Cogeneration/CHP

FuelCell Energy announces major European market moves

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:58:00 GMT

US clean energy firm FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL) has announced that its German subsidiary, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, is acquiring select assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, a subsidiary of Tognum AG.

The select assets include fuel cell component inventory and fuel cell manufacturing equipment of the former MTU Onsite Energy GmbH Fuel Cell Systems in Ottobrunn, Germany, which was merged with MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH.

Parties to the agreement also include MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (MTU), and Fraunhofer IKTS (Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems).

Under the agreement, MTU will contribute fuel cell related intellectual property to Fraunhofer IKTS and Fraunhofer IKTS will become a minority owner in FuelCell Energy Solutions by June 30, 2012.

FuelCell Energy Solutions, a German company, will develop the market for stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe for commercial, industrial, and utility scale applications.

"This effort is a crucial part of FuelCell Energy's previously announced global growth strategy, leveraging prior relationships with MTU as well as an expanding relationship with Fraunhofer IKTS," said Chip Bottone, President and Chief Executive Officer for FuelCell Energy, Inc. "The agreement with MTU provides assets that will accelerate market development while optimizing current and future capital needs from FuelCell Energy so future investment will be predicated on order flow and a growing installed base."

Mr. Bottone continued, "This agreement and the ramp-up of FCES will enable cost effective large scale fuel cell technology to become available today, for commercial applications throughout Europe. We are building on the strength and leadership shown by the vision of the German government, and bringing the experience which comes from over 180 megawatts of commercial installations and order backlog worldwide."

The scope of FCES will include the continuation of research to further enhance carbonate fuel cell technology, combining the strength of FCE's Direct FuelCell power plants and the carbonate "EuroCell" technology of MTU, which will be licensed into FCES by Fraunhofer IKTS. Local manufacturing capacity will be established at a facility formerly leased by MTU in Ottobrunn, Germany, thus keeping advanced technology fuel cell power plant manufacturing in Germany.

Fuel cells electrochemically convert a fuel source into electricity and heat in a highly efficient process that emits virtually no pollutants due to the absence of combustion.

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Uzbekenergo announces tender to modernize Syr-Darya CHP plant

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:46:00 GMT

Uzbekistan state joint-stock company Uzbekenergo has announced a tender to select a general contractor for modernizing the Syr-Darya combined heat and power plant, the largest CHPP in Central Asia.

The starting price has been set at $57.3m. Based on the terms of the tender, the winner must design and install turnkey equipment for the reconstruction of the third and fourth power units at Syr-Darya, with a capacity of 300 MW each.

During reconstruction, there are plans to boost the CHPP's capacity by 50 MW. The power units are slated for commissioning in October-December 2013.

Tender proposals are being accepted until June 12, with the results to be summed up in the third quarter of this year.

A loan from the Fund for the Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo's own funds will be used to finance the project.

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On-site power solution for leisure centre

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:13:00 GMT

The on-site utility, EuroSitePower Limited, have announced that it has finalised an agreement to supply clean energy, heating and cooling, to the Haverhill Leisure Centre in Suffolk, England.

Under the terms of the fifteen-year agreement, the company will install and operate a high efficiency energy system and associated indoor units to provide air-conditioning to a number of the leisure centre's fitness suites and its cafe area.

The unit will produce up to 70 kW of either heating or cooling for the areas served plus an additional 22kW of hot water to help heat the centre's training pool.

The system will complement the combined heat and power system also provided by EuroSite Power under a previous agreement. The total value of the Abbeycroft Leisure account to the Company rises to pounds £1.75m ($2.81m).

"By securing this contract with Abbeycroft Leisure we are extending our clean energy solutions to include cooling alongside both heat and power," commented Paul Hamblyn, Managing Director of EuroSite Power.

"2012 has now seen EuroSite Power book an estimated 8.4 MWh of total energy per year for an approximate total revenue value of pounds Sterling 16.75 million over the term of the contracts and interest in our On-Site Utility solutions continues to grow across both the UK and Europe."

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More progress on Canadian biomass plant

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:53:00 GMT

Novia Scotia Power’s 60 MW biomass plant moved another step closer to completion this week in Canada, with the addition of a steam turbine and generator to the facility.

