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Wide Area Blackout Risk Assessment
Energy Central
Jul 22, 2021
When a triggering event occurs during a time of insufficient reserve energy, the balance between energy production and energy consumption can be distorted, leading to a wide area blackout. Though historically rare events, wide area blackouts have the potential to become yearly occurrences as energy sources transition from central generating stations to distributed renewables.
As the effects of climate change worsen throughout the U.S., air conditioners with high torque compressors will become the dominant load. This increases the risk of wide area blackouts occurring when a triggering event occurs. To address this increased risk and maintain system resiliency, new power system models must be developed and new protective relaying schemes implemented.
In this free 30-minute webinar, attendees will learn about:
Triggers that can initiate wide area blackouts.
Power system parameters that increase the risk of wide area blackouts.
Implementable actions to prevent wide area blackouts when a triggering event occurs.
Presenter: Tony Sleva, PE, LSM-IEEE: Mr. Sleva has more than 50 years of professional experience as an engineering manager, electrical engineer, project manager, forensic investigator, author, and research engineer. He has experience designing and operating transmission systems, distribution systems, large generating plants, and small distributed energy systems. Mr. Sleva is an adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, teaching continuing education courses for the power industry.
News
With only 2% of governments’ recovery spending going to clean energy transitions, global emissions are set to surge to an all-time high
IEA
Jul 20, 2021
The sums of money, both public and private, being mobilized worldwide by recovery plans fall well short of what is needed to reach international climate goals. These shortfalls are particularly pronounced in emerging and developing economies, many of which face particular financing challenges.
Under governments’ current recovery spending plans, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are set to climb to record levels in 2023 and continue rising in the following years. This would leave the world far from the pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050 that the IEA set out in its recent Global Roadmap to Net Zero.
These findings come from the new Sustainable Recovery Tracker that the IEA launched today to help policy makers assess how far recovery plans are moving the needle on climate. The new online tool is a contribution to the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Climate and Energy in Naples, which takes place on 22 and 23 July under the Presidency of Italy.
The Tracker monitors government spending allocated to sustainable recoveries and then estimates how much this spending boosts overall clean energy investment and to what degree this affects the trajectory of global CO2 emissions. The Tracker considers over 800 national sustainable recovery policies in its analysis, which are publicly available on the IEA website.
“Since the Covid-19 crisis erupted, many governments may have talked about the importance of building back better for a cleaner future, but many of them are yet to put their money where their mouth is. Despite increased climate ambitions, the amount of economic recovery funds being spent on clean energy is just a small sliver of the total,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director.
Governments have mobilized USD 16 trillion in fiscal support throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, most of it focused on emergency financial relief for households and firms. Only 2% of the total is earmarked for clean energy transitions.
In the early phases of the pandemic, the IEA released the Sustainable Recovery Plan, which recommended USD 1 trillion of spending globally on clean energy measures that could feature prominently in recovery plans. According to the Plan – developed in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund – this spending would boost global economic growth, create millions of jobs and put the world on track to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
According to the Tracker, all the key sectors highlighted in the IEA Sustainable Recovery Plan are receiving inadequate attention from policy makers. Current government plans would only increase total public and private spending on clean energy to around USD 350 billion a year by 2023 – only 35% of what is envisaged in the Plan.
The Tracker shows the stark geographic disparities that are emerging in clean energy investment. The majority of funds are being mobilized in advanced economies, which are nearing 60% of the investment levels envisaged in the Sustainable Recovery Plan. Emerging and developing economies, many of which have limited fiscal leeway, have so far mobilized only about 20% of the recommended spending levels.
“Not only is clean energy investment still far from what’s needed to put the world on a path to reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century, it’s not even enough to prevent global emissions from surging to a new record. Many countries – especially those where the needs are greatest – are also missing the benefits that well planned clean energy investment brings, such as stronger economic growth, new jobs and the development of the energy industries of the future,” Dr Birol said
“Governments need to increase spending and policy action rapidly to meet the commitments they made in Paris in 2015 – including the vital provision of financing by advanced economies to the developed world,” Dr Birol added. “But they must then go even further by leading clean energy investment and deployment to much greater heights beyond the recovery period in order to shift the world onto a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, which is narrow but still achievable – if we act now.”
News
BLOOM ENERGY UNVEILS ELECTROLYZER TO SUPERCHARGE THE PATH TO LOW-COST, NET-ZERO HYDROGEN
Bloom Energy
Jul 18, 2021
The Bloom Electrolyzer relies on the same, commercially proven and proprietary solid oxide technology platform used by Bloom Energy Servers to provide on-site electricity at high fuel efficiency. Highly flexible, it offers unique advantages for deployment across a broad variety of hydrogen applications, using multiple energy sources including intermittent renewable energy and excess heat.
Superior Value at High Temperatures
Low-cost electrolysis has been difficult to achieve due to electricity costs, which can account for nearly 80 percent of the cost of hydrogen production through electrolysis. An opportunity has emerged, as renewable energy costs have declined precipitously over the last decade. Any reduction in electricity requirements makes hydrogen production more economical and scalable.
Because it operates at high temperatures, the Bloom Electrolyzer requires less energy to break up water molecules and produce hydrogen. As a result, Bloom Energy’s electrolyzer consumes 15 percent less electricity than other electrolyzer technologies to make hydrogen when electricity is the sole input source.
Unlike low-temperature PEM and alkaline electrolyzers that predominantly require electricity to make hydrogen, the Bloom Electrolyzer can leverage both electricity and heat to produce hydrogen. Bloom Energy’s high-temperature electrolyzer technology has the potential to use up to 45 percent less electricity when integrated with external heat sources than low-temperature PEM and alkaline electrolyzers.
“The launch of the Bloom Electrolyzer is a big leap forward in our mission to enable and empower the global hydrogen economy and a decarbonized society,” said KR Sridhar, founder, chairman, and CEO, Bloom Energy. “Hydrogen enables us to leverage abundant and inexpensive renewable energy to provide zero-carbon power, reliably—instead of intermittently. Given its efficiency and input options to make hydrogen, Bloom Energy’s electrolyzer is expected to produce hydrogen at a lower price than any alternative on the market today.”
Decarbonizing Heavy Industries
High-temperature electrolysis unlocks substantial value with heat-intensive processing applications in hard-to-decarbonize heavy industries, like steel, chemical, cement, and glass manufacturing. By utilizing excess heat from these processes, hydrogen can be produced at a higher electrical efficiency. Further, the hydrogen required to power high-temperature furnaces at these factories can be produced on-site using Bloom Energy electrolyzers, eliminating transportation and distribution costs.
Optimizing Intermittent Renewables
When the Bloom Electrolyzer is paired with intermittent renewable resources, such as wind and solar, the resulting green hydrogen provides an important storage mechanism. Hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time and transported over long distances. Alternatively, Bloom Energy’s fuel cells can convert this hydrogen to electricity, thereby providing continuous, reliable power.
Gigawatt Production and Scale
Bloom Energy began manufacturing in the U.S. in 2001 and now supports more than 1,500 American clean energy jobs. Bloom Energy’s Sunnyvale, California and Newark, Delaware manufacturing facilities are capable of producing 500 megawatts of electrolyzers today and a gigawatt within a year.
Since the Bloom Electrolyzer utilizes the same solid oxide platform as the company’s core fuel cell product, utilizing many of the same components, Bloom Energy can scale and leverage supply chain synergies.
Enabling and Empowering the Global Hydrogen Economy
Bloom Energy’s technology dates to the 1980s, when the co-founders first developed electrolyzers to support the military and later NASA’s Mars exploration programs. In the early 2000s, 19 patents were awarded to Bloom Energy for its electrolyzer technology. With reduced renewable energy costs and the global movement to decarbonize, Bloom Energy believes this is the right moment to commercialize its hydrogen technology. Collaborating with industry-leading organizations, Bloom Energy celebrated several milestones over the past year:
First announced electrolyzer pilot: In November 2020, Bloom Energy announced it will supply its electrolyzers to an industrial complex in Changwon, Korea in collaboration with its Korean partner, SK EcoPlant. Supporting the Changwon RE100 initiative to create renewable ecosystems, the new project paves the way for South Korea to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The units will ship to Changwon in mid-2022.
Harnessing excess nuclear energy: In May 2021, Bloom Energy announced its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to test the use of nuclear energy to create clean hydrogen through the Bloom Electrolyzer. Rather than ramping down power generation when an electric grid has surplus energy, the Bloom Electrolyzer can use the excess electricity and steam generated by nuclear plants to produce low-cost, zero-carbon hydrogen, providing clean energy for use when it’s needed while simultaneously offering nuclear power plants a source of revenue for their excess power. The units are undergoing testing in Bloom Energy’s laboratories and are expected to ship to INL in Q3.
Integrating hydrogen solutions: In May 2021, Bloom Energy announced a collaboration with energy technology company Baker Hughes to explore commercialization and deployment collaborations in many areas, including integrated hydrogen solutions, to advance the energy transition. The companies will look to pair the Bloom Electrolyzer with Baker Hughes’ compression technology for efficient production, compression, transport, and storage of hydrogen. They will also assess excess heat utilization for steam generation to further increase efficiency and cost effectiveness of hydrogen production and target applications like blending hydrogen into natural gas networks alongside on-site hydrogen production for industrial use.
Orders are being accepted for the Bloom Electrolyzer, with commercial shipments expected to begin in fall 2022
News
California Regulators Waive Key Standby Charges for Eligible Microgrids
Energy Central
Jul 16, 2021
The July 15 decision to suspend capacity reservation charges is part of the CPUC’s multiphase effort to spur the commercial development of microgrids, with the upcoming phase centered on the value microgrids can provide to the grid (R.19-09-009).
The decision is a “step in the right direction,” according to Bloom Energy, a fuel cell company.
“While there is still more work to be done, we look forward to working with the CPUC and key stakeholders to further explore the value of resilient energy and revisiting the [behind-the-meter] tariff in Track 4,” said Jennifer Duffourg, a Bloom Energy spokeswoman.
In its decision, the CPUC dismissed calls to eliminate standby charges entirely, but said it was reasonable to waive capacity reservation charges for certain microgrids and to evaluate the policy in 2026.
“The commission, the utilities and stakeholders can gain experience, learn lessons, collect data and information, and determine whether this suspension is fair and provides value to the public,” the CPUC said.
After two initial phases, the commission turned its attention to standby charges, which are fees utilities use to cover their costs for being available to supply electricity to self-generation customers when their systems aren’t producing electricity.
The charges, which total about 2 cents per kWh in California, can make microgrid projects financially unviable, according to microgrid advocates.
In its decision, the CPUC rejected arguments raised by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) that eliminating the charges would violate a ban on shifting costs from one group of customers to other ones.
The utilities wanted to continue levying capacity reservation charges.
The decision largely mirrored a proposal released in June by a CPUC administrative law judge.
Under the decision, eligible microgrids must meet the California Air Resources Board’s distributed generation air pollution standards.
Eligible microgrids also include those that show by manufacturer certification that they can use renewable fuels, such as renewable natural gas, biogas or green hydrogen, and that commit to only using renewable fuels by Dec. 31, 2030.
In a change from the proposed decision, microgrids that receive payments through the CPUC’s Self Generation Incentive Program are ineligible for a suspension of the capacity reserve charge, unless the owners show their microgrids provide incremental benefits.
Eligible microgrids must also meet performance standards. Eligible microgrids, for example, must have a capacity factor of at least 85%. In a change from the proposal, the CPUC said a microgrid could also have a self-supply factor of at least 85%. They must also have an availability factor of at least 95%.
Microgrid owners must give utilities data showing they meet the performance standards.
In addition, microgrid owners must recertify twice a year that they meet the performance standards. The proposed decision called for quarterly recertification.
If a microgrid benefiting from the suspended reservation charge is hit with a generation failure or cannot serve its load, it will receive utility power but will have to pay a “demand assurance amount” to cover the utility’s costs.
The demand assurance amount will be double the monthly capacity reservation charge the microgrid would have been paying during the month of the outage.
Microgrid supporters such as Bloom Energy and the Clean Coalition back reductions in standby charges for behind-the-meter generation microgrids, in part, because microgrids offer holistic benefits including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the need for capacity on the grid.
They also argued that standby charges do not pay microgrids fairly for increased redundancy and resiliency, according to the CPUC.
The CPUC gave PG&E, SCE and SDG&E 90 days to revise their tariffs in line with the decision.
News
National Labs unite to study large-scale hydrogen storage under $6.75M federal grant
Daily Energy Insider
Jul 15, 2021
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNNL), and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will receive $6.75 million from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to consider large-scale hydrogen storage for the next three years.
