado International Limited and a former Renewable Energy Manager, Bank of Industry, Mr. Lawal Gada, said. He added, [Check Area 1 Shopping Plaza in Abuja where there are clusters of tailors, you will see the number of generators working as soon as the public power supply goes off. You will feel the heat around the environment. The carbon dioxide they are emitting is a major contributor to climate change." Two of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 are to ensure access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all by 2030, and to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. Worrisome statistics With the power sector still stuck in crisis after privatisation, many businesses, households and public institutions continue to rely heavily on generators, on which they spend a lot to fuel and maintain. For instance, 37 federal universities in the country are using 1,068 generators as alternative power source, according to an energy audit of the tertiary institutions by the Rural Electrification Agency. Based on the figures presented in the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy and Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan, about 40 per cent of the Nigerian population have access to grid-connected electricity, out of which 72 per cent reside in urban areas and 28 per cent in rural areas. Out of the estimated 16.4 million rural households in the country, only about 4.6 million are connected to the electricity grid. Current power demand in the country is estimated at 17,520MW, including latent and suppressed demand, against 5,300MW peak generation capability. Small-scale businesses and families spend an average of N3.5tn ($21.8bn) yearly to power their generators with diesel and petrol, a German development agency, GIZ, said in a note on October 2015, entitled: `Promoting Clean Energy Investments in Nigeria`. According to the agency, about 86 per cent of the companies in Nigeria own or share a generator and about 48 per cent of their total electricity demand is covered by these private generators, with estimates suggesting that between 8,000MW and 14,000MW of decentralised diesel generator capacity is currently installed in the country. The telecommunications sector is one of the largest end-users of diesel generators in the country, with the total number of generators in the sector estimated at 24,252, according to a recent World Bank report. [With several millions of privately installed diesel generators, Nigeria leads Africa as a generator importer and is one of the highest importers worldwide, with the total annual import figure being N17.9bn ($112m)," GIZ said. In 2011, 60 million power generator appliances or one per every 2.5 members of the population were said to be in operation. Generator market remains buoyant The African Progress Panel report 2015 noted that unreliable power supply had created a buoyant market for diesel-powered generators in Nigeria and other African countries. [Around 40 per cent of businesses in Tanzania and Ethiopia operate their own generators, rising to over 50 per cent in Kenya. In Nigeria, around four in every five Small and Medium Enterprises install their own generators," it said. The report said Africa`s demand for imported generators had created a fast-growing market for companies in China, France and the United Kingdom. In 2016, Nigerian importers spent a total of $243.6m on electricity generators and converters, according to worldstopexports.com. GlobalData, in its Diesel and Gas Generator 2012 report, described Nigeria as the largest market for generators in Africa, saying the market in Nigeria had grown substantially over the last decade, having been moderately sized in the 1990s. A report by 6Wresearch in September 2016 projected that Nigeria`s diesel generator market would reach $694.8m by 2022. [High electricity demand supply gap due to inadequate power generation and distribution infrastructure along with rising demand for power in unreliable and off-grid areas owing to rising population, combined with the need to provide power backup to the expanding telecom and manufacturing sectors, are the key factors spurring the demand for diesel generators in Nigeria," it said. The report noted that economic crisis due to low crude oil prices led the country into recession with manufacturing and construction sector witnessing negative growth in 2016. [However, during the forecast period, the market of diesel generators in Nigeria is expected to surge owing to the economic stability with the recovery in global oil prices," it added. A research analyst at 6Wresearch, Ravi Bhandari, noted that unreliable and limited power access, especially in rural areas, had been the major reason for high demand for small KVA rating diesel generators in the Nigerian market, which is dominated by low power rating (up to 125 KVA) in terms of volume. This year, Research and Markets, in its `Africa Diesel Generators Market (2017-2023)` report, said the growth in mining and oil and gas exploration in countries such as Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria would also spur the demand of diesel generators in Africa. The Director-General, Africa Clean Energy Summit Group, Dr. Victor Fakorede, noted that dealers in generators had been having a field day in the country, adding, [Their business is booming, with unintended negative consequences. Some families have been wiped out by the exhaust from generators. [All those generators have to be phased out. Any source that will not raise the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a better alternative." The Managing Director, Geogrid LighTec Limited, Mr. Dayo Sobitan, is also concerned that the country has been depending on generators for many years. He said, [I think it is high time we took advantage of the efficient technologies that are available. I think it is also high time for the generators` sellers to also begin to provide new solutions, rather than this individual selling of generators and we have proliferation of generators across the country." Generators and greenhouse gas emissions [There is a direct correlation between the use of generators and climate change because the generators burn fossil fuel, either diesel or petrol, and release a lot of greenhouse gases and pollutants to the atmosphere, and you know in Nigeria, more electricity is generated from private generators than from the national grid," the Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, told our correspondent. A usual warning written on generators is: [Do not use indoors due to danger of carbon monoxide poisoning." Carbon monoxide, according to the GHG online, is only a very weak direct greenhouse gas, but has important indirect effects on global warming. And reductions in carbon monoxide emissions can most effectively be made by direct reductions in fossil fuel use. According to the World Bank`s report entitled `Diesel Power Generation`, diesel generators contribute to emissions of fine particulate matter, including black carbon, which derives from the incomplete combustion of diesel (as occurs in many diesel generators). Other greenhouse gases released by diesel generators include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. Last year, the World Health Organisation listed four Nigerian cities among the worst in the world for air pollution, after it had tracked the growth in the two different sizes of particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5 per cubic metre of air. Onitsha, which was named the world`s most polluted city for air quality for high PM10, recorded 30 times more than the WHO`s recommended levels of PM10. Kaduna came fifth, followed by Aba in sixth place, and Umuahia in 16th position. Particulate matter is said to be a predisposing factor for respiratory and cardiopulmonary disease leading to increased hospital visits and risk of premature death. Black carbon is the most strongly light-absorbing component of particulate matter and is the second largest warming agent after carbon dioxide. The World Bank report said, [The emerging role of the BC as a significant driver of global climate change is increasing attention on its mitigation efforts. In addition to the negative health and the climate effects of emissions, most generators contribute significantly to noise pollution, which further reduces the quality of life of users and non-users alike. [Black carbon also affects the climate. It absorbs sunlight and generates heat in the atmosphere, which warms the air and can affect regional cloud formation and precipitation patterns. Since the BC remains in the atmosphere for only a short period (typically one to two weeks) its climate effects will dissipate quickly if emissions are reduced." Although the combustion of diesel in diesel generators is dominated by black smoke, it is important to take account of co-pollutants, which reflect sunlight and thus have a cooling effect on the climate, according to the World Bank. Nigeria, others take serious beating Africa is said to account for 3.8 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 23 per cent of China, 19 per cent of the United States and 13 per cent for the European Union. But no continent will be struck as severely by the impact of climate change as Africa, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. It said given its geographical position, the continent would be particularly vulnerable due to the considerably