The $208m biomass cogeneration plant has reached a significant milestone with the arrival of the steam turbine generator that will produce electricity.

On operation the plant will provide enough energy to power about 50,000 homes, reports the Cape Breton Post.

The steam turbine generator was constructed by Mitsubishi Power Systems in Japan.

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On-site renewables to help regenerate London housing estate

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:16:00 GMT

Housing association Peabody has submitted plans for the regeneration of the St John’s Hill Estate, opposite Clapham Junction station in south London, England in an initiative that looks to utilise the best of on-site renewable energy.

Planning Resource Online reports that Peabody said plans for the site include 527 new homes and a new community ‘hub’ that will include a café, club room and crèche; 424 sq m of commercial space; and 13,600 sq m of open space.

Environmental measures would include solar photovoltaic panels and an on-site district heating system and combined heat and power unit.

For more on-site renewable news

Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production launch LinkedIn Group

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:06:00 GMT

Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production (COSPP) is pleased to announce the launch of our online COSPP LinkedIn Group.

COSPP LinkedIn promised to be the most dynamic area for industry news and discussion on the World Wide Web.

We welcome participation from everyone involved and interested in the various sectors that come under the heading of cogeneration and on-site power. The group offers the opportunity to meet with other industry peers, and interact through discussion, debate, news sharing and knowledge exchange.

We would also remind you of our other social media, Twitter and Facebook, and look forward to enjoying your input and enthusiasm on our latest venture.

Click COSPP LinkedIn and sign up today.

New innovation for Italian CHP company

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:58:00 GMT

A young Italian company that studies, plans and builds gasification and cogeneration systems has come up with a new innovation in combined heat and power technology.

Future Green has developed a system that can use wood chip with medium-high (< to 40÷50 per cent) moisture content.

These CHP systems find application in all those fields where wood-cellulose wastes can be found and can be profitably used with renewable energy CHP units with short ROI and extremely low maintenance costs.

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BP’s Brazilian unit to invest $25.5m in cogeneration project

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:27:00 GMT

BP Biocombustiveis, the Brazilian biofuels unit of BP (NYSE: BP), has announced that it will invest $25.5m in the development of a project for energy cogeneration from sugar cane bagasse.

The development will be located at its sugar and ethanol mill Tropical, in Brazil's central Goias state.

As a result of the project, the unit, which has capacity to crush 2.5 million tonnes of sugar cane per harvest, will be able to produce 170 GWh.

The company's energy cogeneration will ramp up to 510 GWh in 2013 from the 340 GWh estimated for this year, according to Mario Lindenhayn, CEO of BP Biocombustiveis.

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Turboden to deliver heat, power and cooling to BSkyB and BAA

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:10:00 GMT

Turboden, a leading manufacturer of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbogenerators, has been awarded an order for a 1 MW ORC plant from BSkyB and a 1.8 MW ORC plant for BAA, both located in London, UK.

“Traditionally Turboden has developed projects in which ORC units were suitable for district-heating in small-medium villages” - says Paolo Bertuzzi, General Manager Turboden “in the last years Turboden has started developing trigenerative projects for large single public or private buildings whose drive is not only the return of the investment but also the green vision of the environment”.

Last December the first ORC unit was installed in the British Headquarter of BSkyB by Clearpower Ltd, a leading Bioenergy Solutions provider in the UK.

The plant will produce 1MWe and 4MWth (5 per cent heating for the building, 50 per cent to chiller and 45 per cent as heating to a district heating loop around the campus).

The biomass-fuelled combined cooling and heating power (CCHP) is to reduce the building’s carbon footprint by at least 20 per cent.

The second Turboden ORC unit by the London Heathrow Airport will produce 1.8MWe and 8MWth (75 per cent heat and 25 per cent to chiller, heating and cooling to Terminals T2a and T2b and heat only to Terminal T5). The biomass-fuelled combined cooling and heating (CCHP) power plant is to reduce the carbon footprint of the airport overall, by at least 40 per cent, by using renewable source of energy. Start-up is expected in the 2nd quarter of 2012.