Funding, provided by DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), will go toward studying the possibilities of such storage in geologic formations. Researchers will seek to determine and overcome the technical and operational risks of subsurface hydrogen storage to both humans and the environment, utilize emerging technologies to create better and safer storage systems, and assess what technical, operational, and economic concepts are needed to allow such storage for pure hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas blends.
“This is an exciting project for us because it addresses a timely and critical component of a low-carbon energy future,” Joshua White, LLNL reservoir engineer and principal investigator, said. “At the same time, the required expertise builds on LLNL’s decades of experience working in the subsurface on related technologies such as geologic carbon storage, natural gas storage, and geothermal energy.”
The project is called SHASTA, short for Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage and Technology Acceleration. Researchers will divide up their efforts: White will join LLNL reservoir engineer Nicola Castelletto on subsurface modeling work, a lab geochemist, Megan Smith, will study high-pressure, high-temperature experimental possibilities. All hope to advance hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel option for various applications, but there are traditional hurdles.
In large amounts, hydrogen must be stored in salt dome structures or caverns, and many regions lack such geological prerequisites. Therefore, part of this project will involve investigating whether porous media — similar to underground natural gas storage reservoirs — would be an acceptable alternative and whether existing natural gas storage infrastructure could be adapted and re-used.
Material compatibility, reservoir-scale performance, and the characterization of microbial interactions with these efforts will all be major focuses for researchers.
News
Secretary Granholm Announces New Goal to Cut Costs of Long Duration Energy Storage by 90 Percent
U.S. DOE
Jul 14, 2021
“We’re going to bring hundreds of gigawatts of clean energy onto the grid over the next few years, and we need to be able to use that energy wherever and whenever it’s needed,” said Secretary Granholm. “That’s why DOE is working aggressively toward cheaper, longer duration energy storage to reach President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. This new initiative will create new manufacturing jobs right here at home and make sure clean, reliable, affordable electricity is available to everyone, including Americans living in remote and underserved communities.”
Long duration energy storage – defined as systems that can store energy for more than 10 hours at a time – would support a low-cost, reliable, carbon-free electric grid. Cheaper and more efficient storage will make it easier to capture and store clean energy for use when energy generation is unavailable or lower than demand – for instance, so solar-generated power can be used at night or nuclear energy generated during times of low demand can be used when demand increases.
Developing the technology and manufacturing to reach the Long Duration Storage Shot cost targets will also establish a new, U.S.-based manufacturing industry and union jobs for storage products. And energy storage can increase local control of the power system and build resilience for communities, including by minimizing power grid disruptions.
“Energy storage technology holds great promise in the fight against climate change. Strengthening current technology and advancing next-generation energy storage will allow us to integrate more renewables, such as wind and solar, which in turn will help to reduce emissions,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins. “That’s why I authored the Better Energy Storage Technology Act, which seeks to align U.S. research efforts to promote advancements in energy storage technologies. It is exciting to see the Department of Energy begin implementing this new law through this initiative to substantially reduce the cost of energy storage technologies, improve the efficiency of our nation’s electricity grid, and bring us closer to a clean energy future.”
“Long duration energy storage is the key that unlocks our clean energy future,” said U.S. Senator Angus King. “In recent years we’ve seen massive advances in renewable technologies, but the challenge remains: how do we power the grid when the wind stops blowing or the sun doesn’t shine? Cost-effective, energy-efficient storage systems will solve this problem, and help ensure that the power generated during periods of low-demand can be captured for moments of peak use. This investment is a critical step for our efforts to advance America’s technological leadership in this key field and confront climate change.”
The Long Duration Storage Shot will consider all types of technologies – whether electrochemical, mechanical, thermal, chemical carriers, or any combination that has the potential to meet the necessary duration and cost targets for grid flexibility. Currently, pumped-storage hydropower is the largest source of long duration energy storage on the grid, and lithium ion is the primary source of new energy storage technology deployed on the grid in the United States, providing shorter duration storage capabilities.
DOE developed the Long Duration Storage Shot target through its crosscutting Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) and wide reaching stakeholder engagement activities and input from subject matter experts, and will continue concerted outreach to advance the Long Duration Storage Shot and ESGC’s aggressive goals and strategy.
ESGC and the Long Duration Shortage Shot are linked with integrated efforts across the Department’s Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Electricity, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Science, Nuclear Energy, and Technology Transitions, as well as the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy.
News
Wärtsilä pioneering test program for pure hydrogen engines
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Jul 14, 2021
Wärtsilä is now running a testing program for its balancing gas engines to be converted to use pure hydrogen as fuel. The project in Vaasa, Finland, will assess Wärtsilä’s existing 31 gas engine technology to find the optimum parameters for running on hydrogen, the company said. Wärtsilä’s gas engines are currently used for flexible balancing power generation for power systems with high levels of renewables.
“This is a milestone moment in the worldwide energy transition,” said Håkan Agnevall, CEO Wärtsilä. “Global societies will have to invest billions into the infrastructure needed to develop green hydrogen, but that investment is reliant upon having market-ready engines which can run on the fuel once it is readily available. Our modeling shows that a significant amount of thermal balancing is required by the middle of this century to achieve the transition to 100% renewable energy. By developing engines today which can run on hydrogen tomorrow, we are future-proofing energy systems to become 100% renewable by 2050.”
Green hydrogen is forecast to deliver 13% of global energy demand by 2070, but at present there are no commercially available engines that can effectively use the fuel, potentially jeopardizing global net-zero ambitions, the company said.
Green hydrogen, developed from renewable energy using electrolysis, and green hydrogen-based fuels can provide long duration energy storage to work alongside renewable generation and short-duration storage (such as lithium-ion batteries) to create reliable and fully decarbonized energy systems, according to the company
According to Wärtsilä’s energy system modeling, over 11 000 GW of wind and solar power is required in G20 economies alone in order to create 100% renewable energy systems. It will require 933 GW of carbon-neutral thermal balancing capacity to enable the addition of this amount of renewable energy and stabilize these future power systems.
The ability to modify existing engines to utilize hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels when they become widely available is crucial to achieving global decarbonization goals, the company said.
“The internal combustion engine is a key technology in enabling the growth of renewables today, providing the flexibility required to support the intermittent generation of wind and solar,” according to a news release from the company. “Many countries are investing in new, highly efficient engines to support the sustainable acceleration of renewable energy. Being able to modify the engines in the future to utilize carbon-neutral fuels, such as green hydrogen and green hydrogen-based fuels, means that utilities can invest confidently now to enable the 100% renewable system required by the middle of this century, without risking stranded assets.”
News
DOE Selects 12 Projects to Improve Fossil-Based Hydrogen Production, Transport, Storage and Utilization
U.S. DOE
Jul 9, 2021
Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize advanced and novel technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen. This will enable the U.S. to continue to extract the maximum economic value from fossil fuel energy resources. When coupled with carbon capture and storage capabilities, low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the projects, which fall under four areas of interest (AOIs):
AOI 5: Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) Technology Development for Hydrogen Production
Durable and High-Performance SOECs Based on Proton Conductors for Hydrogen Production — Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) will assess the degradation mechanisms of the electrolyte, electrode and catalyst materials under electrolysis conditions to gain insights for rational design of better electrode and catalyst materials. The project’s main objective is to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of a low-cost, highly efficient reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) system based on proton conductors for hydrogen (H2) and electricity generation.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Improving Durability and Performance of Solid Oxide Electrolyzers by Controlling Surface Composition on Oxygen Electrodes — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) will research the degradation pathway that couples surface chemistry to impurity poisoning on perovskite oxygen electrodes, taking (La0.6Sr0.4)0.95Co0.2Fe0.8O3- (LSCF) as a model, state-of-the-art oxygen electrode. Project goals are to 1) improve the chemical and electrochemical stability of LSCF as a state-of-the-art oxygen-electrode, against dopant (Sr) segregation and the consequent poisoning by chromium (Cr) and sulfur (S); 2) develop infiltration chemistries to enable the surface modifications in the most effective, efficient and economical way, to suppress the Sr segregation and the Cr- and S-poisoning processes; and 3) advance understanding of the role of operational parameters on oxygen electrode performance.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Development of Stable Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell for Low-Cost Hydrogen Production — OxEon Energy LLC (North Salt Lake, UT) OxEon Energy LLC will operate a solid oxide electrolysis cell stack in a laboratory test bed showing improved performance over baseline stacks exhibiting robustness, reliability, endurance, H2 purity, and producing H2 at elevated pressure of 2 to 3 bar. At the conclusion of the project, the team will operate a short stack of 6-cells under various steam conversion conditions for at least 500 hours and then an additional 300 hours in SOFC mode to verify reversible operation. A separate short stack will be tested for a period of 100 hours to produce H2 at a pressure of 2 to 3 bar.
DOE Funding: $999,526; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,249,526
Development of Novel 3D Cell Structure and Manufacturing Processes for Highly Efficient, Durable and Redox Resistant Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells — The Regents of the University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA) will evaluate and demonstrate a highly efficient, durable and reduction-oxidation (redox) resistant solid oxide electrolysis cell technology for H2 production. This project focuses on the development of a novel cell design and its corresponding manufacturing processes and will culminate in the demonstration of a scaled-up SOEC featuring a design with improved performance, enhanced redox resistance and increased durability under conditions suitable for H2 production from steam. The results of the project could form the basis for further development to advance the technology for practical applications and commercialization.
DOE Funding: $999,913; Non-DOE Funding: $250,956; Total Value: $1,250,869
Development of High-Performance Metal-Supported SOECs and Innovative Diagnostic Methodologies — University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette, LA) will develop high-performance metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells and innovative diagnostic methodologies to achieve net-zero or negative emissions. The team plans to fabricate metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells (MS-SOECs) to improve the electrolysis performance while maintaining mechanical strength for the stack assembly; develop accelerated test protocols for SOECs and apply theoretical analysis to improve its stability and suppress oxygen electrode declamation; and use machine learning to study the dependence of electrochemical performance on microstructural details of an electrode.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Developing Stable Critical Materials and Microstructure for High-Flux and Efficient H2 production through Reversible Solid Oxide Cells — University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) will advance RSOC technology for standalone or hybrid power and H2 production by addressing critical and unsolved issues through foundational materials and microstructure innovations. The impact of the project could assist the commercialization course of RSOC technology and expands it to utility markets such as distributed standalone or hybrid power and H2 generation as a means of energy storage.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,301; Total Value: $1,250,301
Designing Internal Surfaces of Porous Electrodes in Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells for Highly Efficient and Durable Hydrogen Production — West Virginia University Research Corporation (Morgantown, WV) will develop and implant highly active and robust nano-scale coating layers to the internal surface of a porous electrode. The coating layer will be developed using the additive manufacturing process of atomic layer deposition (ALD) and will be implanted on the internal surface of porous electrodes of the as fabricated commercial cells directly. The project will provide a simple solution to various materials challenges at the cell level and could further enable extensive and more efficient SOEC stacks and systems.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Heterostructured Cr Resistant Oxygen Electrode for SOECs — Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA) will design, test, and validate oxygen electrode materials for SOECs that maintain high performance and low degradation rates in the operation conditions with the presence of Cr-containing gas impurities using a combined integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) and lab-scale testing approach. The recipient believes that when fully optimized, this oxygen electrode material would have an intrinsic, long-term degradation rate of less than 0.3%/1000 hours at 700oC.
DOE Funding: $999, 973; Non-DOE Funding: $250,786; Total Value: $1,250,759
AOI 7A: Advanced CCUS Systems from Steam Methane Reforming Plants
Engineering Study of Svante’s Solid Sorbent Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Technology at a Linde Steam Methane Reforming H2 Plant — Linde Inc. (Danbury, CT) will complete an initial engineering design of a commercial-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) capture plant for a steam methane reformer (SMR), using the Svante VeloxoTherm™ solid adsorbent CO2 capture technology to make blue H2. The overall system would be designed to capture approximately 1,100,000 tonnes/year net CO2 with 90% or greater carbon capture efficiency while producing H2 with 99.97% purity, from an existing Linde SMR H2 plant along the US Gulf Coast. The project is intended to achieve the overall DOE performance goals of a 90% CO2 capture rate with 95% CO2 purity from a SMR plant producing 99.97% H2 from natural gas.