limited adaptive capacity, and exacerbated by widespread poverty. The UNEP said, [By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people on the continent are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change. In the same year, in some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 per cent. [Global warming of 2°C would put over 50 per cent of the continent`s population at risk of undernourishment. Projections estimate that climate change will lead to an equivalent of two to four per cent annual loss in GDP in the region by 2040. Assuming international efforts keep global warming below 2°C, the continent could face climate change adaptation costs of $50bn per year by 2050." Bassey said the impact of global warming had become very obvious in Nigeria, citing [increased desertification; erratic rainfall pattern including heavy rain in December, which is not normal; and serious coastal erosion, part of which can be attributed to rising sea levels and the degradation of natural barriers on the coastal lines." [We are in December, and there is supposed to be cold now, but because of global warming, there is not much cold. Even in places like Sokoto and Zamfara where there used to be higher cold temperature, now there is none because the atmosphere has been heated," Gada said. The 2014 World Climate Change Vulnerability Index classified Nigeria as one of the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, and Lagos as the 10th most vulnerable city in the world. The President, Climate Aid Initiative, Mr. Oluwatosin Kolawole, said in the North, climate change had increased the drying up of Lake Chad, and driving mass migration from the North towards the South. [It is also driving the clashes Fulani herdsmen have with farmers. Because they cannot fine agrarian and fertile land that can sustain grasses for their cattle, they are forced to move downwards South," he said. He said some communities in Lagos such as Alpha Beach had almost been wiped out by coastal erosion. [For us, who are in Lagos Island, there is fear of the sea volume increasing and it is increasing and eating up land. It is reducing our access to land. For people in the East, it is increasing the rate at which people experience land erosion." Global fight against climate change The global fight against climate change has gathered more momentum in recent years, and Nigeria has been engaged in international climate policy negotiations. The agreement inked at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015 has the target of limiting the global temperature rise this century to below 2°C. Nigeria became a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994 and ratified its Kyoto Protocol in 2004. The country submitted its First National Communication in 2003 and a Second National Communication in February 2014. In September 2012, the Federal Executive Council approved the Nigeria Climate Change Policy Response and Strategy, whose strategic goal is to foster low carbon, high growth economic development and build a climate-resilient society. President Muhammadu Buhari stated in his inaugural speech in May 2015 that Nigeria remained committed to tackling climate change. In November 2015, Nigeria submitted its new climate action plan, Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In its INDC, the Nigerian government identified poor access to energy as a principal constraint to economic development and demonstrated its determination to grow its economy sustainably while reducing carbon pollution. Under a business-as-usual growth scenario, consistent with strong economic growth of five per cent per year, Nigeria`s emissions are expected to grow to around 900 million tonnes per year in 2030, which translates to around 3.4 tonnes per person. According to the INDC, the mitigation options for energy address both energy demand and energy supply. It said this could be achieved through implementation of three significant policies. [Firstly, reliable gas-powered generation, using associated gas currently flared, can replace small generators. Secondly, rural electrification will be driven by cost-efficient renewable solutions. Thirdly, energy efficiency is greatly improved so as to reduce overall demand for energy and in doing so, serve more people, faster. [Poor air quality is the bane of urban residents and a health threat. Drastic measures to reduce soot (black carbon) pollution from cars and trucks, small generators and industry are needed. Failure to do so could make Nigeria`s mega-cities unliveable." The Director, Department of Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment, Dr. Yerima Tarfa, said the Federal Government established a department in the Federal Ministry of Environment to serve as a vehicle for driving national climate change efforts. He said climate change had become a critical issue, both for its global importance and threats to Nigeria and her people. [For instance, we have the desertification process advancing southward and potential submergence of the 853km stretch of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. There will be some changes in climate that cannot be avoided due to past and inevitable future global emissions, but the detrimental effects can be avoided if we can reduce greenhouse gases emission to an acceptable level." But industry stakeholders expressed concerns about the government`s efforts towards tackling climate change. [It is one thing to sign the pact; it is another thing to have deliberate policy on the ground to show commitment. I am not seeing that," the LCCI DG said. Kolawole said that the government had pledged to reduce carbon emission in the country unconditionally by 20 per cent by 2025. [Then, we might upscale it to 45 per cent by 2030. That one is conditional because it is contingent on the ability of the developed countries to support us with some financial mechanism," Kolawole said. Renewable energy to the rescue Okoye, who is also the president of Stanford Seed Transformation Network, highlighted the need for the government to prioritise the provision of power and focus more on exploring renewable energy. [We have a lot of sunlight here, so I don`t know why we have not maximised it. We need to focus on alternative sources of electricity such as solar and wind technology. If we are really serious, that is what the government should focus on – provide incentives for people to provide alternative means of power generation," she said. The Federal Government is seeking to achieve about 30 per cent of renewable energy contribution to on-grid generation capacity by 2030, with a target of 5,300MW and 13,800MW by 2020 and 2030, respectively. A former UN Secretary-General and Nobel laureate, Kofi Annan, who chairs the Africa Progress Panel, said, [Climate change demands that we rethink the relationship between energy and development. The carbon-intensive energy systems that drive our economies have set us on a collision course with our planetary boundaries. We can avoid that collision. He noted that some African countries were already leading the world in low carbon, climate-resilient development, adding, [Africa stands to gain from developing low carbon energy, and the world stands to gain from Africa avoiding the high carbon pathway followed by today`s rich world and emerging markets." According to the APP report, Africa cannot afford to stand on the sidelines of the renewable energy revolution, and low carbon technologies can be rapidly deployed to expand power generation and to extend the reach of energy. Bassey stressed the need to invest heavily in renewable energy such as wind and solar, stressing, [Inevitably, as the world itself is moving away from dependence on fossil fuel, this will trickle down to Nigeria. So, the best thing we have to do is to move ahead to renewable energy and not wait till the time that these things become totally unfashionable." Fakorede said the Africa Clean Energy Summit had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with some SMEs in the country to help them in replacing generators with specially designed solar LED sources. [We are targeting areas with a high concentration of the SMEs in Lagos, Abuja and some other places," he said. Gada said promoting the use of renewable energy in rural areas and the un-served and under-served areas would help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [India is one of the countries that have embraced renewable energy. They are more populated than us but they take actions better than us. The airport in New Delhi, India, is fully powered by solar 24 hours. This is the kind of measures we need in Nigeria." Last month, one of the nation`s integrated energy service providers, Forte Oil, launched its solar power business for homes and businesses. [As the world moves towards more investment in clean energy, we believe this move by Forte Oil will impact on the overall outlook of Nigeria`s energy and environmental outlook," the company`s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said. The LCCI DG, Yusuf, wants government to put in place incentives to make renewable energy, particularly solar power, cheaper and more accessible. He said, [Government can subsidise solar panels and batteries. The import duty on solar battery is still very high. Solar is good for households and micro businesses. They can migrate to solar easily if the incentive is there to reduce the costs of acquiring those things."

