40 / 64
38
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
SEPTEMBER
2016
ECO-FRIENDLY PARTNER
to renewable energy solutions
ALTERNATIVE POWER SOLUTIONS
This is according to Colm Quinn, regional sales director
at APR Energy – the world’s leading provider of fast-track
mobile turbine power. Quinn says that as electric utilities and
energy-intensive industries throughout the developing world
invest in power infrastructure, they are under increasing pressure to
consider the environmental costs associated with the use of higher-pol-
luting fuels such as diesel, coal and heavy fuel oil (HFO).
He says power generation using advanced fuel-flexible turbines can
switch seamlessly between natural gas and other cleaner-burning fuels
such as LPG (liquid petroleum gas). “As a result, these modules produce
38-94% less nitrogen oxide (depending upon use of water injection) and
20% less noise than diesel power modules, offering a great fit for envi-
ronmentally conscious operations with stringent regulatory controls.”
The ability of the turbines to switch seamlessly between LPG,
natural gas and other fuels provides electric utilities and energy-in-
tensive operations with unprecedented flexibility to manage costs by
optimising fuel pricing and availability, he adds.
Besides being able to use more environmentally friendly fuels,
fuel-flexible turbines also take up far less land space than renewable
energy power plants. “The significant amount of land required is often
an important consideration for companies weighing the emissions
advantages of renewable energy. A 50 MW solar farm would cover
approximately 430-500 acres, while 50MW of wind turbines start off at
around 100 acres if installed on a ridgeline in hilly terrain and range to
2 500 acres if installed across open, flat terrain,” Quinn says.
“By comparison, a modular 50 MW plant using compact,
power-dense turbines is an ideal solution for operations with space
constraints, only requiring a footprint of around 1,4-acres – approxi-
mately one-third of the space needed for the same electricity output
produced by reciprocating generators, depending on whether on-site
LPG fuel storage is required,” he adds.
Perhaps the biggest benefit is that a fuel-flexible turbine solution
is not subject to the intermittent nature of sunshine, wind and rain as it
can generate reliable power, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
There are a multitude of other advantages of mobile fast-track
power solutions in addition to the environmental benefits and flex-
ibility of fuel type, he says. “Due to minimal construction and setup
requirements, mobile turbine solutions can be installed within 30 to
90 days and are easily transportable via land, sea or air. They are
also entirely scalable to the requirements of the company and can
be scaled up or down at any given time depending on the power gener-
ation needs.”
He says these solutions can also be installed close to the demand,
reducing the need for transmission and distribution infrastructure,
while also cutting the power loss that occurs as electricity travels
long distances.
Colm Quinn, regional sales director at
APR Energy.
Companies in sub-Saharan Africa looking to benefit from the
independence and cost savings of renewable energy can be left
in the dark when the weather is unco-operative. However, a
solution combining intermittent wind, solar and hydro-
power with supplemental fuel-flexible turbines can ensure
these companies have the environmentally friendly and
reliable power generation they require.
>
Aerial view of APR Energy's 102 MW turnkey power plant in Kyaukse, Myanmar.
Inside view of an APR Energy mobile gas power module at Kyaukse, Myanmar.
Aerial view of APR Energy's mobile gas turbine power plant in Western Australia.