The Italian firm is a Pratt & Whitney Power Systems company and Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

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GE technology to heat and power central London

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:47:00 GMT

The first of three GE 2 MW Jenbacher CHP systems has been installed at the on-site energy centre in King's Cross, central London, UK, and the same technology is set to provide the area’s district heating, once commissioned this summer.

Together the systems will supply 100 per cent of the development's heat and offset almost 80 per cent of its electrical power demand, thanks to a deal between GE (NYSE: GE) and the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership.

All of the 70 buildings at King's Cross, from the University of Arts to the Camden Council building, BNP Paribas Real Estate's new offices and the Great Northern Hotel, will be connected to the district heating scheme.

When complete carbon emissions are expected to be a third less than 'business as usual' and up to 60 per cent less than 2001 levels.

Clare Hebbes, from the King's Cross Central Limited Partnership, said, 'Through our work with GE, we expect to exceed many of the targets we have set for King's Cross as a genuine 21st century sustainable city centre development. GE understands what leading technologies are available and how best to apply them to a piece of city like King's Cross.

This starts with the CHP and we anticipate many other initiatives in the years ahead.

For more district energy news

Exeter’s first waste-to-energy power plant

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:43:00 GMT

DP CleanTech has been awarded the contract to supply the Flue Gas Treatment system for Devon County Council’s first waste-to-energy power plant in Exeter.

The company will design, manufacture, install and commission the complete Flue Gas Treatment system and was awarded the contract by EPC contactor Groupe Tiru SA, who are responsible for the overall delivery of the plant. DP CleanTech opened its specialized Flue Gas Cleaning Division in Wolverhampton, UK at the end of 2011.

Simon Parker, CEO DP CleanTech stated that: ‘“This project represents the next step in our growth strategy - flue gas cleaning being an increasingly important constituent of producing true clean energy. Our decision to focus on the UK is validated with the award of this significant project, and we look forward to increasing our presence further in the UK as it looks to embrace a clean energy future”.

David Ryan, Engineering Manager, DP CleanTech commented: “Historically, a major hindrance to the growth of the waste-to-energy industry is public misconception of the associated emissions and health risks. We are confident that we will significantly exceed the most stringent EU standards, and in so doing drive a real change in attitude towards Municipal Solid Waste as a practical and desirable alternative source of energy.”

DP CleanTech continues to expand its scope in waste-to-energy and sees an enormous potential in the UK both in this sector, and also in biomass to heat and power.

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Chinese and German PMs discuss CHP at MWM meeting

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:02:00 GMT

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao visited the MWM at the Hannover Messe in April, and were reminded of the benefits of CHP by the CEO of MWM.

Mr. Schumacher, CEO of MWM GmbH, welcomed the eminent visitors and introduced the company as well as the benefits of combined heat and power (CHP), which MWM is presenting in Hannover.

For more than 140 years, MWM has been developing and manufacturing gas engines and plants for the decentralized generation of power, heat and cold.

The combination of CHP together with gas engines lead the way to an ecological and economical generation of energy for the future.

Chancellor Merkel acknowledged the presentation by stating that ‘combined heat and power is a future technology.’

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US state governor argues passionately for cogeneration

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:01:00 GMT

The governor of the US state of Ohio, John Kasich has criticised the renewable-energy lobby in the state for an irresponsible self interest in objecting to cogeneration.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. Kasich offered a most-passionate defence of his proposal to include cogeneration as an acceptable form of renewable energy in Ohio’s energy mix.

He singled out wind and solar power lobbyists as particularly culpable.

"All those who are in alternative energy and renewable standards believe in a cleaner environment, and that's just fantastic," Kasich said. "But don't lobby for your own industry to keep other industries out that result in a cleaner environment. And that happens.

So if I'm in the wind or the solar industry, I'm not so excited about waste heat or cogeneration because I get a nice big fat subsidy. OK.

That's just not the way it ought to be, because our goal ought to be a cleaner environment, and whatever moves us to a cleaner environment ought to be a part of it.

I'm a little disappointed when people lobby, and totally in self-interest."