    2017 12/29

  • Egenco Misses Diesel Gensets Deadline
    Barely few days to close the year, it has become apparent that Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) will not meet its own deadline to add 40 megawatts (MW) to the national grid through generators by December 31 2017. Instead, it has emerged that Egenco will only connect a 2MW diesel-powered generator in Mzuzu out of the 6MW gensets delivered, according to officials. In an interview on Tuesday, Egenco spokesperson Moses Gwaza said installation is in progress at Luwinga in Mzuzu where the company identified a site to install the 6MW diesel-powered gensets comprising three 2MW machines. Outlining operational plans Egenco has on both the 6MW genset and 30MW genset to be airlifted from India, he said the other 4MW Mzuzu machines are expected to be operational from the first week of January 2018. Said Gwaza: [Currently, installations are underway. The six megawatts generator has three machines, each with two megawatts. The first machine with two megawatts will run from this month end [December] and the other two will run from the first week of January." He echoed Egenco chief executive officer William Liabunya who told The Nation last week that a team of engineers has been dispatched to India to conduct a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) on the machines to see if they are fit to operate in Malawi. Added Gwaza: [By early January, the machine should have arrived. The plan is that by February, Lilongwe machines should be installed. By March, Blantyre machines should be installed so the whole process is expected to be finalised by March when all the machines are in." Following heavy downpours in most parts of the country, Gwaza said the current average generation capacity is said to hover between 180MW and 200MW. He said at times the generation capacity has been going up to 210MW. In November, Egenco told The Nation that the 30MW genset was expected in the country by mid-December with installation carried out for before the end of the year. Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Aggrey Masi on December 8 told the National Assembly that prolonged power outages, which are seeing some consumers experiencing up to 25 hours of no electricity, would be dealt with by the end of this month. The minister said President Peter Mutharika promised the nation during the opening of the 47th Session of Parliament that the power outages would be contained by the end of this month. However, Egenco is on record as having indicated that installation of all diesel-powered generators would be finalised by March when 46MW are expected to have been commissioned; hence, improving power. Commenting on the change of deadline, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito described the addition of the 2MW as insignificant. He said: [It [2MW] is not an addition because Malawi needs more. We expected Egenco to live by its promises." Kapito said Egenco needs to utilise the festive period when industries are shutdown to give consumers a relief. Six sites have been identified where 50MW gensets are expected to be installed which include Mapanga and Chigumula in Blantyre, Mfundisi Cross in Mulanje, Monkey Bay in Mangochi and Kanengo in Lilongwe. Egenco has attributed increased power outages in recent years to low water levels in Lake Malawi and its sole outlet, the Shire River, . Currently, Egenco is producing about 200MW against a demand of 350MW. Malawi`s present installed generation capacity is at 351MW. The post Egenco misses gensets deadline appeared first on The Nation Online.

    2017 12/29

  • Installing a Diesel Generator Set For Your Home Or Business
    Location Operating a diesel generator set will result in a certain amount of noise (although steps can be taken to reduce this significantly) and diesel exhaust fumes. If possible, a location downwind of your home/business should be selected so diesel fumes are carried away from people and buildings by the prevailing winds. A reasonable distance between your home/business and the site of the generator enclosure, will (in combination with soundproofing measures)reduce any noise pollution. Placement Diesel generators are heavy and should sit on a solid, level surface. The ideal solution is to pour a reinforced concrete slab approx 4″ thick. The slab should be large enough for the generator and fuel tank to sit on. There should be sufficient room to walk around the generator (in order to service and maintain the machine) and for a block wall enclosure to be built around the generator (the fuel tank should not be placed inside this enclosure). Prior to pouring the slab, a trench (18″ deep is ideal) should be dug between the generator slab and an access point adjacent to the mains electricity supply/distribution board in your building, close to where your transfer switch will be located. Pipe work should be laid of a sufficient size to accommodate the cables and generator control wires (minimum of 25mm cable per 100amps of supply). The pipe work should begin with a vertical feed through the slab and care should be taken to ensure that there are no 90 degree bends. Any bends should be gentle so cables will not jam or snag as they are pulled through. Whilst laying the pipe, you should run a length of strong rope through the pipe work, this will be used later to pull the generator cables through. After pouring the concrete slab, a few inches of concrete should be poured along the trench on top of the pipe work prior to the trench being back filled. This will help prevent future cable damage. Generator Enclosure Diesel generator sets are sensitive to extreme heat and moisture and need to be protected from excesses of both. The best way to achieve this is to build a custom enclosure around the generator set. The design of the enclosure should allow for maximum airflow, whilst reducing the chance of moisture penetration. Moisture penetration into the alternator is one of the main causes of generator burn outs and can be avoided for the most part by enclosure design. Simple block walls supporting a metal framed, tiled roof, is a good basic structure. The roof should be lined with heat reflective material to prevent excessive radiant heat penetration (painting the roof and walls white will also reflect some radiant heat). The eaves of the roof should descend as low as is practicable to prevent rainwater being blown into the enclosure in high winds. A wide door (30″ or 32″) should be fitted for operator access and maintenance. Air is drawn in through the rear of a generator and expelled through the radiator at the front of a generator. To allow a sufficient volume of air to be drawn in through the generator enclosure, the final course of block work at the top of the block wall to the rear of the generator, should be of a decorative type with holes in the block. The generator will draw air through this course of block. The hot air expelled through the radiator should be channeled through a simple duct work arrangement between the face of the radiator and further decorative block work on the wall directly to the front of the generator. All decorative block work should be lined on the inside of the generator enclosure with fine plastic or metal mesh material to prevent insect penetration into the generator enclosure. The walls, door and ceiling should be lined with sound absorbent material, this will significantly reduce the noise signature of the generator set. If noise continues to be a problem other solutions include; building a cavity wall as opposed to a single block wall, and/or fitting baffles around the decorative block (airflow in) and radiator (airflow out). These measures will reduce the noise signature further still. If noise reduction is an absolute priority, purchasing a generator in a silent canopy, then installing it within a block built and soundproof lined generator enclosure is the way to go. Sufficient lighting and an additional mains power outlet should be fitted within the enclosure for the purpose of generator maintenance and service. If possible a water supply should be run to the outside of the enclosure and hosepipe fitted (for radiator top up).