DOE Funding: $1,498,778; Non-DOE Funding: $374,695; Total Value: $1,873,473
Initial Engineering Design Study for Advanced CO2 Capture from Hydrogen Production Unit at Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery — Phillips 66 (Houston, TX) will complete an initial engineering design of a commercial scale, advanced CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) plant that separates and stores ~190,000 tons/year net CO2 with more than 90% carbon capture efficiency from an existing steam reforming plant at Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery, California. The goal of this project is to advance the CCS technology for commercialization in a steam reforming plant application.
DOE Funding: $959,089; Non-DOE Funding: $242,106; Total Value: $1,201,195
AOI 7B: Advanced CCUS Systems from Autothermal Methane Reforming Plants
Blue Bison ATR Advanced CCUS System — Initial Engineering of a 1.66MTPY CO2 Capture Unit from Tallgrass Planned Blue Bison ATR Producing 220 MMSCFD of Pure Hydrogen — Tallgrass MLP Operations LLC (Johnson, KS) will design a commercial-scale carbon capture unit capable of separating and storing 1.66 million tonne/year of 95% pure CO2 with more than 97% carbon capture efficiency. As designed, the Blue Bison plant will, for the first time, combine carbon capture, pure H2 production (220 MMSCFD at 99.97% purity), and H2 combustion in auxiliary burners. This project would act as a precursor to the proposed development of a replicable world scale ATR blue H2 plant that could produce a cost competitive, carbon-neutral fuel that can significantly decarbonize the energy economy while simultaneously capitalizing on the nation’s vast natural resources.
DOE Funding: $1,499,374; Non-DOE Funding: $375,496; Total Value: $1,874,870
AOI 9C: Hydrogen Combustion Systems for Gas Turbines – Industrial Class
Development of a Retrofittable Dry Low Emissions Industrial Gas Turbine Combustion System for 100% Hydrogen and Natural Gas Blends — Solar Turbines Incorporated (San Diego, CA) will develop a retrofittable dry low emissions gas turbine combustion system for 100% hydrogen and hydrogen/natural gas blends. This project would enable industrial gas turbines to provide carbon free, rapidly dispatchable power that is vital to grid stability. The proposed work will advance an existing, early development stage hydrogen combustion technology to an engine-ready design. Overall project objectives include construction and rig testing of a complete combustion system capable of functioning in 100% hydrogen and natural gas blends, demonstrating prototype feasibility and combustion performance, developing engine control algorithms and hydrogen flame detection methodologies, formulating reduced kinetic mechanisms for use with CFD/LES analysis followed by bench-scale and rig test validations, and performing techno-economic analyses for gas turbine power plants and pipeline compressor stations fueled with hydrogen.
DOE Funding: $4,500,000; Non-DOE Funding: $1,125,000; Total Value: $5,625,000
News
3.2 GW hydrogen facility planned for Ireland
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Jul 8, 2021
Bantry Bay was chosen as the location for a facility of this scale given its proximity to some of the most productive off-shore locations for wind-generated electricity.
The first phase of the project will see the construction of a scalable green hydrogen production facility, up to 2.7 GW in capacity.... U.S.-based Zenith Energy and the Irish firm EI-H2 said the green energy facility at Bantry Bay has the potential to reduce Irish carbon emissions by 2.4 million tons per year, which represents the equivalent of the carbon emissions of a quarter of all Irish homes. It will operate alongside Zenith Energy’s existing Bantry Bay Terminal, and will be one of the largest of its kind in the world, the companies said.
Bantry Bay was chosen as the location for a facility of this scale given its proximity to some of the most productive off-shore locations for wind-generated electricity.
The first phase of the project will see the construction of a scalable green hydrogen production facility, up to 2.7 GW in capacity. The second phase involves the construction of a 500 MW green ammonia facility, using the green hydrogen from the first phase. The green energy produced by the facility will be used both domestically and internationally, providing carbon-free alternatives to help reduce the country’s carbon footprint, and to put Ireland on the green energy export map.
“This partnership is an excellent opportunity for our Bantry operations, for the local community and for Ireland as a country,” said Ellen Ruhotas, managing director of Zenith Energy. “For many years now, our Whiddy Island operation has supported the security of Ireland’s energy supply. This new joint venture will see Zenith Energy take a pioneering role in the development of a new green energy industry for Ireland. Critically, our green hydrogen and green ammonia production plans align with Government and EU policy for meeting the region’s 2050 climate action goals.”
Pearse Flynn, the founder of EI-H2, said Ireland is on the cusp of a genuine green revolution.
“Instead of waiting for someone else to decarbonize our country, we are looking to develop domestic ways of making a real difference,” Flynn said. “With a renewable source of off-shore wind and water, we can produce real fuel alternatives to help industry and commercial customers reduce their carbon footprint. The expertise of Zenith Energy, and their existing facility at Bantry Bay, makes for an ideal partnership as we begin this journey. Ireland needs to think big to realize its green potential, and this project is of the scale required to develop this new industry.”
Gas Networks Ireland’s Head of Technical Competency and Standards, Liam Nolan, said hydrogen will play a key role in meeting Ireland’s climate action targets. Gradually replacing natural gas with renewable gases, such as locally produced biomethane and hydrogen, is vital to ensuring Ireland’s long-term energy security and net-zero ambitions in an affordable and sustainable way, in line with Irish and European policy, Nolan said.
Zenith Energy and EI-H2 have commenced a year-long feasibility study before an application for planning permission will be made. The new facility could be operational by 2028, by which time sufficient wind generation from off-shore sources will be available to meet the proposed scale of the project.
News
Verdant Microgrid Partners with ClearGen and Blackstone in $150 Million Financing Agreement
Microgrid Knowledge
Jul 7, 2021
Founded in 2018, Verdant Microgrid is a US energy company that designs, builds and operates distributed generation projects for commercial and industrial customers. Verdant’s project portfolio includes existing microgrid solutions in university buildings, indoor and outdoor agricultural systems, and food manufacturing plants. The company primarily develops systems that include solar, energy storage and backup generators as well as combined heat and power systems.
At the time of the signing, Verdant’s customer pipeline included more than $500 million in future projects. Within this, installations exceeding $50 million are scheduled for construction in the next nine months.
Verdant’s partnership with ClearGen is designed to accelerate the company’s clean energy development with easier access to capital funds.
Within the agreement, new projects owned by ClearGen and Blackstone will be managed and operated by Verdant.
After projects are installed, the energy they produce is sold to on-site customers as part of a long-term energy services agreement.
In collaboration with ClearGen, Verdant will continue its mission to provide cost-effective and sustainable microgrids for warehouses, hospitals, hotels and other large-scale energy users.
Blackstone announced the formation of ClearGen in the fall of 2020 and initially invested $250 million in the new portfolio company with funds from GSO Capital Partners. Several months later, ClearGen committed financing for projects up to $500 million to GreenStruxure, another commercial and industrial clean energy developer formed by the partnership of Schneider Electric and Huck Capital.
With its new partnership in Verdant, ClearGen will focus on development of utility-scale microgrids across the United States.
Combined Heat & Power
Upcoming Events
Upcoming
Event
Energy Exchange 2021
U.S. DOE
Aug 2, 2021
Upcoming
Event
2021 ASHE Annual Conference
ASHE
August 8-11, 2021 (in-person) and/or September 15-17, 2021 (virtual)
This event is your opportunity to:
EARN continuing education credits in-person and/or virtually and use them towards Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) and Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) renewal.
CONNECT with other leaders and solution providers in health care facility management through innovative networking opportunities.
PARTICIPATE in sessions covering topics related to codes and compliance, sustainability and efficiency, infection prevention and more.
ATTEND in-person and add on the virtual component for only $99.
Upcoming
Event
Biogas PowerON 2021
FORTES
September 1, 2021, 2-day event
Gases like biomethane, bio-LNG, bio-CNG and syngas have increased potential for becoming the main drivers for greener future. Thus, this year we would like to emphasize their role in decarbonization of transport and energy sectors.
The event is set to bring industry stakeholders, unique content, workshop style discussions and networking. Gives an opportunity to showcase your products and services in the networking area and hold meetings with leaders from the industry.
- Latest European regulations and policies
- Future of biogas market
- COVID-19 impact on the market and demand
- Biogas production and its contribution to climate protection
- Scaling up biogas production – challenges & opportunities
- Gas & energy industry – together for greener future
- Latest technological advancements in the industry
- Alternatives for decarbonizing transport – bio-LNG, bio-CNG or other?
- Commercial scale biogas plants case studies
- Feedstock for biogas production – sustainability challenges
- Enhancements in transportation and storage
Upcoming
Event
World Cogeneration Day
CHP Funder
Sep 4, 2021
World Cogeneration Day 2021 is designed to celebrate the inspirational commitment of the people involved in the CHP power sector, often thanklessly and tirelessly working to keep the lights on and the facilities running smoothly.
Resilience = noun... "the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. "
Upcoming
Event
The National Summit on Combined Heat and Power
Combined Heat and Power Alliance
September 13-15, 2021, 11am-5pm ET
The Combined Heat and Power Alliance, the leading national voice for the deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat to power (WHP), is hosting its second annual Virtual National Summit on CHP. ... CHP in a Sustainable Future: Clean, Reliable Energy for Resilient Communities
The Combined Heat and Power Alliance, the leading national voice for the deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat to power (WHP), is hosting its second annual Virtual National Summit on CHP. Through the virtual platform, we will convene a diverse group of stakeholders, including industry experts, end users and potential hosts, government leaders, policymakers, utilities, climate advocates, and other members of the clean energy community. It will be an opportunity to showcase the many benefits of CHP including reduced emissions, resilience and reliability, and economic competitiveness. This year’s conference will be particularly focused on CHP’s resiliency and reliability, key benefits to promoting sustainability in the 21st century.
We aim to expand on last year’s Summit success, which included 250+ individuals from across 32 states and 8 countries, and 50+ speakers, 28 sponsors, and 27 promotional partners who showcased CHP as a prominent climate and low-carbon solution.
Join us:
Where: Virtual event platform
When: September 13-15, 2021 from 11am-5pm EST
Who: We expect well over 300 people to participate from
across the market
Sponsorship Opportunities: The success of the Summit will rely on generous financial support from sponsors to support the high-tech virtual event platform and staff work to line up excellent speakers.
To learn more about how to sponsor, contribute to the scholarship fund, or become a promotional partner, please contact William Sherman, Client and Research Manager, at williams@dgardiner.com or 703-434-0999.
Upcoming
Event
ASHE Annual 2021 Conference Moves to Nashville
ASHE
September 15-17, 2021
Each year, the ASHE Annual Conference brings together health care facilities professionals to learn about new developments in the field, network with others and find solutions to their challenges. Instead of holding the conference in California August 1-4, ASHE will hold the event in Nashville August 8-11 and will add a virtual option. These changes will enable ASHE to provide the best possible experience for our attendees, exhibitors and sponsors.
The 2021 ASHE Annual Conference is your opportunity to:
• Earn continuing education credits in-person and/or virtually and use them towards Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) and Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) renewal.
• Connect with other leaders and solution providers in health care facility management through innovative networking opportunities.
• Participate in sessions covering topics related to codes and compliance, sustainability and efficiency, infection prevention and more.
• Attend in-person and add on the virtual component for only $99.
Upcoming
Event
Powering the Future: District Energy/CHP/Microgrids
IDEA
September 26-29, 2021
Upcoming
Event
2021 National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource
ACEEE
2021-10-18
Upcoming
Event
Distributed Energy Conference
Renewable Energy Direct
October 18-21, 2021
Upcoming
Event
AEE World: ENERGY EFFICIENCY & SUSTAINABILITY
AEE
October 20-22, 2021
AEE World is back! Join us at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to do business, share advancements in the industry, and connect with your peers or Gain virtual access to the opening, closing and CWEEL keynote sessions, and high level panel discussions.
Combined Heat & Power
Partner News
Partner
News
Pittsburgh Is Now Home to the World’s First Major Airport Completely Powered by a Hybrid Microgrid
Energy Central
Jul 15, 2021
Completed this week, the 20 MW microgrid is now the primary power supply for the entire Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), including the airfield, terminals, hotel and fuel station.
With enough electricity to power the equivalent of 13,000 homes, the microgrid consists of five natural gas generators and 9,360 solar panels installed across eight acres.
The generators will be fueled by natural gas from on-site Marcellus Shale wells.
Designed to boost sustainability and maximize public safety, the microgrid has been installed to meet the airport’s current peak electricity demand, estimated at about 14 MW.
In the event of an emergency, the airport will still be connected to the electric grid for access to backup utility power.
Peoples Natural Gas was awarded a 20-year contract to construct and maintain the microgrid by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages both PIT and the Allegheny County Airport.
Construction for the project officially began in July 2020, and the microgrid was completed on schedule despite industrywide delays caused by the impact of COVID-19.
