Abstracts - VGB PowerTech Journal 1-2/2016
Editorial: Powering the Energy Union’s decarbonisation agenda
Hans ten Berge
Decarbonisation is essential to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the global economy. Europe’s electricity sector is fully committed to leading this transition. The real challenge is to create a holistic market design that delivers the technologies needed for a balanced, low carbon energy mix, while being able to adapt to the evolving economics of power systems.[more...]
The future role of renewables in Europe
Dörte Fouquet and Jana Viktoria Nysten
Renewable energies have played a large role in the energy policies of the European Union and the Member States over the last ten years. The policy approaches are changing, and the legal framework for the future development of renewable energies in the European Union and the Member States is going to change as well. Current trends and ideas are discussed and some conclusions are drawn on the future framework for renewable energies in the European Union.
Future role of fossil generation in Europe
Emmanouil Kakaras, Tom De Latte, Patrick Clerens, Gosia Stein-Brzozowska and Michalis Agraniotis
Thermal power plants have always played a crucial role in a safe and secure energy supply. In the last few years, however, there has been an increasing deployment of intermittent Renewable Energy Sources (i-RES). This means that European thermal power plants are now also asked to play a partner role to the irregular and fluctuating energy production from these i-RES.
The future role of energy storage in Europe
Ernst Zeller and Gerhard Totschnig
The fundamental goals of the EU in the energy sector can be summarised by the development of an internal energy market, intensify energy efficiency projects, continue decarbonisation processes and support research and development. Energy storage will play an important and dominant role in the coming decade in the security of supply. The growth of the renewable energy share will challenge the storage of energy. In a study in cooperation with the Vienna University of Technology, Verbund, the Joanneum Research, the AIT and Pöyry a review of the pumped storage requirement and alternative measures for the integration of a high renewable proportion in Austria and Germany was investigated.
Optimising the marketing of decentralised power generation provides new business opportunities for energy providers
Michael Küster, Leif Wiebking and Bernhard Meerbeck
Since the publication of the white paper for the “Strommarkt 2.0”, the energy-only market is being touted as the future market model for a provider landscape in Germany defined by renewable power generation. Fair competition between the various decentralised sources of flexible energy is intended to promote their efficient expansion and ensure the supply in Germany over the long term. In this regard, municipal utilities are taking on special significance as infrastructure operators that are close to the consumer. This brings both opportunities and responsibilities. IT solution are an indispensable basis for far-reaching innovation, particularly given the ongoing energy revolution and the objectives of the electricity market 2.0.
Wind power in Austria: Factors of success and obstacles for a further expansion
Georg Waldner and Christoph Zehetner
20 years ago the use of wind power to generate electricity started in Austria. Over the past 20 years the expansion of wind power in Austria was not continuos but characterised by alternating cycles. The main factors for growth and limitation are analysed. These factors include the regulatory framework, the regional planning, the technological development of wind turbines and the market design. One focus is on the development and the cap of the financial support. An outlook for the wind power generation in Austria is given. The identifiable potential for wind power is assumed to be around 20 % of the Austrian electricity production in 2030.
Overview of the Eskom and South African new build programme
Matshela Koko and Yokesh Singh
Eskom is South Africa’s major electricity supplier and is wholly owned by the South African government. Eskom generates approximately 95 % of the electricity used in South Africa and approximately 45 % of the electricity used in Africa. Over the years Eskom’s operating reserve margins have declined. In 2005, Eskom embarked on a capacity expansion programme, the largest in the country’s history. This programme will increase generation capacity by 17,384 MW, transmission lines by 9,756 km and substation capacity by 42,470 MVA. An overview is given of the current status of the Eskom build programme, some of the causes of significant delays and provides insight into South Africa’s current build programmes outside of Eskom and future capacity plans.
Projects for construction of new coal power plants in Europe – Technical engineering and handling
Wolfgang Schreier
There continues to be a remarkable demand for coal-fired power plants across the world – something that applies equally to bituminous coal and lignite. Operators in Western Europe used to prefer these kinds of orders as individual lots spread over a large number of suppliers. This situation has changed dramatically. Today it is a case of new plant construction orders in Poland and south-east Europe being mainly placed as an overall contract. A description is given of 3 projects in Poland and Greece.