    2017 12/27

  • use of boilers in diesel power genset plants
    BIO FUEL OIL FOR POWER PLANTS AND BOILERS • Use of BFO in boilers replacing heavy fuel oil - a fuel for oil boilers and diesel power plants, the emphasis being in the first application.Boiler (power generation) – WikipediaSmeaton further lengthened the path of the gases by means of a spiral labyrinth flue beneath the boiler. These under-fired boilers - power plants universally use -Fossil fuel power station – WikipediaA fossil fuel power station is a power station which burns fossil fuel such as - All plants use the energy extracted from expanding - or Diesel power cycle, -What are advantages and disadvantages of diesel power -What are advantages and disadvantages of diesel power plant with respect - Able to use for - What are advantages of nuclear power plants over thermal or -Diesel Power Plants – study Material lecturing Notes -Diesel power plants produce power from a diesel engine. Diesel electric plants in the range of 2 to 50 MW capacities are used as central stations forHow Gas Turbine Power Plants Work | Department -How Gas Turbine Power Plants Work - High-pressure steam from these boilers can be used to generate additional electric power with steam turbines, - Diesel Generators and Power Plants Diesel generators play a major role in the power generation industry. This article describes a few of the ways they are commonly used in power plants and substations.Diesel Power Plant.pdf | Internal Combustion -Diesel Power Plant.pdf. Uploaded - available which can be burnt in boilers. The gas turbine power plants - in the diesel power plants to use the duel fuel engines -7 Steam Power Plants – Dalhousie UniversityThis brief overview on steam power plants - It is always necessary to use - is sufficient for the safe operation of pulverized coal fired boilers.Portland Generating Station to convert coal-fired boilers -Portland Generating Station to convert coal-fired boilers to use diesel fuel. - Subscribe to Power Engineering magazineBIO FUEL OIL FOR POWER PLANTS AND BOILERS• Use of BFO in boilers replacing heavy fuel oil - a fuel for oil boilers and diesel power plants, the emphasis being in the first application.Boiler (power generation) – WikipediaSmeaton further lengthened the path of the gases by means of a spiral labyrinth flue beneath the boiler. These under-fired boilers - power plants universally use -Fossil fuel power station – WikipediaA fossil fuel power station is a power station which burns fossil fuel such as - All plants use the energy extracted from expanding - or Diesel power cycle, -What are advantages and disadvantages of diesel power -What are advantages and disadvantages of diesel power plant with respect - Able to use for - What are advantages of nuclear power plants over thermal or -Diesel Power Plants – study Material lecturing Notes -Diesel power plants produce power from a diesel engine. Diesel electric plants in the range of 2 to 50 MW capacities are used as central stations forHow Gas Turbine Power Plants Work | Department -How Gas Turbine Power Plants Work - High-pressure steam from these boilers can be used to generate additional electric power with steam turbines, -Diesel Generators and Power PlantsDiesel generators play a major role in the power generation industry. This article describes a few of the ways they are commonly used in power plants and substations.Diesel Power Plant.pdf | Internal Combustion -Diesel Power Plant.pdf. Uploaded - available which can be burnt in boilers. The gas turbine power plants - in the diesel power plants to use the duel fuel engines -7 Steam Power Plants – Dalhousie UniversityThis brief overview on steam power plants - It is always necessary to use - is sufficient for the safe operation of pulverized coal fired boilers.Portland Generating Station to convert coal-fired boilers -Portland Generating Station to convert coal-fired boilers to use diesel fuel. - Subscribe to Power Engineering magazine

    2017 12/27

  • Malawi Electricity Tariffs to Go Up By 24.67% With Diesel-Powered Generators
    By Green Muheya Malawians will start dipping deeper in their pockets to pay for electricity as Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has approved a tariff hike of 24.57% but has instructed the state-owned Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) to effect the raise when they starts using the generators. Mera chief executive officer, Collins Magalasi, disclosed that the energy regulator approved the tariff hike but have written Escom to put on hold the new tarrifs because "people have not started enjoying the benefits of the improved service." Magalasi said Escom can implement the new tarrifs when it starts supplying power from the diesel-powered generators expected to be expensive to run. Escom will raise the tarrifs from the current K53.80 (about $0.09) per kilowatt-hour to K73.23. In Malawi, electricity tariffs are expected to be reviewed every four years and since 2008, there have been two electricity tariff reviews, the first being from 2009 to 2013 and the second from 2014 to 2017 The tarrifc increase comes at a time when Escom has been rationing power due to reduced generation capacity from the potential demand of 351MW to current levels because of low water levels in Lake Malawi and its sole outlet the Shire River where over 90 percent of hydro power is generated. The impoverished southern African country which relies on hydroelectricity has been hit by intermitted blackouts since last year, but the outages have recently worsened, lasting up to 25 hours. but Escom has said there has been increase in power generation from 147 megawatts (MW) to 200MW and load shedding hours will be reduced. Escom acting public relations manager George Mituka said that on their part, they rely on the amount generated by their sister company, Electricity Generation Company (Egenco). A number of businesses and hospitals in the country had been forced to use diesel-powered generators to keep the lights on. According to the World Bank, only 8% of Malawi's 17 million people have access to electricity.

    2017 12/26

  • Recalled portable Generator sets will keep on the lights. It also could light your place on fire
    Honda has recalled 34,000 portable generator sets, a staple of hurricane supplies in many houses. Sold in 2016 and 2017, they are under recall because they leak gas, causing a fire hazard. The recall notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site says Honda knows of 38 cases of gas leakage from the carburetor on either the EB2800i or EG2800i models. They were produced from July 2016 through September 2017 and sold by Honda equipment dealers and Home Depot from September 2016 through November 2017. Consumers are asked to stop using the generators and find a Honda equipment service dealer for a repair. Dealers can be found either online or by calling American Honda at 888-888-3139 from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday.

    2017 12/26

  • Mahindra keen to move towards high-powered diesel gensets
    Guwahati, Dec 21 (PTI) Mahindra Powerol, a unit of the Mahindra Group, today said it is in talks with a number of global and domestic players for a technology tie-up to launch high power diesel generator sets in 500 kVA and above category in the next two years. The company is also looking to increase exports revenue of its generator business to 25 per cent in the next financial year from the existing around 16 per cent. [We plan to roll out diesel generators in higher category of 500 kVA and above in the next two years. The industry is moving towards that segment. We are now working on that," Mahindra & Mahindra Vice President (Retail and International Business-Powerol) Sanjay Jain told PTI here. The company is currently in discussions with a number of firms rolling out the high powered generator sets, he added. [We are working on it. We are talking to many companies, both domestic and foreign for a tie up. It may be for the technology. But nothing has been finalised yet," Jain said. He did not share any other detail regarding development of the product such as investment for research. Talking about its business, Jain said: [In 2016-17, we recorded a revenue of Rs 1,250 crore and it is likely to be Rs 1,350 crore in this fiscal. Out of that, around 16 per cent or Rs 200 crore came from the exports and it is likely to go up to 17-20 per cent in this fiscal." In 2018-19 financial year, the company is looking to increase its exports revenue from generator sets to 25 per cent of the total turnover, he added. The company today launched its new 250 kVA and 320 kVA diesel generators for the North Eastern market, priced between Rs 12.5 lakh and Rs 16 lakh, excluding GST. Jain informed that the size of the Indian generator set market is 1,17,200 units with a value of Rs 6,394 crore as per last fiscal. [We are a dominant player in the lower category generator set market. The North East market size is around 3,000 units and we enjoy 35-40 per cent share of the market," he added. This is published unedited from the PTI feed.

    2017 12/26

  • Assisted living group challenges backup power generator rule
    TALLAHASSEE - A statewide long-term care association has challenged a proposal by Gov. Rick Scott`s administration to make permanent a controversial rule that requires assisted-living facilities to have generators and enough fuel to provide 96 hours of backup power. Attorneys for the Florida Senior Living Association filed a petition Friday in state administrative court arguing that the Florida Department of Elder Affairs overstepped its legislative authority and that the new proposed rule puts requirements on assisted-living facilities that are not authorized in state law. The Florida Senior Living Association, formerly known as Florida Argentum, also argues in the petition that the proposed rule is vague. The group represents more than 350 assisted living facilities across the state. [The proposed rule is impermissibly vague as evidenced by DOEA`s (the Department of Elder Affairs`) inability to answer basic questions relating to standards it intends to enforce should the proposed rule go into effect," one part of the petition says. The proposed rule closely tracks an emergency rule the Department of Elder Affairs issued in September following Hurricane Irma. That rule and one issued by Agency for Health Care Administration that affects nursing homes were invalidated in October after a trio of industry groups, including The Florida Senior Living Association, challenged them. Despite the invalidation decision by an administrative law judge, the Scott administration maintains that the emergency rules remain in effect and has been enforcing them. A Scott spokesman also fired back against the new rule challenge filed Friday. [This rule is solely focused on saving lives. This association should focus on keeping seniors safe and not on lawsuits," Scott spokesman McKinley Lewis said. The rules stem from the deaths of eight residents of a Broward County nursing home on Sept. 13, three days after Hurricane Irma hit the state. The nursing home, The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, lost its air-conditioning system in the storm and did not have a backup power system to cool the building. The emergency rules drew criticism and opposition from nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, in part, because of a short timeframe to install generators and add fuel supplies. Amid the legal wrangling about the emergency rules, the Scott administration proposed the more-permanent rules. Also, lawmakers are expected to consider several proposals during the upcoming legislative session about requiring generators and fuel supplies. State estimates indicate that complying with the generator and fuel-supply requirements would cost $280 million for assisted-living facilities and $186 million for nursing homes. The large price tags mean the rules would have to be ratified by the Legislature before they could take effect. The Scott administration also has moved to revoke the license of The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, which is fighting the decision. A multi-day hearing is scheduled to start Jan. 29 in that case.