In conjunction with Peoples Natural Gas, organizations including Duquesne Light, LLI Engineering, IMG Energy Solutions, CNX Resources and EIS Solar assisted in the microgrid’s development.
While sustainable microgrids are effective in improving energy resilience for a large number of applications, PIT has broken ground for other airports to do the same.
Over the last few years, access to reliable electricity has become a larger concern for the aviation industry, with outages causing delays, cancellations and disruptions to ordinary airport operations.
Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis described PIT as an industry leader, with one of the most “site-hardened public facilities in the world.”
Partner
News
SNOWBIRD EXPANDS SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES with its new HIGH-EFFICIENCY 5.3 MW CHP SYSTEM
Caterpillar
Jul 13, 2021
Scheduled to begin operating in June of 2021, the high-efficiency system illustrates Snowbird’s Play Forever commitment to sustainability while enabling the resort to independently address up to 100% of its power needs.
Housed in a new 8,700 square foot building reinforced to withstand harsh winter conditions, Wheeler Power Systems designed and installed the new custom-designed cogeneration facility that features three synchronized and paralleled Cat gas generator sets, including two 2,500-kW Cat G3520H units as well as a single 1,515-kW Cat G3512H generator set. The system also includes new switchgear, high- efficiency boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, control valves, and electronic controls for balance of plant components.
The CHP facility is the latest in a series of major sustainability initiatives undertaken by Snowbird, which include ridesharing, mine reclamation, native species revegetation, watershed rehabilitation, electric vehicle charging stations, energy-efficient bulbs, composting, heater upgrades, glass recycling and planting trees for season passes sold. The resort was recognized by Outside Online in its list of “America’s 10 Most Eco-Friendly Ski Resorts” in 2018.
“Here at Snowbird, we are committed to being responsible stewards of our outdoor spaces that bring us so much joy year-round,” said Snowbird President and General Manager Dave Fields. “Replacing our original CHP facility with a new plant that leverages the expertise and technologies from Caterpillar is a part of that commitment. This new cutting-edge system will not only enhance the safety and experience of our guests but also allow us to become more efficient with how we use energy at Snowbird.”
The integrated system provides electricity for key operations at the resort, including the Aerial Tram and chairlifts. It also powers guest spaces throughout the resort, including The Cliff Lodge, The Inn, The Lodge at Snowbird, and Iron Blosam Lodge, as well as the Snowbird Center and Creekside Café & Grill. In all, it can supply up to 90% of the resort’s energy requirements during the busy winter season and up to 100% of its energy needs in the summer.
In addition to generating power, the CHP system recovers heat from the Cat engines’ exhaust gas, engine jacket cooling water, lube oil cooling water and turbocharger cooling water to produce steam or hot water for operations at The Cliff Lodge, which includes 500+ hotel rooms, 80,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants, two heated swimming pools, four hot tubs and a robust system of subsurface piping that melts snow and ice on walkways.
“Snowbird has set a high bar in the resort industry with a high-efficiency, state-of-the-art system with a minimal footprint that meets their aggressive sustainability goals, increases the resilience of their resort, and supports an expanded range of services for guests,” said Bryan Campbell, President of Wheeler Machinery Co. “This major infrastructure upgrade further enhances Snowbird’s reputation as a leader in environmental stewardship and advanced technology that delivers world-class luxury for its guests.”
The new CHP plant replaces a 1,900 kW system commissioned by Wheeler Power Systems in 1986 and powered by three Cat G399 gas generator sets. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round, the generator sets logged more than 280,000 hours of service, far exceeding their expected operational lives of 120,000 hours.
Partner
News
CAPSTONE GREEN ENERGY EXPANDS ITS ENERGY AS A SERVICE BUSINESS BY SECURING A 2 MW CHP System LONG-TERM RENTAL CONTRACT
Capstone Green Energy
Jul 13, 2021
The new, multi-year rental contract provides two C1000 Signature Series microturbine CHP packaged systems scheduled to be installed by the end of the current fiscal year. They will be used in an industrial combined heat and power (CHP), energy efficiency application configured with ten of Capstone's Integrated Heat Recovery Modules (iHRM) to produce thermal energy. The customer will use the hot water generated from the units in its manufacturing process, thereby improving their overall energy efficiency, saving money, and reducing the site's carbon footprint.
This contract was secured by Capstone's local distribution partner, Cal Microturbine, Capstone's exclusive distributor for California, Hawaii, and Nevada and nonexclusive for Oregon and Washington.
'Expanding Capstone's Energy as a Service business, which includes the long-term rental program, is an important element for the company achieving its profitability goals. Capstone is a proud green energy company, having focused for a long time on transforming the way businesses think about on-site energy production,' said Darren Jamison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstone Green Energy. 'Today, we are excited to be able to offer our customers Energy as a Service and strengthen our commitment to creating smarter energy for a cleaner future, as carbon reduction has increasing value to our customers,' added Mr. Jamison.
Partner
News
MEA Announces FY22 Combined Heat and Power Grant Program
Maryland Energy Administration
Jul 12, 2021
Program Purpose: The FY22 CHP Grant Program is provided to further the statewide adoption of CHP technologies that bring energy efficiency, resilience, and enhanced sustainability to Maryland’s businesses, supply chains, essential services, critical infrastructure, communities, and institutions. CHP technologies, when strategically implemented, produce energy for the sites they serve in the most efficient manner. This reduces the release of greenhouse gases when compared to emissions for utility-supplied energy. They also help diversify the State’s electricity grid and give their implementers more energy autonomy, particularly when they are grid-interconnected and configured to operate in grid outage situations.
Type of Program: Non-competitive (first-come, first-served)
Program Application Deadline: Friday, January 28, 2022, 5:00 P.M. EST
Anticipated Program Budget: $3.6 million, restrictions apply. For more information, please see the Funding Opportunity Announcement below.
Program Documents:
FY22 MEA CHP Funding Opportunity Announcement
FY22 MEA CHP Grant Program Application Excel Workbook
FY22 MEA General Provisions
CHP Resource Guide: Individuals and organizations new to the concept of CHP technology are encouraged to first review the MEA CHP Resource.
CHP eCatalog: MEA encourages applicants to utilize the U.S. Department of Energy CHP eCatalog when planning their CHP projects. The eCatalog provides a highly-customizable and easy-to-use, searchable database of packaged CHP systems that have been technically-vetted by the U.S. DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships. The eCatalog also provides users with technical, financial, and informational resources for CHP design, installation, and financing.
Partner
News
MWM’s High-Performance Genset Now Available as V12 and V16
Caterpillar
Jul 8, 2021
Powerful Gas Engines for Custom-Tailored Applications
The MWM TCG 3020 gas engines are designed for flexible use for various applications and gas types, such as natural gas, biogas, APG, and propane gas. Due to their compact design, the two new cylinder variants achieve up to 18 percent more performance than their predecessors, though their dimensions are almost identical. The two gas engines deliver an output of 1,380 kWel (V12) and 1,840 kWel (V16), respectively. The electrical efficiency of these engines amounts to 45 percent for natural gas and 43.6 percent for biogas applications. Fueled with natural gas, the total efficiency of the gas engines is more than 87 percent.
Back in January 2019, MWM had launched the 20-cylinder variant of the TCG 3020, which is very much in vogue. “With the two new variants, we offer additional powerful alternatives in the popular output range of 1 to 2 MW”, explains Tim Scott. The digital MWM power plant control TPEM (Total Plant & Energy Management) consolidates all engine and plant control data in a single system. The combination of the new cylinder variants and the digital power plant control enables plant operators to ensure maximum plant capacity and availability. For example, the TCG 3020 gas engines can be used for combined heat and power generation in the industry, in hospitals, or at airports as well as for the generation of power by power suppliers or in sewage treatment plants and landfills.
Partner
News
Capstone Green Energy Supplying Packaged CHP system
Capstone Green Energy
Jul 8, 2021
The order, secured by DTC Ecoenergía, Capstone’s exclusive distributor for Mexico, increases Capstone’s Mexican fleet to over 46 MW.
“Back in 2012, Mexico became the first, large, oil-producing emerging economy to adopt climate legislation with common-sense goal setting,” said Darren Jamison, president and chief executive officer. “An additional 2018 decree brought Mexico’s domestic emission reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, which at that time put it ahead of the U.S. on climate change initiatives. However, the new Biden administration recently signed an executive order to rejoin the U.S. into the Paris climate accord, his first major action to tackle global warming.”
The five-bay Capstone C600S package will provide electrical power and thermal energy for the customer, who was not disclosed. Capstone’s scalable on-site energy efficiency systems are designed to meet the large electrical and thermal demand requirements of industrial manufacturers, delivering energy independence with higher operational efficiency than the local utility grid, the company said.
“DTC Ecoenergía is experiencing tremendous growth with the sale of Capstone energy efficiency systems in the manufacturing sector,” said Alejandro Muñoz, president of DTC Ecoenergía. “Despite the disruptions we faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mexican-based manufacturing industry looks poised for growth in the months to come.”
Industrial leaders throughout Mexico have partnered with DTC on over 100 projects utilizing Capstone’s microturbine technology for a variety of solutions and applications. Capstone-powered CHP solutions not only allow customers to quickly realize the benefits of Capstone’s highly reliable, low-emission technology but also lower their energy costs while ensuring minimal downtime and production losses.
One of the core challenges faced by the manufacturing industry is the implementation of highly-reliable energy solutions for their facilities that not only reduce operational costs and increase reliability but also support sustainability goals. Utilizing the heat by-product from a microturbine allows operators to reduce emissions and save added costs that would otherwise be required to produce heat or steam in a separate unit. While traditional electricity from the grid with coal and gas-fired plants produce power at 33% efficiency, Capstone CHP systems can reach efficiencies of more than 80%.
Partner
News
Blackstone Commits $500 Million for GreenStruxure Microgrids
Microgrid Knowledge
Jul 7, 2021
The agreement with Blackstone’s ClearGen allows GreenStruxure to “go bigger and faster” in developing projects, Steve McBee, Huck Capital CEO, said May 25. Customers in the underserved C&I market will benefit from turnkey, renewable energy microgrids that will give them the energy outcomes they need to meet business and sustainability goals without upfront capital outlays and no operational risks, the companies said.
Demand for on-site renewable energy is growing, driven by rising energy costs, increased sustainability goals and power outages caused by extreme weather and natural disasters, according to the companies.
However, building on-site microgrids takes capital that building owners and operators may not be able to spend.
The solution provided by GreenStruxure and ClearGen makes decarbonized, on-site energy simple and accessible for C&I customers, according to the companies.
Through the energy-as-a-service model, a company like GreenStruxure builds and finances a microgrid for a customer. The customer avoids upfront costs and the risks that go with building and operating a microgrid. The customer pays for the project over time.
The partnership between GreenStruxure and ClearGen is another sign the energy transition is accelerating rapidly, according to Annette Clayton, Schneider Electric North America CEO and president.
Generally, the US power sector is moving away from large, centralized power plants to a decentralized system that features on-site renewable energy and a growing number of microgrids.
Partner
News
SIEMENS ENERGY IS A NEW RECOGNIZED PACKAGER IN THE ECATALOG
eCatalog
Jul 1, 2021
Wherever heat is required for either industrial processing and/or public supply, Combined Heat and Power plants are a viable and beneficial alternative. Ideally, the thermal output of a cogeneration system is matched to the user’s heat demand, and with our long-lasting experience in devising custom solutions for power production, we have all the necessary capabilities to meet your exact requirements. Whether you grow vegetables or heat cities – with our proven product range for CHP, including a wide selection of steam and gas turbines as well as our exhaustive portfolio of services, we can give just the right answers to your energy challenges of tomorrow.
Partner
News
GENPLANT IS A NEW RECOGNIZED PACKAGER IN THE ECATALOG
eCatalog
Jun 22, 2021
MANUFACTURING & DELIVERY
Expedited, modular and reliable CHP plants delivery is Genplant’s core competency.
Genplant manufactures its CHP plants in-house, pre-testing the units in order to facilitate quick and seamless integration, commissioning and reliability
ENERGY SERVICES
Genplant offers energy optimization, operations & maintenance, as well as asset management services. The company utilizes its proprietary energy monitoring and management software to support its operations.
PROJECT FINANCING
Genplant offers project financing for current and future services, products and solutions. The form of financing depends on the service, product or solution that is offered.