Eemshaven power plant – Challenging steel structures in terms of design and logistics
Johannes Hauptenbuchner and Franz-Werner Esser
It often turns out in reality that large construction projects are not realised according to schedule. Delays are due to various reasons, however, delays have impacts, nearly without exception, on works at the construction site because of the large number of activities that are dependent on each other. Naturally, considerable additional costs are caused. This has to be avoided by proactive projecting. Measures to respond flexibly to any delay and friction are less costly than any costs to be spent at the construction site.
New insights in CO2 post-combustion at Dürnrohr – An important step towards full-scale plants
Markus Rabensteiner, Gerald Kinger, Martin Koller and Christoph Hochenauer
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one of the technologies to tackle climate change. Expansion of CCS will be a difficult journey. One must find a solution that will make CCS more competitive, and not place them in a more difficult situation. The pilot plant studies in Dürnrohr (Austria) can make a valuable contribution to the scientific community in this area of research. Six years of intensive research were carried out. The applicability of novel solvents should be examined by detailed parameter studies on the CO2SEPPL pilot plant.
Criterion of furnace wall corrosions caused by low-NOx-combustion and its prevention by boundary layer air injection
Paul Alps, Reinhard Leithner, Jannik Lücking and Horst Müller
High-temperature corrosion (HTC) is one of the major reasons for shutdowns in fossil fuel-fired power plants causing high maintenance costs. Corrosion rates depend on many parameters like composition of mineral matter of the fuel impacting slagging and fouling, interaction between slag and ash deposits and the furnace wall material, sulphur and chlorine content of the fuel and the near wall gas composition. The risk of high-temperature corrosion often increases because of the changing near wall atmosphere. This dependency is the focus. High-temperature corrosion of the furnace walls, usually designed as evaporator membrane walls, can be prevented if the near wall atmosphere contains sufficient oxygen and only small amounts of CO. Different critical values for carbon monoxide and oxygen are given in literature.
The latest development of DENOX systems
Andreas Anderl
The changes of the energy market in Europe requires several new technical features in the power business, especially in terms of operational flexibility, efficiency and protection of the environment. More stringent NOx and NH3 emission limits call for new technologies to reduce nitrogen oxides in flue gases without using catalysts. At the same time, a flue gas cleaning system is not to affect operational flexibility and power plant efficiency. The conventional SNCR system has reached its limits regarding achievable NOx reduction rates and adaption to dynamic process parameters. M.A.L started a research programme to analyse the key factors of an efficient denitrification system.
Further advances in monitoring low-level iron in the steam cycle
Kenneth Kuruc and Luke Johnson
A laser nephelometer could be used to detect the transfer of corrosion products in a heat recovery steam generator power plant at µg/L levels with particles in the sub-micron size range. Further advances are outlined which improve the accuracy and repeatability of the lab method, while providing further insight into the level of protection being provided to steam cycle components against flow-accelerated corrosion and other corrosion mechanisms. The focus is on understanding the chemistry of the measurement so as to provide more specific data to plant personnel regarding the level and species of iron being observed.
Nuclear power plants: Safe and efficient decommissioning
Helmut Huger and Richard Woodcock
The process of dismantling a nuclear power plant consists of several phases that involve significant challenges along the way for authorities, operators, and suppliers. It is necessary to ensure safety at all times and to achieve certainty in respect of key project parameters, especially time and cost. Therefore, careful planning as well as detailed knowledge of local standards and regulations, best available techniques and practical implementation strategies are crucial. Independent expertise and knowledge service can be utilised for demanding projects worldwide. This enables responsible authorities and operators to guarantee safety for people and the environment in every phase of decommissioning and to distinguish between necessary and unnecessary measures, in addition to enabling them to assess alternative courses of action. The article gives an overview on different decommissioning options and their challenges.
Preservation of technical qualification – An essential part of modern operational-culture
Volker Veelmann, Hauke Röpell, Gert Schletter, Jürgen Radwitz and Dieter Lühr
The requirements and tasks for the operational staff in today power plants are an increasing challenge. However there are often only very limited possibilities to preserve all technical qualifications on a required quality level. Furthermore the power plant operators are loosing the chance to increase knowledge by gaining own experiences. Thus it is necessary to install a continuous process to preserve the required technical qualifications. Binding statutory rules are often missing.