    2017 12/25

  • Who Makes the Best Home Generator Review
    Emergency home or small office backup generators are available in three different types – gasoline-powered (or, in some instances, diesel-powered), lpg (liquid propane gas) or natural gas. Each has certain advantages. The only sure way to be guaranteed that one will have an operable generator during a power outage is to use a gasoline-powered generator. Many people think that a natural-gas generator is a better choice; however, if there is a disruption in the gas main the utility might have to shut down the natural gas – in some instances, entire communities will have no natural gas during a storm or other disruptive event. This leaves anyone owning a natural gas generator with no ability to utilize their generator until the gas main, etc. is repaired. In like manner, a wide-spread power outage can prevent obtaining further lpg since the lumber yard, etc. that pumps the lpg may well be out of electricity and can not supply lpg until general power is restored. On the other hand, a gasoline-powered generator is usable at any time – it provides for a self-sufficient scenario in which, as long as there is an adequate supply of additional gasoline on hand, the generator can be used irrespective of natural gas Egypt of lpg limits. There is no need to store endless quantities of gas – common sense applications. There should also be no fears in storing some extra gas in, for example, good quality 5-gallon cans – the car is typically parked on the concessions and will itself contain some 20 gallons of gas in its tank. A quality, whole-house natural gas system has one obvious advantage. If all else is equal, the system will auto-start upon a power outage – no one needs to be present to ensure that this happens. So, if, for example, you travel intensively, this is an immediate consideration. Of course, like anything else in life, you get what you pay for – a good quality (Kohler) natural gas system typically costs $ 12,000 to $ 15,000 (some can be higher). That is a sizable investment for the average person – especially when one considers that a premium-quality (Honda makes the best!) Gasoline generator sized to do a typical house can usually be installed soup-to-nuts for around $ 6,000. Of course, smaller generators cost less. In sizing a generator for home or office use, the procedure is to add up all the important electrical needs – keeping in mind that some types of products have starting surges that are typically two to three times the actual running wattages. For example, an average sump pump might run at 800 watts; but, need around 2,000 watts to start. Without knowing the starting surges on various products, one might seriously undersize an emergency generator. Speaking broadly, most homes with a pump pump, fridge and typical heating system will benefit from a 5,000 watt generator. In recent years – due to escalating electrical usages (one fridge, one freezer, maybe two sump pumps, etc.) a 6,500 watt generator is preferred. If there are no sump pumps; then as small as a 3,000 watt generator can be selected. The brand of generator is all important because it will determine, among other things, the quality of the electricity being provided by the generator. Many / most over-the-counter big-box-store or internet generators large use Chinese components. Not only is repair parts availability a major consideration, the electrical output from such generators is what is referred to as "dirty electricity". This type of electrical output is likely to damage or ruin anything that has any sensitivity to electrical fluctuations. Thus, the circuits in the heating system, fridge, microwave and, of course, TV, computers, modems, etc. are likely to be "smoked" by such generators. If oneself has to replace a fridge or wide-screen plasma TV, or have a heating system repaired – the price difference between a good quality and a poor quality generator has just been bridged. There are also noise considerations. Good quality generators are extremely quiet; mass merchandise generators are extremely noisy. Why is this? It is a further illustration of the difference in quality. In addition, another major consideration is fuel usage. Some Honda generators, for example, can run for up to 12 hours one a gallon of gas. A big-box store type generator is likely to use a gallon an hour. Honda makes the best portable emergency generators in the world, and has, as this article is written in 2013, enjoyed this prestige for over two decades. It should be noted that Honda makes different series of generators – ie, a utility / entry-level series, an industrial series, and both an EM and EU series for backup power. The Honda EU series generators provide the best level of protection for home or office use in a power outage. The level of engineering that is utilized in such a generator is unmatched. The electrical quality output from an EU i-series Honda is what is referred to in the generator industry as "computer-clean". This ensures that there can not be any damage to even the most delicious electronics – a great peace of mind. As well, they are incredibly quiet and extremely fuel efficient. So, it is suggested that you protect what is reasonably the largest investment for the average homeowner – which is to say, the home – by utilizing a quality gasoline-powered generator. The monthly maintenance on a Honda generator is to simply run the generator for 30 minutes to give it a "workout" and to keep the battery charged. Every 100 hours of use, change the oil – usually a 15-minute job. Make sure, of course, that the generator is made by Honda and is not a Honda "look-alike."

    2017 12/25

  • Cummins Releases New Generators in QuietConnect Series
    New stand-by generator models, RS125 and RS150, for home and light commercial use are released in time for winter storm season and beyond MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cummins, Inc. (NYSE:CMI) announced the new RS125 and RS150 models in the QuietConnect series, now ranging from 13 kW up to 150 kW to back up larger homes and small businesses, including dental and medical offices, grocery stores, gas stations and strip malls. The 125 kW and 150 kW models will be released in the beginning of January 2018, just in time for winter storm season. The new generators were designed to weather everything from biting winter storms to high-powered hurricanes. Both models are equipped to operate under extreme environmental conditions including cold weather starts well below 0°F and can withstand winds of up to 180 miles per hour when equipped with the necessary accessories. The generator can operate reliably in ambient temperatures up to 122°F, providing peace of mind to consumers worried about grid failure due to extreme heat. The generators are ideal for powering both homes and small businesses through prolonged power outages. "Every year during winter storm season, hundreds of thousands - sometimes millions - of people lose power, which, in many cases also means heat," said Jodie Wilson, director of marketing communications at Cummins. "Our new generators are designed to power up seamlessly when the power goes down, providing home and business owners with a peace of mind that their families and businesses won't be without lights and heat in the winter months or air conditioning in the summer months. We're constantly looking for new ways to serve our customer base, expanding our capabilities and proving to them that Cummins is the brand they can trust with what matters most." The RS125 and RS150 are powered by the Cummins QSJ8.9G spark-ignited engine, an adaptation of the rugged and reliable QSL9 diesel engine which was engineered to power demanding commercial applications such as construction, agriculture, and mining equipment, as well as trucks. Gas-powered generators like these provide an advantage when diesel supplies may be interrupted by severe weather. For homeowners and small business owners, this means that they now have a more robust solution to support their power needs in the case of outages. Both models use PowerCommand®2.3 electronic control, an industry-leading self-diagnostic system, designed to ensure service and preventative maintenance can be completed in a short period of time. Additionally, it allows users can put the generator into Flexible Exercise Mode, enabling the generator to exercise at a time, frequency and duration set by the customer, in as little as two minutes every six months. Patented sound technology, coupled with an advanced and aesthetically pleasing housing design, make the QuietConnect among the quietest generators available on the market today. The RS125 and RS150 are backed by a 2-year limited warranty and supported by a nationwide dealer network of over 500 dealers specializing in installing and servicing generators for homes and small businesses, to provide additional peace of mind to consumers. David Richey, President for Benchmark Electric, the Cummins-authorized dealer based in Cordova, Tenn., said, "We have had great success with the QuietConnect and the Connect Series products, as a result of superior design and engineering coupled with competitive pricing. The introduction of the RS125 and 150 closes the gap in the standby market, by providing a solution for the mid-size customer base." In addition to the QuietConnect models, the Connect Series also includes PowerConnect models to give consumers more choices depending on budget and backup power needs. To identify the correct product for your home or business, visit: https://homegenerators.cummins.com/generator-size-calculator All Cummins standby generators must be professionally installed by an authorized Cummins dealer to ensure safety and local code compliance. For more information on the generators, contact your local Cummins dealer or visit: https://homegenerators.cummins.com/ About Cummins Inc. Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emissions solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (USA), Cummins currently employs approximately 55,000 people worldwide, and serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of approximately 600 company-owned and independent distributor locations and more than 7,200 dealer locations. Cummins earned $1.4 billion on sales of $17 billion in 2016.