Partner
News
Baker Hughes, Air Products announce hydrogen collaboration
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Jun 10, 2021
As part of the collaboration, Baker Hughes will provide Air Products with advanced hydrogen compression and gas turbine technology for global projects, including NovaLT16 turbines for Air Products’ net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and advanced compression technology for the NEOM carbon-free hydrogen project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Air Products chose Baker Hughes for its leading-edge compression and gas turbine offerings and robust hydrogen experience,” said Dr. Samir J. Serhan, chief operation officer, Air Products. “This advanced technology is another key step toward achieving economically viable blue and green hydrogen and net-zero targets.”
Combined Heat & Power
Focused News
News
Wide Area Blackout Risk Assessment
Energy Central
Jul 22, 2021
When a triggering event occurs during a time of insufficient reserve energy, the balance between energy production and energy consumption can be distorted, leading to a wide area blackout. Though historically rare events, wide area blackouts have the potential to become yearly occurrences as energy sources transition from central generating stations to distributed renewables.
As the effects of climate change worsen throughout the U.S., air conditioners with high torque compressors will become the dominant load. This increases the risk of wide area blackouts occurring when a triggering event occurs. To address this increased risk and maintain system resiliency, new power system models must be developed and new protective relaying schemes implemented.
In this free 30-minute webinar, attendees will learn about:
Triggers that can initiate wide area blackouts.
Power system parameters that increase the risk of wide area blackouts.
Implementable actions to prevent wide area blackouts when a triggering event occurs.
Presenter: Tony Sleva, PE, LSM-IEEE: Mr. Sleva has more than 50 years of professional experience as an engineering manager, electrical engineer, project manager, forensic investigator, author, and research engineer. He has experience designing and operating transmission systems, distribution systems, large generating plants, and small distributed energy systems. Mr. Sleva is an adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, teaching continuing education courses for the power industry.
News
With only 2% of governments’ recovery spending going to clean energy transitions, global emissions are set to surge to an all-time high
IEA
Jul 20, 2021
The sums of money, both public and private, being mobilized worldwide by recovery plans fall well short of what is needed to reach international climate goals. These shortfalls are particularly pronounced in emerging and developing economies, many of which face particular financing challenges.
Under governments’ current recovery spending plans, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are set to climb to record levels in 2023 and continue rising in the following years. This would leave the world far from the pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050 that the IEA set out in its recent Global Roadmap to Net Zero.
These findings come from the new Sustainable Recovery Tracker that the IEA launched today to help policy makers assess how far recovery plans are moving the needle on climate. The new online tool is a contribution to the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Climate and Energy in Naples, which takes place on 22 and 23 July under the Presidency of Italy.
The Tracker monitors government spending allocated to sustainable recoveries and then estimates how much this spending boosts overall clean energy investment and to what degree this affects the trajectory of global CO2 emissions. The Tracker considers over 800 national sustainable recovery policies in its analysis, which are publicly available on the IEA website.
“Since the Covid-19 crisis erupted, many governments may have talked about the importance of building back better for a cleaner future, but many of them are yet to put their money where their mouth is. Despite increased climate ambitions, the amount of economic recovery funds being spent on clean energy is just a small sliver of the total,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director.
Governments have mobilized USD 16 trillion in fiscal support throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, most of it focused on emergency financial relief for households and firms. Only 2% of the total is earmarked for clean energy transitions.
In the early phases of the pandemic, the IEA released the Sustainable Recovery Plan, which recommended USD 1 trillion of spending globally on clean energy measures that could feature prominently in recovery plans. According to the Plan – developed in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund – this spending would boost global economic growth, create millions of jobs and put the world on track to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
According to the Tracker, all the key sectors highlighted in the IEA Sustainable Recovery Plan are receiving inadequate attention from policy makers. Current government plans would only increase total public and private spending on clean energy to around USD 350 billion a year by 2023 – only 35% of what is envisaged in the Plan.
The Tracker shows the stark geographic disparities that are emerging in clean energy investment. The majority of funds are being mobilized in advanced economies, which are nearing 60% of the investment levels envisaged in the Sustainable Recovery Plan. Emerging and developing economies, many of which have limited fiscal leeway, have so far mobilized only about 20% of the recommended spending levels.
“Not only is clean energy investment still far from what’s needed to put the world on a path to reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century, it’s not even enough to prevent global emissions from surging to a new record. Many countries – especially those where the needs are greatest – are also missing the benefits that well planned clean energy investment brings, such as stronger economic growth, new jobs and the development of the energy industries of the future,” Dr Birol said
“Governments need to increase spending and policy action rapidly to meet the commitments they made in Paris in 2015 – including the vital provision of financing by advanced economies to the developed world,” Dr Birol added. “But they must then go even further by leading clean energy investment and deployment to much greater heights beyond the recovery period in order to shift the world onto a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, which is narrow but still achievable – if we act now.”
News
BLOOM ENERGY UNVEILS ELECTROLYZER TO SUPERCHARGE THE PATH TO LOW-COST, NET-ZERO HYDROGEN
Bloom Energy
Jul 18, 2021
The Bloom Electrolyzer relies on the same, commercially proven and proprietary solid oxide technology platform used by Bloom Energy Servers to provide on-site electricity at high fuel efficiency. Highly flexible, it offers unique advantages for deployment across a broad variety of hydrogen applications, using multiple energy sources including intermittent renewable energy and excess heat.
Superior Value at High Temperatures
Low-cost electrolysis has been difficult to achieve due to electricity costs, which can account for nearly 80 percent of the cost of hydrogen production through electrolysis. An opportunity has emerged, as renewable energy costs have declined precipitously over the last decade. Any reduction in electricity requirements makes hydrogen production more economical and scalable.
Because it operates at high temperatures, the Bloom Electrolyzer requires less energy to break up water molecules and produce hydrogen. As a result, Bloom Energy’s electrolyzer consumes 15 percent less electricity than other electrolyzer technologies to make hydrogen when electricity is the sole input source.
Unlike low-temperature PEM and alkaline electrolyzers that predominantly require electricity to make hydrogen, the Bloom Electrolyzer can leverage both electricity and heat to produce hydrogen. Bloom Energy’s high-temperature electrolyzer technology has the potential to use up to 45 percent less electricity when integrated with external heat sources than low-temperature PEM and alkaline electrolyzers.
“The launch of the Bloom Electrolyzer is a big leap forward in our mission to enable and empower the global hydrogen economy and a decarbonized society,” said KR Sridhar, founder, chairman, and CEO, Bloom Energy. “Hydrogen enables us to leverage abundant and inexpensive renewable energy to provide zero-carbon power, reliably—instead of intermittently. Given its efficiency and input options to make hydrogen, Bloom Energy’s electrolyzer is expected to produce hydrogen at a lower price than any alternative on the market today.”
Decarbonizing Heavy Industries
High-temperature electrolysis unlocks substantial value with heat-intensive processing applications in hard-to-decarbonize heavy industries, like steel, chemical, cement, and glass manufacturing. By utilizing excess heat from these processes, hydrogen can be produced at a higher electrical efficiency. Further, the hydrogen required to power high-temperature furnaces at these factories can be produced on-site using Bloom Energy electrolyzers, eliminating transportation and distribution costs.
Optimizing Intermittent Renewables
When the Bloom Electrolyzer is paired with intermittent renewable resources, such as wind and solar, the resulting green hydrogen provides an important storage mechanism. Hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time and transported over long distances. Alternatively, Bloom Energy’s fuel cells can convert this hydrogen to electricity, thereby providing continuous, reliable power.
Gigawatt Production and Scale
Bloom Energy began manufacturing in the U.S. in 2001 and now supports more than 1,500 American clean energy jobs. Bloom Energy’s Sunnyvale, California and Newark, Delaware manufacturing facilities are capable of producing 500 megawatts of electrolyzers today and a gigawatt within a year.
Since the Bloom Electrolyzer utilizes the same solid oxide platform as the company’s core fuel cell product, utilizing many of the same components, Bloom Energy can scale and leverage supply chain synergies.
Enabling and Empowering the Global Hydrogen Economy
Bloom Energy’s technology dates to the 1980s, when the co-founders first developed electrolyzers to support the military and later NASA’s Mars exploration programs. In the early 2000s, 19 patents were awarded to Bloom Energy for its electrolyzer technology. With reduced renewable energy costs and the global movement to decarbonize, Bloom Energy believes this is the right moment to commercialize its hydrogen technology. Collaborating with industry-leading organizations, Bloom Energy celebrated several milestones over the past year:
First announced electrolyzer pilot: In November 2020, Bloom Energy announced it will supply its electrolyzers to an industrial complex in Changwon, Korea in collaboration with its Korean partner, SK EcoPlant. Supporting the Changwon RE100 initiative to create renewable ecosystems, the new project paves the way for South Korea to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The units will ship to Changwon in mid-2022.
Harnessing excess nuclear energy: In May 2021, Bloom Energy announced its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to test the use of nuclear energy to create clean hydrogen through the Bloom Electrolyzer. Rather than ramping down power generation when an electric grid has surplus energy, the Bloom Electrolyzer can use the excess electricity and steam generated by nuclear plants to produce low-cost, zero-carbon hydrogen, providing clean energy for use when it’s needed while simultaneously offering nuclear power plants a source of revenue for their excess power. The units are undergoing testing in Bloom Energy’s laboratories and are expected to ship to INL in Q3.
Integrating hydrogen solutions: In May 2021, Bloom Energy announced a collaboration with energy technology company Baker Hughes to explore commercialization and deployment collaborations in many areas, including integrated hydrogen solutions, to advance the energy transition. The companies will look to pair the Bloom Electrolyzer with Baker Hughes’ compression technology for efficient production, compression, transport, and storage of hydrogen. They will also assess excess heat utilization for steam generation to further increase efficiency and cost effectiveness of hydrogen production and target applications like blending hydrogen into natural gas networks alongside on-site hydrogen production for industrial use.
Orders are being accepted for the Bloom Electrolyzer, with commercial shipments expected to begin in fall 2022
News
California Regulators Waive Key Standby Charges for Eligible Microgrids
Energy Central
Jul 16, 2021
The July 15 decision to suspend capacity reservation charges is part of the CPUC’s multiphase effort to spur the commercial development of microgrids, with the upcoming phase centered on the value microgrids can provide to the grid (R.19-09-009).
The decision is a “step in the right direction,” according to Bloom Energy, a fuel cell company.
“While there is still more work to be done, we look forward to working with the CPUC and key stakeholders to further explore the value of resilient energy and revisiting the [behind-the-meter] tariff in Track 4,” said Jennifer Duffourg, a Bloom Energy spokeswoman.
In its decision, the CPUC dismissed calls to eliminate standby charges entirely, but said it was reasonable to waive capacity reservation charges for certain microgrids and to evaluate the policy in 2026.
“The commission, the utilities and stakeholders can gain experience, learn lessons, collect data and information, and determine whether this suspension is fair and provides value to the public,” the CPUC said.
After two initial phases, the commission turned its attention to standby charges, which are fees utilities use to cover their costs for being available to supply electricity to self-generation customers when their systems aren’t producing electricity.
The charges, which total about 2 cents per kWh in California, can make microgrid projects financially unviable, according to microgrid advocates.
In its decision, the CPUC rejected arguments raised by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) that eliminating the charges would violate a ban on shifting costs from one group of customers to other ones.
The utilities wanted to continue levying capacity reservation charges.
The decision largely mirrored a proposal released in June by a CPUC administrative law judge.
Under the decision, eligible microgrids must meet the California Air Resources Board’s distributed generation air pollution standards.
Eligible microgrids also include those that show by manufacturer certification that they can use renewable fuels, such as renewable natural gas, biogas or green hydrogen, and that commit to only using renewable fuels by Dec. 31, 2030.
In a change from the proposed decision, microgrids that receive payments through the CPUC’s Self Generation Incentive Program are ineligible for a suspension of the capacity reserve charge, unless the owners show their microgrids provide incremental benefits.
Eligible microgrids must also meet performance standards. Eligible microgrids, for example, must have a capacity factor of at least 85%. In a change from the proposal, the CPUC said a microgrid could also have a self-supply factor of at least 85%. They must also have an availability factor of at least 95%.
Microgrid owners must give utilities data showing they meet the performance standards.
In addition, microgrid owners must recertify twice a year that they meet the performance standards. The proposed decision called for quarterly recertification.
If a microgrid benefiting from the suspended reservation charge is hit with a generation failure or cannot serve its load, it will receive utility power but will have to pay a “demand assurance amount” to cover the utility’s costs.
The demand assurance amount will be double the monthly capacity reservation charge the microgrid would have been paying during the month of the outage.
Microgrid supporters such as Bloom Energy and the Clean Coalition back reductions in standby charges for behind-the-meter generation microgrids, in part, because microgrids offer holistic benefits including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the need for capacity on the grid.