The newspaper speculates that Kasich might have been referring to ongoing testimony related to Senate Bill 315, which would allow cogeneration --essentially the capture of waste heat --to be used to meet the state's energy-efficiency requirements.

A previous Senate-passed bill would add cogeneration to the definition of renewable energy, making it eligible for renewable-energy credits.

Last month, Columbus lobbyist Terrence O'Donnell testified before a Senate committee on behalf of wind-farm builder EDP Renewables of Houston against the "unqualified inclusion of cogeneration in the renewable-energy standard."

For more cogeneration policy news

Columbian renewable push advances with $48m cogen plant

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:05:00 GMT

Columbia's largest sugar producer has announced that its board of directors approved a proposal that would allow the company to build a 35 MW biomass cogeneration plant at a cost of around $48m.

Riopaila Castilla’s facility, to be powered by a fibrous sugar cane processing byproduct called bagasse, will be built in Zarzal, a town of about 50,000 in the western part of the country known for its sugar operations and access to expansive cane fields.

News of the project comes at a time when Columbia is pushing to develop renewables like biomass and biofuels.

The plant is expected to be operational sometime in 2014.

For more on-site renewable news

Bloom confirmed as fuel cell provider for Apple

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:15:00 GMT

It has been confirmed that California-based Bloom Energy will be supplying fuel cells to Apple to power Apple's North Carolina data centre.

The company will provide 4.8 MW of biogas fuel cells, what the company calls Bloom Boxes, powering the data centre’s servers.

For more on-site renewable power news

Biomass cogeneration plant for Croatia

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:56:00 GMT

Croatian company Lika Energo Eko plans a 1 MW biomass fired cogeneration power plant in the Lika-Senj county region, according to data from the country's energy regulator.

The planned annual output of the power plant, which will run on agricultural and wood biomass, is 7.6 GWh, the Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency said in a decision that grants the project promoter the status of eligible power producer.

For more on-site renewable power news

Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production launch LinkedIn Group

Tue, 01 May 2012 08:45:00 GMT

Click COSPP LinkedIn and sign up today.

New Jersey earmarks $55m in funding for CHP

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:06:00 GMT

The US state of New Jersey is to allocate $55m in grants in the hopes of encouraging the development of combined heat and power systems (CHP) as well as hydrogen fuel cells for businesses and industrial companies.

The grants are part of the state’s Energy master Plan, which aims to promote alternative energy and make New Jersey a leader in sustainability.

The issuance of these grants will be overseen by the state’s Economic Development Authority and the Board of Public Utilities. State officials believe that the initiative will lend significant momentum to the alternative energy industry.

The hydrogen fuel projects that will receive backing from the state are expected to be capable of generating 1 MW of electricity, enough to provide power to more than 800 homes.

The state is looking to grant $3m for fuel cell projects at this time, but will issue more funds for these projects at a later date.

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Alliance Tire to construct cogen plant under $160m India expansion

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:40:00 GMT

Alliance Tire Group (ATG), is to include a cogeneration plant in an intended $160m investment in greenfield and brownfield capacity expansion to meet increasing demand.

The company is proposing to set up a greenfield off-highway tyre production unit in Gujarat, India while it seeks to expand the production capacity of its existing plant in Tamil Nadu, reports mydigitalfc.

ATG is to also build a cogeneration plant at Tirunelveli comprising boiler with 35 tonne per hour capacity for steam generation and 4.5 MW turbine.

The proposed expansion is to be funded through a combination of debt and equity.

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London mayoral candidate backing CHP for Battersea

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:12:00 GMT

Green Party mayoral candidate Jenny Jones is advocating a combined heat and power future for iconic Battersea Power Station.

Business Green reports that both the Green Party and the UK Green Building Council have championed the idea of restoring the Battersea Power Station, only this time fuelled by sustainable biomass and including combined heat and power technology.

Jenny Jones, leader of the London Green Party, suggested the heating and cooling could be exported to homes and businesses in the surrounding area, namely the Vauxhall Nine Elms regeneration area to the immediate east.

"While PV and groundwater technologies could play a part, the main source would probably either by biomass brought in by river to a new wharf, or biogas from food waste." she said. "It could be a fantastic symbol of London generating its own energy again."

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