    2017 12/25

  • Natural gas generators make up the largest share of overall U.S. generation capacity
    For the next two weeks (December 18–December 29), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2017. Today`s article about natural gas power plants was originally published on April 20. Similar articles examined hydroelectric, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, petroleum, and other electricity generators. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory In 2016, natural gas-fired generators accounted for 42% of the operating electricity generating capacity in the United States. Natural gas provided 34% of total electricity generation in 2016, surpassing coal to become the leading generation source. The increase in natural gas generation since 2005 is primarily a result of the continued cost-competitiveness of natural gas relative to coal. Natural gas-fired combined-cycle units accounted for 53% of the 449 gigawatts (GW) of total U.S. natural gas-powered generator capacity in 2016. Combined-cycle generators have been a popular technology choice since the 1990s and made up a large share of the capacity added between 2000 and 2005. Under current natural gas and coal market conditions in many regions of the country, combined-cycle generating units are often used as baseload generation, which operate throughout the day. Other types of natural gas-fired technology, such as combustion turbines (about 28% of total natural gas-powered generator capacity) and steam turbines (17%), generally only run during hours when electricity demand is high. The capacity-weighted average age of U.S. natural gas power plants is 22 years, which is less than hydro (64 years), coal (39), and nuclear (36). Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory Natural gas-fired capacity is widely distributed across the United States. Every state except Vermont has at least one natural gas plant. About 38% of U.S. natural gas-fired generation capacity is located in four states: Texas, California, Florida, and New York. Natural gas power plants account for more than half of the total electricity generating capacity in each of these four states and in seven other states. Texas has the most natural gas-fired capacity of any state, with 69 GW, or 15% of the national total. California and Florida each have about 40 GW of natural gas-fired capacity. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly The operating profile of the nation`s natural gas-fired generation facilities varies, depending on the overall level of electricity demand, plant efficiency, and natural gas prices. The average capacity factor, a metric that measures the utilization of power plants, for natural gas combined-cycle units has increased from 43% in 2011 to 56% in 2016. The upward trends in both natural gas net generation and the natural gas-fired combined-cycle annual capacity factor (which is approaching 60%) highlight the growing contribution of natural gas-fired combined-cycle generators, which traditionally only served peaking and intermediate loads, but now have increasingly become more common to meet baseload demands. This article is part of a series of Today in Energy articles examining the fleet of utility-scale power plants in the United States. Other articles have examined hydroelectric, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, petroleum, and other generators.

    2017 12/25

  • Gensets commissioned at new cogen district heating plant in Italy
    The gensets from Centrax Gas Turbines will provide 3.9 MW each for Italian utility Hera`s state-of-the-art cogeneration plant in Bologna, which replaces an existing thermal power plant that is coming to the end of its operational life. The upgrade will bring the heat generated by the cogeneration process from 28.9 per cent to 51 per cent, Centrax said. The gensets, attached to two heat recovery boilers from Italian manufacturer Ruths, will enable Hera to heat around 8000 apartments in Bologna`s Reno-Borgo Panigale district. In addition, the new equipment will help to achieve an annual reduction of around 21,000 kg of NOx and 2500 tonnes of CO2. The two genset packages, powered by Siemens 501-k engines, were manufactured at Centrax`s headquarters in the UK and shipped to Bologna this autumn. Service and maintenance will be carried out by Centrax`s Italian support centre in Tuscany. Toby Boys, Centrax`s European sales manager, said the gensets [are well suited to this project, providing Hera with a compact yet powerful solution that enables excellent flexibility as and when heat and power are needed. [Thanks to the state-of-the art technology, Hera is able to control the facilities from a remote centre allowing for minimal personnel requirements at site," he added.

    2017 12/22

  • ABB technology bolsters major bank's back-up power generation
    A major European central bank has installed Emax 2, ABB`s groundbreaking smart circuit breaker, to upgrade the backup power at its Rome headquarters, increasing security and system resilience. The ABB all-in-one circuit breaker technology, which controls, protects and coordinates microgrids, has enabled the bank, which cannot be named for confidentiality reasons, to downsize its back-up power investment while reinforcing its energy security strategy. Banks use back-up generators to ensure they can operate as a standalone low-voltage microgrid if the utility power should fail for any reason. Having several layers of redundancy in their power supply guarantees that security systems stay online and that transactions can still proceed as normal. Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems provide backup as the very last resort. Giuseppe Scali, global product management manager for ABB`s low-voltage circuit breakers business, said: [Banks trust ABB technology to keep their systems up and running in an emergency. Emax 2 simplifies the control and protection coordination of microgrids. For critical power applications like banks, Emax 2 is the smartest way to give their energy supply an extra layer of resilience without additional genset investments or complex programming." Emax 2 provides advanced protection, programmable logic, full connectivity, easy integration and comprehensive microgrid energy management – all in one device. If ever the bank needs to switch to its streamlined backup power, designed only for essential loads, the Emax 2`s embedded software delivers a load shedding strategy based on power and frequency measurements. According to pre-set priorities, non-critical loads are quickly disconnected while essential operations stay up and running. When utility power is restored, ABB`s breaker safely reconnects these loads automatically. Emax 2 is not only a circuit breaker with two complete sets of protection for power distribution and generation, but also a plant controller that guarantees coordination in both on-grid or off-grid situations. Thanks to patented embedded software, Emax 2 learns the power system`s behavior and adapts the plant load and generation configuration to electrical grid changes. [From a power perspective, a bank is a plant that must never shut down," added Fabio Monachesi, global product manager in ABB`s Protection and Connection business. [Remaining online at all times requires several layers of resilience to be built into the power strategy. In consultation with Quadricom, the bank`s facility managers decided to install two back-up power generators, using the load shedding technology in ABB`s Emax 2 circuit breaker avoids catastrophic blackout conditions and satisfies 24/7/365 banking operations."