They also argued that standby charges do not pay microgrids fairly for increased redundancy and resiliency, according to the CPUC.
The CPUC gave PG&E, SCE and SDG&E 90 days to revise their tariffs in line with the decision.
News
National Labs unite to study large-scale hydrogen storage under $6.75M federal grant
Daily Energy Insider
Jul 15, 2021
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNNL), and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will receive $6.75 million from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to consider large-scale hydrogen storage for the next three years.
Funding, provided by DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), will go toward studying the possibilities of such storage in geologic formations. Researchers will seek to determine and overcome the technical and operational risks of subsurface hydrogen storage to both humans and the environment, utilize emerging technologies to create better and safer storage systems, and assess what technical, operational, and economic concepts are needed to allow such storage for pure hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas blends.
“This is an exciting project for us because it addresses a timely and critical component of a low-carbon energy future,” Joshua White, LLNL reservoir engineer and principal investigator, said. “At the same time, the required expertise builds on LLNL’s decades of experience working in the subsurface on related technologies such as geologic carbon storage, natural gas storage, and geothermal energy.”
The project is called SHASTA, short for Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage and Technology Acceleration. Researchers will divide up their efforts: White will join LLNL reservoir engineer Nicola Castelletto on subsurface modeling work, a lab geochemist, Megan Smith, will study high-pressure, high-temperature experimental possibilities. All hope to advance hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel option for various applications, but there are traditional hurdles.
In large amounts, hydrogen must be stored in salt dome structures or caverns, and many regions lack such geological prerequisites. Therefore, part of this project will involve investigating whether porous media — similar to underground natural gas storage reservoirs — would be an acceptable alternative and whether existing natural gas storage infrastructure could be adapted and re-used.
Material compatibility, reservoir-scale performance, and the characterization of microbial interactions with these efforts will all be major focuses for researchers.
News
Secretary Granholm Announces New Goal to Cut Costs of Long Duration Energy Storage by 90 Percent
U.S. DOE
Jul 14, 2021
“We’re going to bring hundreds of gigawatts of clean energy onto the grid over the next few years, and we need to be able to use that energy wherever and whenever it’s needed,” said Secretary Granholm. “That’s why DOE is working aggressively toward cheaper, longer duration energy storage to reach President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. This new initiative will create new manufacturing jobs right here at home and make sure clean, reliable, affordable electricity is available to everyone, including Americans living in remote and underserved communities.”
Long duration energy storage – defined as systems that can store energy for more than 10 hours at a time – would support a low-cost, reliable, carbon-free electric grid. Cheaper and more efficient storage will make it easier to capture and store clean energy for use when energy generation is unavailable or lower than demand – for instance, so solar-generated power can be used at night or nuclear energy generated during times of low demand can be used when demand increases.
Developing the technology and manufacturing to reach the Long Duration Storage Shot cost targets will also establish a new, U.S.-based manufacturing industry and union jobs for storage products. And energy storage can increase local control of the power system and build resilience for communities, including by minimizing power grid disruptions.
“Energy storage technology holds great promise in the fight against climate change. Strengthening current technology and advancing next-generation energy storage will allow us to integrate more renewables, such as wind and solar, which in turn will help to reduce emissions,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins. “That’s why I authored the Better Energy Storage Technology Act, which seeks to align U.S. research efforts to promote advancements in energy storage technologies. It is exciting to see the Department of Energy begin implementing this new law through this initiative to substantially reduce the cost of energy storage technologies, improve the efficiency of our nation’s electricity grid, and bring us closer to a clean energy future.”
“Long duration energy storage is the key that unlocks our clean energy future,” said U.S. Senator Angus King. “In recent years we’ve seen massive advances in renewable technologies, but the challenge remains: how do we power the grid when the wind stops blowing or the sun doesn’t shine? Cost-effective, energy-efficient storage systems will solve this problem, and help ensure that the power generated during periods of low-demand can be captured for moments of peak use. This investment is a critical step for our efforts to advance America’s technological leadership in this key field and confront climate change.”
The Long Duration Storage Shot will consider all types of technologies – whether electrochemical, mechanical, thermal, chemical carriers, or any combination that has the potential to meet the necessary duration and cost targets for grid flexibility. Currently, pumped-storage hydropower is the largest source of long duration energy storage on the grid, and lithium ion is the primary source of new energy storage technology deployed on the grid in the United States, providing shorter duration storage capabilities.
DOE developed the Long Duration Storage Shot target through its crosscutting Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) and wide reaching stakeholder engagement activities and input from subject matter experts, and will continue concerted outreach to advance the Long Duration Storage Shot and ESGC’s aggressive goals and strategy.
ESGC and the Long Duration Shortage Shot are linked with integrated efforts across the Department’s Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Electricity, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Science, Nuclear Energy, and Technology Transitions, as well as the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy.
News
Wärtsilä pioneering test program for pure hydrogen engines
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Jul 14, 2021
Wärtsilä is now running a testing program for its balancing gas engines to be converted to use pure hydrogen as fuel. The project in Vaasa, Finland, will assess Wärtsilä’s existing 31 gas engine technology to find the optimum parameters for running on hydrogen, the company said. Wärtsilä’s gas engines are currently used for flexible balancing power generation for power systems with high levels of renewables.
“This is a milestone moment in the worldwide energy transition,” said Håkan Agnevall, CEO Wärtsilä. “Global societies will have to invest billions into the infrastructure needed to develop green hydrogen, but that investment is reliant upon having market-ready engines which can run on the fuel once it is readily available. Our modeling shows that a significant amount of thermal balancing is required by the middle of this century to achieve the transition to 100% renewable energy. By developing engines today which can run on hydrogen tomorrow, we are future-proofing energy systems to become 100% renewable by 2050.”
Green hydrogen is forecast to deliver 13% of global energy demand by 2070, but at present there are no commercially available engines that can effectively use the fuel, potentially jeopardizing global net-zero ambitions, the company said.
Green hydrogen, developed from renewable energy using electrolysis, and green hydrogen-based fuels can provide long duration energy storage to work alongside renewable generation and short-duration storage (such as lithium-ion batteries) to create reliable and fully decarbonized energy systems, according to the company
According to Wärtsilä’s energy system modeling, over 11 000 GW of wind and solar power is required in G20 economies alone in order to create 100% renewable energy systems. It will require 933 GW of carbon-neutral thermal balancing capacity to enable the addition of this amount of renewable energy and stabilize these future power systems.
The ability to modify existing engines to utilize hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels when they become widely available is crucial to achieving global decarbonization goals, the company said.
“The internal combustion engine is a key technology in enabling the growth of renewables today, providing the flexibility required to support the intermittent generation of wind and solar,” according to a news release from the company. “Many countries are investing in new, highly efficient engines to support the sustainable acceleration of renewable energy. Being able to modify the engines in the future to utilize carbon-neutral fuels, such as green hydrogen and green hydrogen-based fuels, means that utilities can invest confidently now to enable the 100% renewable system required by the middle of this century, without risking stranded assets.”
News
DOE Selects 12 Projects to Improve Fossil-Based Hydrogen Production, Transport, Storage and Utilization
U.S. DOE
Jul 9, 2021
Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize advanced and novel technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen. This will enable the U.S. to continue to extract the maximum economic value from fossil fuel energy resources. When coupled with carbon capture and storage capabilities, low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the projects, which fall under four areas of interest (AOIs):
AOI 5: Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) Technology Development for Hydrogen Production
Durable and High-Performance SOECs Based on Proton Conductors for Hydrogen Production — Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) will assess the degradation mechanisms of the electrolyte, electrode and catalyst materials under electrolysis conditions to gain insights for rational design of better electrode and catalyst materials. The project’s main objective is to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of a low-cost, highly efficient reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) system based on proton conductors for hydrogen (H2) and electricity generation.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Improving Durability and Performance of Solid Oxide Electrolyzers by Controlling Surface Composition on Oxygen Electrodes — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) will research the degradation pathway that couples surface chemistry to impurity poisoning on perovskite oxygen electrodes, taking (La0.6Sr0.4)0.95Co0.2Fe0.8O3- (LSCF) as a model, state-of-the-art oxygen electrode. Project goals are to 1) improve the chemical and electrochemical stability of LSCF as a state-of-the-art oxygen-electrode, against dopant (Sr) segregation and the consequent poisoning by chromium (Cr) and sulfur (S); 2) develop infiltration chemistries to enable the surface modifications in the most effective, efficient and economical way, to suppress the Sr segregation and the Cr- and S-poisoning processes; and 3) advance understanding of the role of operational parameters on oxygen electrode performance.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Development of Stable Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell for Low-Cost Hydrogen Production — OxEon Energy LLC (North Salt Lake, UT) OxEon Energy LLC will operate a solid oxide electrolysis cell stack in a laboratory test bed showing improved performance over baseline stacks exhibiting robustness, reliability, endurance, H2 purity, and producing H2 at elevated pressure of 2 to 3 bar. At the conclusion of the project, the team will operate a short stack of 6-cells under various steam conversion conditions for at least 500 hours and then an additional 300 hours in SOFC mode to verify reversible operation. A separate short stack will be tested for a period of 100 hours to produce H2 at a pressure of 2 to 3 bar.
DOE Funding: $999,526; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,249,526
Development of Novel 3D Cell Structure and Manufacturing Processes for Highly Efficient, Durable and Redox Resistant Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells — The Regents of the University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA) will evaluate and demonstrate a highly efficient, durable and reduction-oxidation (redox) resistant solid oxide electrolysis cell technology for H2 production. This project focuses on the development of a novel cell design and its corresponding manufacturing processes and will culminate in the demonstration of a scaled-up SOEC featuring a design with improved performance, enhanced redox resistance and increased durability under conditions suitable for H2 production from steam. The results of the project could form the basis for further development to advance the technology for practical applications and commercialization.
DOE Funding: $999,913; Non-DOE Funding: $250,956; Total Value: $1,250,869
Development of High-Performance Metal-Supported SOECs and Innovative Diagnostic Methodologies — University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette, LA) will develop high-performance metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells and innovative diagnostic methodologies to achieve net-zero or negative emissions. The team plans to fabricate metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells (MS-SOECs) to improve the electrolysis performance while maintaining mechanical strength for the stack assembly; develop accelerated test protocols for SOECs and apply theoretical analysis to improve its stability and suppress oxygen electrode declamation; and use machine learning to study the dependence of electrochemical performance on microstructural details of an electrode.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Developing Stable Critical Materials and Microstructure for High-Flux and Efficient H2 production through Reversible Solid Oxide Cells — University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) will advance RSOC technology for standalone or hybrid power and H2 production by addressing critical and unsolved issues through foundational materials and microstructure innovations. The impact of the project could assist the commercialization course of RSOC technology and expands it to utility markets such as distributed standalone or hybrid power and H2 generation as a means of energy storage.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,301; Total Value: $1,250,301
Designing Internal Surfaces of Porous Electrodes in Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells for Highly Efficient and Durable Hydrogen Production — West Virginia University Research Corporation (Morgantown, WV) will develop and implant highly active and robust nano-scale coating layers to the internal surface of a porous electrode. The coating layer will be developed using the additive manufacturing process of atomic layer deposition (ALD) and will be implanted on the internal surface of porous electrodes of the as fabricated commercial cells directly. The project will provide a simple solution to various materials challenges at the cell level and could further enable extensive and more efficient SOEC stacks and systems.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000; Non-DOE Funding: $250,000; Total Value: $1,250,000
Heterostructured Cr Resistant Oxygen Electrode for SOECs — Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA) will design, test, and validate oxygen electrode materials for SOECs that maintain high performance and low degradation rates in the operation conditions with the presence of Cr-containing gas impurities using a combined integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) and lab-scale testing approach. The recipient believes that when fully optimized, this oxygen electrode material would have an intrinsic, long-term degradation rate of less than 0.3%/1000 hours at 700oC.
DOE Funding: $999, 973; Non-DOE Funding: $250,786; Total Value: $1,250,759
AOI 7A: Advanced CCUS Systems from Steam Methane Reforming Plants
Engineering Study of Svante’s Solid Sorbent Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Technology at a Linde Steam Methane Reforming H2 Plant — Linde Inc. (Danbury, CT) will complete an initial engineering design of a commercial-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) capture plant for a steam methane reformer (SMR), using the Svante VeloxoTherm™ solid adsorbent CO2 capture technology to make blue H2. The overall system would be designed to capture approximately 1,100,000 tonnes/year net CO2 with 90% or greater carbon capture efficiency while producing H2 with 99.97% purity, from an existing Linde SMR H2 plant along the US Gulf Coast. The project is intended to achieve the overall DOE performance goals of a 90% CO2 capture rate with 95% CO2 purity from a SMR plant producing 99.97% H2 from natural gas.