    2017 12/22

  • The fuel future for generator sets
    For mobile power applications, diesel is often the fuel of choice in remote regions although there is an increasing demand for alternative fuel sources. We spoke with Ben Van Hove, VP Marketing at genset manufacturer Atlas Copco, about the current and future viability of diesel as a genset fuel, and what other options are available for mobile gensets. Q: What fuels do Atlas Copco`s gensets currently run on? Are there dual-fuel options? A: We offer a large containerized genset where dual fuel is an option, so it can use diesel or natural gas or any mixture of both. We typically reconvert it in the factory from a basic diesel engine. We do this for larger gensets because they would typically go on medium- to long-term rentals for IPPs in remote locations; sometimes they have a natural gas supply, or they would like to run on biofuel. The advantages of a fuel mixture include better transient behaviour; at peak load or startup the gensets can run on diesel so they can better cope, while in stable running conditions they can switch to natural gas. This is an on-demand application, as is reconversion. We`re looking into some versions with natural gas in larger power modes, above 300 kVA. We also see demand for mobile natural gas-fired gensets. Q: What measures are necessary to adapt gensets to run on alternative fuels? A: Natural gas is not always the same in different regions. We`re always tweaking and fine tuning, but basically you get the gas, dry it, filter it, whatever, then compress or expand it depending on the pressure you get it with. A pre-treatment system is mounted on the gas train before you can use it in injection, then modified to the injection system and controls to get the mixture right between diesel and gas. On the engine itself there are some changes in terms of measuring and controlling temperatures and vibration. We do natural gas, biogas, diesel and biodiesel. Things we don`t do: HFO, which is used more and more in some countries that have it available, but it`s not only very corrosive but also very difficult to store and treat. For mobile applications we don`t see the benefit. Flare gas, when treated, is basically natural gas, and we use landfill gas because, when treated, it then becomes natural gas quality. We don`t use it untreated. Q: What kinds of alternative fuels are preferred in which markets? A: An interesting point about the energy landscape of the future is that everybody knows we`re going to see a wide variety of solutions that will play somewhere in this new puzzle of energy sources. All kinds of solutions: some say hydrogen, some say fossil fuels, some say we will see biomethane or landfill gas. For us, it`s basically about what is widely available to the customer, which is really the driver for us. For the time being it`s still 70%-80% diesel, but in some areas we see an increasing requirement for natural gas. Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of diesel as a genset fuel? A: It`s important to realize that our main application for gensets is mobile prime power, meaning that the main target niche we focus on with diesel generator sets is rental applications or mobile applications. Diesel generator sets move a lot from one location to the other. Of course if you move your genset around a lot it`s also very important that you have fuel available in most places, so therefore in mobile applications diesel still is the prime fuel used in backup gensets. That said, we do see an increasing demand for natural gas-driven gensets. The first advantage of diesel is that it`s widely available. The second is that, within a certain engine frame size or module, the power density is higher with diesel than with natural gas; also for transient behaviours, startup or loads, diesel engines are faster to react. On the contrary, the advantage of gas is that it`s cheaper per kW and burns more cleanly (if you forget about aftertreatment; you get a very similar level of emissions with aftertreatment). Other fuels, such as biodiesel or biogas, are very similar. Biodiesel is basically the same as diesel, it burns in the same way, and biogas is treated in the same way as natural gas. For us diesel is still the primary source, although we do see increasing demand for natural gas or biofuel gensets. It`s regional, more from stationary applications, which you typically see in the US and Canada. In Europe we see less of that demand, although there is some of course; again there is high demand in stationary applications, and also in applications where there is combined heat and power (CHP) demand. In mobile applications we see very little of that demand. Oil-producing countries, such as Nigeria and countries in the Middle East, prefer to export the oil they find and keep the natural gas. Gas is a waste product for these oilfields and is very hard to transport if there`s not the right infrastructure, so they prefer to convert it into fuel they can more easily transport. Q: Are other fuels likely to replace diesel in the foreseeable future? A: We definitely don`t see a replacement for diesel in the foreseeable future. There will be some pieces of the puzzle eaten by other fuels, but in our applications diesel will remain the primary source of energy. Q: What about the difficulties involved in transporting diesel fuel? A: Diesel is a liquid that needs to be transported with certain precautions, but the world has learned how to transport it well enough. Gas is much more complicated to transport. In general, diesel is still one of the easiest-to-transport fuels there is. There are environmental concerns with spillage, but with all of our machines being spillage-free and having double-walled fuel tanks we can solve this challenge very well. Also, this is where extra efficiency elements come in. In the past you had to refill a genset maybe every day, but that`s far from the case now so, in remote areas, you only need to refill it maybe once a week, maybe even less. Our focus is very much on using the least amount of fuel possible, as opposed to switching. And instead of having one big genset that runs all time, a lot of smaller ones share the load and become a lot more efficient. There are lots of ways that we can reduce our fuel consumption, which is as important as changing the type of fuel. You can save a lot more CO2 by making installations more fuel efficient rather than changing the primary type of fuel. Q: What percentage of the genset market do you think will switch to alternative fuels in the foreseeable future? A: In the US with shale gas, it depends a lot on where it`s coming from and how it`s being handled, but we see in some of the oil & gas applications where they have waste gas available that, with some simple treatments, they can be used to generate excess electricity and transport it off the site. Because of the very low-cost abundance of gas, countries like Nigeria have oil produced for export and keep the natural gas for local energy production. Of course everything changed a bit in the last 18 months with the strong reduction in oil per barrel price, so I think interest in alternative fuels was bigger two years ago than it is today. Diesel has become a very economical fuel nowadays. But that might change again in the future – how are we to predict fuel prices? One driver for that is also the complexity of the emissions legislation regarding diesel engines. It`s very complex in North America, and by 2020 we will also see that in Europe. Diesel engines will become ever more regulated, and then alternative gases could well have an increased place in the market. Something to watch for in the next two to three years. Q: What are Atlas Copco`s plans to increase the fuel flexibility of its gensets? A: Different gases and fuels are always being looked at. But, the challenge is still to get the message out about the modular power plant concept and the best way to put diesel driven compressors together to run efficiently – efficiency is the keyword that drives us here, and is more of a focus.

    2017 12/22

  • receives contract to supply diesel gensets in Prague
    One company has received contract to supply various diesel generators in a 169.000 sqm residential district in Prague, consisting of five areas such as Aviatica, Mechanica I, Mechanica II, Walter and Dynamica The gensets aim to provide a redundant power source to prevent any data or functionality loss. Johnson & Johnson owns the Onis Visa generating sets installed in the [Mechanica I" building. According to the company, the generating sets are installed to ensure emergency power sources and cover the load of the entire building complex, including the data centre of Johnson & Johnson server room. The gensets operate automatically in case of power failure, aiming to prevent any loss of data or functionality. The generating sets are equipped with Iveco and Doosan diesel engines, Marelli alternators and Onis Visa Guard Touch automatic control panels. All units are equipped with an oversized 2500 LT fuel tank. The Onis Visa Distributor in Czech Republic provided the genset installation, as well as the design, delivery and installation of the central control system for the power supply in main distribution panels, said the company. Due to the low-level noise requirements in the area, second stage exhaust silencers were added to all the gensets, which aims to safeguard the maximum noise level to 55dB at seven metre at full load. [All units are placed on the building roof complying with the strict local security and fire protection requirements, as well as with the customer`s indications. Long autonomy operation is provided by the 2500 Lt oversized fuel tanks, while the base frame structure prevents any liquid leakages," the company noted. The gensets are also connected to the automatic refuelling system which contains fuel filling point for the fuel tank track, double skinned storage tank, double skinned fully monitored piping system and a control system to operate the fuel system. [The system visualises the complete hydraulic diagram, including the status of all sensors, valves, pumps, and fuel tank levels," said the company.

    2017 12/21

  • AUSTRALIANS, IS YOUR BACK-UP DIESEL GENERATOR READY FOR SUMMER?
    It`s December and temperatures are rising! Unplanned power outages are a business` nightmare and soaring temperatures over summer in Australia, place a heavy burden on the main power grid. Be prepared this summer, and ensure your back-up diesel generator is ready! Right now is the best time to have your diesel generator serviced and tested. As we approach the Christmas season and as temperatures soar, increased air conditioning, lighting and power consumption places more pressure on the electrical system and power failures are at their highest during the hot summer months. Who should have a stand-by generator? Businesses of all kinds depend on an uninterrupted power supply. Shopping centres, hospitals, data centres, grocery stores and delis, aged care homes, nurseries and child care centres, schools, restaurants and hotels, office buildings, all rely on dependable power sources to keep them operational. Can your business afford to be without power this summer? Are you confident your generator will work when needed? When was the last time your back-up diesel generator was serviced? Given the capital expense of installing a back-up power supply, it`s important to ensure such an expensive piece of machinery is functioning and ready to kick-in in the event of a power outage. Power outages are most common over summer as the mains power authority network is at its peak demand. Higher temperatures mean your equipment and machinery will need to work harder to function properly. Imagine this pressure on regular power generation sources across factories, business estates, office buildings and shopping centres in the summer months! How often should back-up diesel generators be serviced? Back-up diesel generators should be serviced at least once a year; more often, depending on regional power infrastructure and stability, age of the generator and amount of use. Ensuring that your diesel generators are regularly inspected, tested and serviced will increase the chance that your business will continue to run smoothly despite power grid blackouts. Don`t have a back-up generator for your business? Can your business really afford to be without power for even a few hours? As our hot West Australian climate approaches, we can expect more power outages to occur. Avoid the pain and distress of power loss this summer, and install a stand-by diesel generator for peace of mind. Contact our friendly Taranis Power team to discuss your back-up power supply options.

    2017 12/21

  • VW executive sentenced to 7 years for U.S. diesel emissions fraud
    DETROIT - A U.S.-based Volkswagen AG executive who oversaw emissions issues was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $400,000 by a judge on Wednesday for his role in a diesel emissions scandal that has cost the German automaker as much as $30 billion. The prison sentence and fine for the executive, Oliver Schmidt, were the maximum possible under a plea deal in August the German national made with prosecutors after admitting to charges of conspiring to mislead U.S regulators and violate clean-air laws. "It is my opinion that you are a key conspirator in this scheme to defraud the United States," U.S. District Judge Sean Cox of Detroit told Schmidt in court. "You saw this as your opportunity to shine ... and climb the corporate ladder at VW." Schmidt read a written statement in court acknowledging his guilt and broke down when discussing his family's sacrifices on his behalf since his arrest in January. "I made bad decisions, and for that I am sorry," he said. U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney Benjamin Singer argued in court that Schmidt was "part of the decision making process" at VW to hide a scheme to fake vehicle emissions results and had opportunities tell regulators the truth. "Every time he chose to lie," Singer said. In March, Volkswagen pleaded guilty to three felony counts under a plea agreement to resolve U.S. charges that it installed secret software in vehicles in order to elude emissions tests. U.S. prosecutors have charged eight current and former Volkswagen executives. Five of those remain at large. Volkswagen rebounded from the scandal during the past year. Chief Executive Matthias Mueller last month predicted record deliveries of vehicles for the company this year, and the Volkswagen car brand has said it expects record deliveries for 2017, and raised its midterm profitability outlook. At the Los Angeles auto show last week, the head of Volkswagen's U.S. operations declared, "we're back," citing improved U.S. vehicle sales. Schmidt was charged with 11 felony counts and federal prosecutors said he could have faced a maximum of up to 169 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop most of the counts and Schmidt consented to be deported at the end of his prison sentence. Schmidt was in charge of the company's environmental and engineering office in Auburn Hills, Michigan, until February 2015, where he oversaw emissions issues. He returned to Germany the same month where he was told about the existence of the software. According to Schmidt's guilty plea, later that year he conspired with other executives to avoid disclosing "intentional cheating" by the automaker in a bid to seek regulatory approval for its model 2016 VW 2 liter diesels. The auto industry is still feeling the repercussions of Volkswagen's diesel cheating. Regulators in the United States and Europe are investigating other automakers for potential violations of diesel emissions rules. On Wednesday, German prosecutors said they had begun an initial inquiry into accusations by an environmental group that BMW AG is selling a vehicle that emits up to seven times the allowed levels of smog-forming nitrogen oxides. Reporting by Nick Carey

    2017 12/21

  • Cummins, NRG offering Genset-DERMs partnership
    Power generation firm NRG Energy and genset producer Cummins will combine on-site generators with distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) for commercial and industrial customers, the companies announced Wednesday. The formal partnership is new, but NRG and Cummins have offered the combined service to several customers over recent years. The two companies will work together to maintain and manage the customer`s on-site energy assets, promising to save them as much as 15 percent in energy expenses. The Cummins generator sets will be on-site for each customer, while the DERMS will be run remotely from NRG offices. The platform is managed both by software and real-time monitoring of customer usage and grid conditions, a spokesman said. The combination will offer companies a backup generation solution in areas which commonly face potential outages or volatile demand, according to the release. [Reliable power remains critical in the overall distributed energy equation, and this model leverages Cummins` expertise in making power generation equipment for the most harsh and demanding of operating conditions," said Norbert Nusterer, president of power systems business for Cummins Inc. [Having deployed several hundred megawatts and delivered strong economic returns and reliability to customers, this partnership is intended to expand on the experience we have gained. Our partnership with NRG brings together nearly 125 years of energy leadership to give more customers new ways to achieve their goals in environmental stewardship and cost and risk reduction." Cummins and NRG will form a joint development team to pursue solution sales, and market and maintain energy assets to guarantee outcomes for end-use customers. [Cummins and NRG have a shared vision to use new technologies, like this platform, to provide customers with reliable power and help navigate the increasingly complex energy market," said Robert Gaudette, President of NRG Business Solutions, in a statement. [This is just one example of how we can continue to optimize new and existing energy technologies so customers can use less, and pay less, for electricity. The power producer of tomorrow will do more than just move electrons; it will direct them where needed most – with measurable benefits for the customer, the grid and the environment." Indiana-based Cummins has more than 55,000 employees globally and about 7,400 dealer locations. NRG Energy is a competitive electric generation firm and provides power to about 3 million residential and commercial customers throughout the U.S.

    2017 12/21

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