DOE Funding: $1,498,778; Non-DOE Funding: $374,695; Total Value: $1,873,473
Initial Engineering Design Study for Advanced CO2 Capture from Hydrogen Production Unit at Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery — Phillips 66 (Houston, TX) will complete an initial engineering design of a commercial scale, advanced CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) plant that separates and stores ~190,000 tons/year net CO2 with more than 90% carbon capture efficiency from an existing steam reforming plant at Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery, California. The goal of this project is to advance the CCS technology for commercialization in a steam reforming plant application.
DOE Funding: $959,089; Non-DOE Funding: $242,106; Total Value: $1,201,195
AOI 7B: Advanced CCUS Systems from Autothermal Methane Reforming Plants
Blue Bison ATR Advanced CCUS System — Initial Engineering of a 1.66MTPY CO2 Capture Unit from Tallgrass Planned Blue Bison ATR Producing 220 MMSCFD of Pure Hydrogen — Tallgrass MLP Operations LLC (Johnson, KS) will design a commercial-scale carbon capture unit capable of separating and storing 1.66 million tonne/year of 95% pure CO2 with more than 97% carbon capture efficiency. As designed, the Blue Bison plant will, for the first time, combine carbon capture, pure H2 production (220 MMSCFD at 99.97% purity), and H2 combustion in auxiliary burners. This project would act as a precursor to the proposed development of a replicable world scale ATR blue H2 plant that could produce a cost competitive, carbon-neutral fuel that can significantly decarbonize the energy economy while simultaneously capitalizing on the nation’s vast natural resources.
DOE Funding: $1,499,374; Non-DOE Funding: $375,496; Total Value: $1,874,870
AOI 9C: Hydrogen Combustion Systems for Gas Turbines – Industrial Class
Development of a Retrofittable Dry Low Emissions Industrial Gas Turbine Combustion System for 100% Hydrogen and Natural Gas Blends — Solar Turbines Incorporated (San Diego, CA) will develop a retrofittable dry low emissions gas turbine combustion system for 100% hydrogen and hydrogen/natural gas blends. This project would enable industrial gas turbines to provide carbon free, rapidly dispatchable power that is vital to grid stability. The proposed work will advance an existing, early development stage hydrogen combustion technology to an engine-ready design. Overall project objectives include construction and rig testing of a complete combustion system capable of functioning in 100% hydrogen and natural gas blends, demonstrating prototype feasibility and combustion performance, developing engine control algorithms and hydrogen flame detection methodologies, formulating reduced kinetic mechanisms for use with CFD/LES analysis followed by bench-scale and rig test validations, and performing techno-economic analyses for gas turbine power plants and pipeline compressor stations fueled with hydrogen.
DOE Funding: $4,500,000; Non-DOE Funding: $1,125,000; Total Value: $5,625,000
News
3.2 GW hydrogen facility planned for Ireland
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Jul 8, 2021
Bantry Bay was chosen as the location for a facility of this scale given its proximity to some of the most productive off-shore locations for wind-generated electricity.
The first phase of the project will see the construction of a scalable green hydrogen production facility, up to 2.7 GW in capacity.... U.S.-based Zenith Energy and the Irish firm EI-H2 said the green energy facility at Bantry Bay has the potential to reduce Irish carbon emissions by 2.4 million tons per year, which represents the equivalent of the carbon emissions of a quarter of all Irish homes. It will operate alongside Zenith Energy’s existing Bantry Bay Terminal, and will be one of the largest of its kind in the world, the companies said.
Bantry Bay was chosen as the location for a facility of this scale given its proximity to some of the most productive off-shore locations for wind-generated electricity.
The first phase of the project will see the construction of a scalable green hydrogen production facility, up to 2.7 GW in capacity. The second phase involves the construction of a 500 MW green ammonia facility, using the green hydrogen from the first phase. The green energy produced by the facility will be used both domestically and internationally, providing carbon-free alternatives to help reduce the country’s carbon footprint, and to put Ireland on the green energy export map.
“This partnership is an excellent opportunity for our Bantry operations, for the local community and for Ireland as a country,” said Ellen Ruhotas, managing director of Zenith Energy. “For many years now, our Whiddy Island operation has supported the security of Ireland’s energy supply. This new joint venture will see Zenith Energy take a pioneering role in the development of a new green energy industry for Ireland. Critically, our green hydrogen and green ammonia production plans align with Government and EU policy for meeting the region’s 2050 climate action goals.”
Pearse Flynn, the founder of EI-H2, said Ireland is on the cusp of a genuine green revolution.
“Instead of waiting for someone else to decarbonize our country, we are looking to develop domestic ways of making a real difference,” Flynn said. “With a renewable source of off-shore wind and water, we can produce real fuel alternatives to help industry and commercial customers reduce their carbon footprint. The expertise of Zenith Energy, and their existing facility at Bantry Bay, makes for an ideal partnership as we begin this journey. Ireland needs to think big to realize its green potential, and this project is of the scale required to develop this new industry.”
Gas Networks Ireland’s Head of Technical Competency and Standards, Liam Nolan, said hydrogen will play a key role in meeting Ireland’s climate action targets. Gradually replacing natural gas with renewable gases, such as locally produced biomethane and hydrogen, is vital to ensuring Ireland’s long-term energy security and net-zero ambitions in an affordable and sustainable way, in line with Irish and European policy, Nolan said.
Zenith Energy and EI-H2 have commenced a year-long feasibility study before an application for planning permission will be made. The new facility could be operational by 2028, by which time sufficient wind generation from off-shore sources will be available to meet the proposed scale of the project.
News
Verdant Microgrid Partners with ClearGen and Blackstone in $150 Million Financing Agreement
Microgrid Knowledge
Jul 7, 2021
Founded in 2018, Verdant Microgrid is a US energy company that designs, builds and operates distributed generation projects for commercial and industrial customers. Verdant’s project portfolio includes existing microgrid solutions in university buildings, indoor and outdoor agricultural systems, and food manufacturing plants. The company primarily develops systems that include solar, energy storage and backup generators as well as combined heat and power systems.
At the time of the signing, Verdant’s customer pipeline included more than $500 million in future projects. Within this, installations exceeding $50 million are scheduled for construction in the next nine months.
Verdant’s partnership with ClearGen is designed to accelerate the company’s clean energy development with easier access to capital funds.
Within the agreement, new projects owned by ClearGen and Blackstone will be managed and operated by Verdant.
After projects are installed, the energy they produce is sold to on-site customers as part of a long-term energy services agreement.
In collaboration with ClearGen, Verdant will continue its mission to provide cost-effective and sustainable microgrids for warehouses, hospitals, hotels and other large-scale energy users.
Blackstone announced the formation of ClearGen in the fall of 2020 and initially invested $250 million in the new portfolio company with funds from GSO Capital Partners. Several months later, ClearGen committed financing for projects up to $500 million to GreenStruxure, another commercial and industrial clean energy developer formed by the partnership of Schneider Electric and Huck Capital.
With its new partnership in Verdant, ClearGen will focus on development of utility-scale microgrids across the United States.
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Energy Exchange 2021
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Aug 2, 2021
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2021 ASHE Annual Conference
ASHE
August 8-11, 2021 (in-person) and/or September 15-17, 2021 (virtual)
This event is your opportunity to:
EARN continuing education credits in-person and/or virtually and use them towards Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) and Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) renewal.
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Biogas PowerON 2021
FORTES
September 1, 2021, 2-day event
Gases like biomethane, bio-LNG, bio-CNG and syngas have increased potential for becoming the main drivers for greener future. Thus, this year we would like to emphasize their role in decarbonization of transport and energy sectors.
The event is set to bring industry stakeholders, unique content, workshop style discussions and networking. Gives an opportunity to showcase your products and services in the networking area and hold meetings with leaders from the industry.
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World Cogeneration Day
CHP Funder
Sep 4, 2021
World Cogeneration Day 2021 is designed to celebrate the inspirational commitment of the people involved in the CHP power sector, often thanklessly and tirelessly working to keep the lights on and the facilities running smoothly.
Resilience = noun... "the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. "
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The National Summit on Combined Heat and Power
Combined Heat and Power Alliance
September 13-15, 2021, 11am-5pm ET
The Combined Heat and Power Alliance, the leading national voice for the deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat to power (WHP), is hosting its second annual Virtual National Summit on CHP. ... CHP in a Sustainable Future: Clean, Reliable Energy for Resilient Communities
The Combined Heat and Power Alliance, the leading national voice for the deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat to power (WHP), is hosting its second annual Virtual National Summit on CHP. Through the virtual platform, we will convene a diverse group of stakeholders, including industry experts, end users and potential hosts, government leaders, policymakers, utilities, climate advocates, and other members of the clean energy community. It will be an opportunity to showcase the many benefits of CHP including reduced emissions, resilience and reliability, and economic competitiveness. This year’s conference will be particularly focused on CHP’s resiliency and reliability, key benefits to promoting sustainability in the 21st century.
We aim to expand on last year’s Summit success, which included 250+ individuals from across 32 states and 8 countries, and 50+ speakers, 28 sponsors, and 27 promotional partners who showcased CHP as a prominent climate and low-carbon solution.
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ASHE Annual 2021 Conference Moves to Nashville
ASHE
September 15-17, 2021
Each year, the ASHE Annual Conference brings together health care facilities professionals to learn about new developments in the field, network with others and find solutions to their challenges. Instead of holding the conference in California August 1-4, ASHE will hold the event in Nashville August 8-11 and will add a virtual option. These changes will enable ASHE to provide the best possible experience for our attendees, exhibitors and sponsors.
The 2021 ASHE Annual Conference is your opportunity to:
• Earn continuing education credits in-person and/or virtually and use them towards Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) and Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) renewal.
• Connect with other leaders and solution providers in health care facility management through innovative networking opportunities.
• Participate in sessions covering topics related to codes and compliance, sustainability and efficiency, infection prevention and more.
• Attend in-person and add on the virtual component for only $99.
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Powering the Future: District Energy/CHP/Microgrids
IDEA
September 26-29, 2021
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2021 National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource
ACEEE
2021-10-18
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Renewable Energy Direct
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AEE World: ENERGY EFFICIENCY & SUSTAINABILITY
AEE
October 20-22, 2021
AEE World is back! Join us at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to do business, share advancements in the industry, and connect with your peers or Gain virtual access to the opening, closing and CWEEL keynote sessions, and high level panel discussions.
Combined Heat & Power
Partner News
Partner
News
Pittsburgh Is Now Home to the World’s First Major Airport Completely Powered by a Hybrid Microgrid
Energy Central
Jul 15, 2021
Completed this week, the 20 MW microgrid is now the primary power supply for the entire Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), including the airfield, terminals, hotel and fuel station.
With enough electricity to power the equivalent of 13,000 homes, the microgrid consists of five natural gas generators and 9,360 solar panels installed across eight acres.
The generators will be fueled by natural gas from on-site Marcellus Shale wells.
Designed to boost sustainability and maximize public safety, the microgrid has been installed to meet the airport’s current peak electricity demand, estimated at about 14 MW.
In the event of an emergency, the airport will still be connected to the electric grid for access to backup utility power.
Peoples Natural Gas was awarded a 20-year contract to construct and maintain the microgrid by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages both PIT and the Allegheny County Airport.
Construction for the project officially began in July 2020, and the microgrid was completed on schedule despite industrywide delays caused by the impact of COVID-19.
In conjunction with Peoples Natural Gas, organizations including Duquesne Light, LLI Engineering, IMG Energy Solutions, CNX Resources and EIS Solar assisted in the microgrid’s development.
While sustainable microgrids are effective in improving energy resilience for a large number of applications, PIT has broken ground for other airports to do the same.
Over the last few years, access to reliable electricity has become a larger concern for the aviation industry, with outages causing delays, cancellations and disruptions to ordinary airport operations.
Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis described PIT as an industry leader, with one of the most “site-hardened public facilities in the world.”
Partner
News
SNOWBIRD EXPANDS SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES with its new HIGH-EFFICIENCY 5.3 MW CHP SYSTEM
Caterpillar
Jul 13, 2021
Scheduled to begin operating in June of 2021, the high-efficiency system illustrates Snowbird’s Play Forever commitment to sustainability while enabling the resort to independently address up to 100% of its power needs.
Housed in a new 8,700 square foot building reinforced to withstand harsh winter conditions, Wheeler Power Systems designed and installed the new custom-designed cogeneration facility that features three synchronized and paralleled Cat gas generator sets, including two 2,500-kW Cat G3520H units as well as a single 1,515-kW Cat G3512H generator set. The system also includes new switchgear, high- efficiency boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, control valves, and electronic controls for balance of plant components.
The CHP facility is the latest in a series of major sustainability initiatives undertaken by Snowbird, which include ridesharing, mine reclamation, native species revegetation, watershed rehabilitation, electric vehicle charging stations, energy-efficient bulbs, composting, heater upgrades, glass recycling and planting trees for season passes sold. The resort was recognized by Outside Online in its list of “America’s 10 Most Eco-Friendly Ski Resorts” in 2018.
“Here at Snowbird, we are committed to being responsible stewards of our outdoor spaces that bring us so much joy year-round,” said Snowbird President and General Manager Dave Fields. “Replacing our original CHP facility with a new plant that leverages the expertise and technologies from Caterpillar is a part of that commitment. This new cutting-edge system will not only enhance the safety and experience of our guests but also allow us to become more efficient with how we use energy at Snowbird.”
The integrated system provides electricity for key operations at the resort, including the Aerial Tram and chairlifts. It also powers guest spaces throughout the resort, including The Cliff Lodge, The Inn, The Lodge at Snowbird, and Iron Blosam Lodge, as well as the Snowbird Center and Creekside Café & Grill. In all, it can supply up to 90% of the resort’s energy requirements during the busy winter season and up to 100% of its energy needs in the summer.
In addition to generating power, the CHP system recovers heat from the Cat engines’ exhaust gas, engine jacket cooling water, lube oil cooling water and turbocharger cooling water to produce steam or hot water for operations at The Cliff Lodge, which includes 500+ hotel rooms, 80,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants, two heated swimming pools, four hot tubs and a robust system of subsurface piping that melts snow and ice on walkways.
“Snowbird has set a high bar in the resort industry with a high-efficiency, state-of-the-art system with a minimal footprint that meets their aggressive sustainability goals, increases the resilience of their resort, and supports an expanded range of services for guests,” said Bryan Campbell, President of Wheeler Machinery Co. “This major infrastructure upgrade further enhances Snowbird’s reputation as a leader in environmental stewardship and advanced technology that delivers world-class luxury for its guests.”
The new CHP plant replaces a 1,900 kW system commissioned by Wheeler Power Systems in 1986 and powered by three Cat G399 gas generator sets. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round, the generator sets logged more than 280,000 hours of service, far exceeding their expected operational lives of 120,000 hours.
Partner
News
CAPSTONE GREEN ENERGY EXPANDS ITS ENERGY AS A SERVICE BUSINESS BY SECURING A 2 MW CHP System LONG-TERM RENTAL CONTRACT
Capstone Green Energy
Jul 13, 2021
The new, multi-year rental contract provides two C1000 Signature Series microturbine CHP packaged systems scheduled to be installed by the end of the current fiscal year. They will be used in an industrial combined heat and power (CHP), energy efficiency application configured with ten of Capstone's Integrated Heat Recovery Modules (iHRM) to produce thermal energy. The customer will use the hot water generated from the units in its manufacturing process, thereby improving their overall energy efficiency, saving money, and reducing the site's carbon footprint.
This contract was secured by Capstone's local distribution partner, Cal Microturbine, Capstone's exclusive distributor for California, Hawaii, and Nevada and nonexclusive for Oregon and Washington.
'Expanding Capstone's Energy as a Service business, which includes the long-term rental program, is an important element for the company achieving its profitability goals. Capstone is a proud green energy company, having focused for a long time on transforming the way businesses think about on-site energy production,' said Darren Jamison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstone Green Energy. 'Today, we are excited to be able to offer our customers Energy as a Service and strengthen our commitment to creating smarter energy for a cleaner future, as carbon reduction has increasing value to our customers,' added Mr. Jamison.
Partner
News
MEA Announces FY22 Combined Heat and Power Grant Program
Maryland Energy Administration
Jul 12, 2021
Program Purpose: The FY22 CHP Grant Program is provided to further the statewide adoption of CHP technologies that bring energy efficiency, resilience, and enhanced sustainability to Maryland’s businesses, supply chains, essential services, critical infrastructure, communities, and institutions. CHP technologies, when strategically implemented, produce energy for the sites they serve in the most efficient manner. This reduces the release of greenhouse gases when compared to emissions for utility-supplied energy. They also help diversify the State’s electricity grid and give their implementers more energy autonomy, particularly when they are grid-interconnected and configured to operate in grid outage situations.
Type of Program: Non-competitive (first-come, first-served)
Program Application Deadline: Friday, January 28, 2022, 5:00 P.M. EST
Anticipated Program Budget: $3.6 million, restrictions apply. For more information, please see the Funding Opportunity Announcement below.
Program Documents:
FY22 MEA CHP Funding Opportunity Announcement
FY22 MEA CHP Grant Program Application Excel Workbook
FY22 MEA General Provisions
CHP Resource Guide: Individuals and organizations new to the concept of CHP technology are encouraged to first review the MEA CHP Resource.
CHP eCatalog: MEA encourages applicants to utilize the U.S. Department of Energy CHP eCatalog when planning their CHP projects. The eCatalog provides a highly-customizable and easy-to-use, searchable database of packaged CHP systems that have been technically-vetted by the U.S. DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships. The eCatalog also provides users with technical, financial, and informational resources for CHP design, installation, and financing.
Partner
News
MWM’s High-Performance Genset Now Available as V12 and V16
Caterpillar
Jul 8, 2021
Powerful Gas Engines for Custom-Tailored Applications
The MWM TCG 3020 gas engines are designed for flexible use for various applications and gas types, such as natural gas, biogas, APG, and propane gas. Due to their compact design, the two new cylinder variants achieve up to 18 percent more performance than their predecessors, though their dimensions are almost identical. The two gas engines deliver an output of 1,380 kWel (V12) and 1,840 kWel (V16), respectively. The electrical efficiency of these engines amounts to 45 percent for natural gas and 43.6 percent for biogas applications. Fueled with natural gas, the total efficiency of the gas engines is more than 87 percent.
Back in January 2019, MWM had launched the 20-cylinder variant of the TCG 3020, which is very much in vogue. “With the two new variants, we offer additional powerful alternatives in the popular output range of 1 to 2 MW”, explains Tim Scott. The digital MWM power plant control TPEM (Total Plant & Energy Management) consolidates all engine and plant control data in a single system. The combination of the new cylinder variants and the digital power plant control enables plant operators to ensure maximum plant capacity and availability. For example, the TCG 3020 gas engines can be used for combined heat and power generation in the industry, in hospitals, or at airports as well as for the generation of power by power suppliers or in sewage treatment plants and landfills.
Partner
News
Capstone Green Energy Supplying Packaged CHP system
Capstone Green Energy
Jul 8, 2021
The order, secured by DTC Ecoenergía, Capstone’s exclusive distributor for Mexico, increases Capstone’s Mexican fleet to over 46 MW.
“Back in 2012, Mexico became the first, large, oil-producing emerging economy to adopt climate legislation with common-sense goal setting,” said Darren Jamison, president and chief executive officer. “An additional 2018 decree brought Mexico’s domestic emission reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, which at that time put it ahead of the U.S. on climate change initiatives. However, the new Biden administration recently signed an executive order to rejoin the U.S. into the Paris climate accord, his first major action to tackle global warming.”
The five-bay Capstone C600S package will provide electrical power and thermal energy for the customer, who was not disclosed. Capstone’s scalable on-site energy efficiency systems are designed to meet the large electrical and thermal demand requirements of industrial manufacturers, delivering energy independence with higher operational efficiency than the local utility grid, the company said.
“DTC Ecoenergía is experiencing tremendous growth with the sale of Capstone energy efficiency systems in the manufacturing sector,” said Alejandro Muñoz, president of DTC Ecoenergía. “Despite the disruptions we faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mexican-based manufacturing industry looks poised for growth in the months to come.”
Industrial leaders throughout Mexico have partnered with DTC on over 100 projects utilizing Capstone’s microturbine technology for a variety of solutions and applications. Capstone-powered CHP solutions not only allow customers to quickly realize the benefits of Capstone’s highly reliable, low-emission technology but also lower their energy costs while ensuring minimal downtime and production losses.
One of the core challenges faced by the manufacturing industry is the implementation of highly-reliable energy solutions for their facilities that not only reduce operational costs and increase reliability but also support sustainability goals. Utilizing the heat by-product from a microturbine allows operators to reduce emissions and save added costs that would otherwise be required to produce heat or steam in a separate unit. While traditional electricity from the grid with coal and gas-fired plants produce power at 33% efficiency, Capstone CHP systems can reach efficiencies of more than 80%.
Partner
News
Blackstone Commits $500 Million for GreenStruxure Microgrids
Microgrid Knowledge
Jul 7, 2021
The agreement with Blackstone’s ClearGen allows GreenStruxure to “go bigger and faster” in developing projects, Steve McBee, Huck Capital CEO, said May 25. Customers in the underserved C&I market will benefit from turnkey, renewable energy microgrids that will give them the energy outcomes they need to meet business and sustainability goals without upfront capital outlays and no operational risks, the companies said.
Demand for on-site renewable energy is growing, driven by rising energy costs, increased sustainability goals and power outages caused by extreme weather and natural disasters, according to the companies.
However, building on-site microgrids takes capital that building owners and operators may not be able to spend.
The solution provided by GreenStruxure and ClearGen makes decarbonized, on-site energy simple and accessible for C&I customers, according to the companies.
Through the energy-as-a-service model, a company like GreenStruxure builds and finances a microgrid for a customer. The customer avoids upfront costs and the risks that go with building and operating a microgrid. The customer pays for the project over time.
The partnership between GreenStruxure and ClearGen is another sign the energy transition is accelerating rapidly, according to Annette Clayton, Schneider Electric North America CEO and president.
Generally, the US power sector is moving away from large, centralized power plants to a decentralized system that features on-site renewable energy and a growing number of microgrids.
Partner
News
SIEMENS ENERGY IS A NEW RECOGNIZED PACKAGER IN THE ECATALOG
eCatalog
Jul 1, 2021
Wherever heat is required for either industrial processing and/or public supply, Combined Heat and Power plants are a viable and beneficial alternative. Ideally, the thermal output of a cogeneration system is matched to the user’s heat demand, and with our long-lasting experience in devising custom solutions for power production, we have all the necessary capabilities to meet your exact requirements. Whether you grow vegetables or heat cities – with our proven product range for CHP, including a wide selection of steam and gas turbines as well as our exhaustive portfolio of services, we can give just the right answers to your energy challenges of tomorrow.
Partner
News
GENPLANT IS A NEW RECOGNIZED PACKAGER IN THE ECATALOG
eCatalog
Jun 22, 2021
MANUFACTURING & DELIVERY
Expedited, modular and reliable CHP plants delivery is Genplant’s core competency.
Genplant manufactures its CHP plants in-house, pre-testing the units in order to facilitate quick and seamless integration, commissioning and reliability
ENERGY SERVICES
Genplant offers energy optimization, operations & maintenance, as well as asset management services. The company utilizes its proprietary energy monitoring and management software to support its operations.
PROJECT FINANCING
Genplant offers project financing for current and future services, products and solutions. The form of financing depends on the service, product or solution that is offered.
Partner
News
Baker Hughes, Air Products announce hydrogen collaboration
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Jun 10, 2021
As part of the collaboration, Baker Hughes will provide Air Products with advanced hydrogen compression and gas turbine technology for global projects, including NovaLT16 turbines for Air Products’ net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and advanced compression technology for the NEOM carbon-free hydrogen project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Air Products chose Baker Hughes for its leading-edge compression and gas turbine offerings and robust hydrogen experience,” said Dr. Samir J. Serhan, chief operation officer, Air Products. “This advanced technology is another key step toward achieving economically viable blue and green hydrogen and net-zero targets.”
1The Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act, passed into law in 1998 as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides safe harbour protection to "online service providers" for "online storage" in section 512(c). Section 512(c) applies to online service providers that store copyright infringing material. In addition to the two general requirements that online service providers comply with standard technical measures and remove repeat infringers, section 512(c) also requires that the online service providers: 1) do not receive a financial benefit directly attributable to the infringing activity, 2) are not aware of the presence of infringing material or know any facts or circumstances that would make infringing material apparent, and 3) upon receiving notice from copyright owners or their agents, act expeditiously to remove the allegedly copyright infringing material.