MW & H2O Magazine January 2012

HEAD LINES •Dubai launches Dh12-bn solar park project •Chinese premier to deliver WFES keynote

january2012

ON THE RECORD

Ian Barbour, General Manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions

SECTOR REPORT MENA water and wastewater sector in 2012

CASE STUDY

Continuous sand filtration

ENERGY WORLD

Fighting for a place in the sun

The Water Watts Nexus

Conservation and energy reduction should be future imperatives within the whole water cycle above commercial or stakeholder pressures

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

contentsjanuary2012 4/ Editor's Letter

NEWS CABLE TALK

Metito Utilities bets big on emerging markets LG Electronics achieves a region first Unique combustion technology comes to the UAE Fossil energy, alternative energy and power systems trends up to 2020 Dubai launches Dh12-bn solar park project

ON THE RECORD

28/ In Passing

Ian Barbour, General Manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions

38/ THE HUB

Two degrees target under threat Sun-believable The STP path to antibiotic resistance The car as a power plant?

SECTOR REPORT

38/ Opportunities aplenty

Key trends in the region’s water and wastewater sector for 2012

COUNTRY REPORT 40/ Steady outlook

The UAE’s energy and utilities sectors could buck the country’s fiscal consolidation trend in 2012

30/COVER STORY

THE WATER WATTS NEXUS Energy efficiency in the water industry

Conservation and energy reduction should be future imperatives within the whole water cycle above commercial or stakeholder pressures, argue Malcolm Brandt and Roger Middleton.

CONTENTS

6/ The Metre 42/ Why product 8/ Round up certification matters?

12/ In the region Graham O’Geran, Operations Manager, British Approvals 18/ At large Service for Cables (BASEC) 20/ Industry notes on the dangers of faulty cables and the importance of product certification.

CASE STUDY

44/ Tertiary value

Continuous sand filters enable the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dhahran to recycle 10 million gallons per day (MMGD) of high quality tertiary water.

ELECTRICAL REVIEW 46/ Tan Delta anyone?

Little known facts about tan delta/ power factor testing

TOOLKIT

50 / Genset basics

Commonly asked questions about selection of gensets

ENERGY WORLD

53/ Fighting for a place in the sun The photovoltaic (PV) industry in Europe is headed towards consolidation.

PLUS

56/ Marketplace 58/ Tenders & Contracts 61/ Classifieds 62/ Events Watch

january2012

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CONTENTS editorsnote

editorsnote

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Editor

Anoop K Menon

A list of do’s

C

onsolidation, continuous improvement, optimisation, operational excellence – haven’t we these words or phrases spoken before?

It’s just that we hear these spoken more often when it isn’t business as usual.

It isn’t that companies are oblivious to their significance or implementation; it is just that they zoom up in the ‘to do’ list when companies are compelled to chase growth from within, as the economic situation demands today.

For water utilities, operating expenditure could account for up to half, if not more, of their annual expenditure.

Our cover story examines the issue of energy efficiency, which is among the top two operating costs for most water and wastewater utilities, the other being manpower. By grabbing the energy saving opportunities in the energy-intensive elements of the water cycle, utilities can not only cut their operating costs but also reduce their carbon emissions. The authors point out that water conservation will reduce all components of the water and energy cycle. But water utilities should target energy efficiency gains in areas where they have a greater level of influence such as pre-treatment and optimisation of treatment processes. The resources freed up by reducing operation costs could also be used to finance expenditure on areas critical to future growth.

Utilities would also do well to address to the efficiency of their business processes and practices to ensure availability, reliability, and efficiency of services at all levels. Thus, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to measure, integrate and automate all of DEWA's operations in order to deliver top-quality services to

• january2012

Publisher Dominic De Sousa

customers, employees and partners.

From an industry standpoint, progressive companies from the region are diversifying into other geographical markets outside their ‘Arabic speaking’ comfort zone. I spoke to Rami Ghandour, Executive Director of Metito Utilities about his plans for emerging markets, especially China. Ghandour believes that geographical diversification has helped Metito maintain overall growth even for a company of its size.

According to a Bank Sarasin study, a shakeout of the global solar industry is inevitable as the imbalance between production capacities and demand has become too great with around 50 GW of production capacity for solar modules compared with sales of 21 GW forecast to the end of 2011. Our Energy World section examines the consolidation trend underway in the European photovoltaic (PV) industry as spending cuts by governments slow down demand. On the flip side, falling prices could also provide an opportunity for countries to set up competitively priced solar PV projects.

It is, therefore, interesting to note that the first project in the newly launched 1,000 MW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a PV plant of 10 MW capacity.

As for the combined H20-MW issue you are holding in your hands now – it’s simply us walking the talk.

You can continue to drill down to industry specifics at www.h2ome.net and www.megawhatme.com. I hope you like the new package that we have put together. To direct your comments, queries, roses, brickbats, please refer to the adjacent imprint box.

Anoop

Associate Publisher Liam Williams • liam@cpidubai.com Chief Operations Officer Nadeem Hood Editor Anoop K Menon • anoop@cpi-industry.com Business Development Director Vedran Dedic • vedran@cpi-industry.com +971 55 8644831 Design Rebecca Teece • rebecca@cpidubai.com Digital Services Manager IT Department Troy Maagma • troy@cpidubai.com Web Developer Joel Azcuna • joel@cpidubai.com USA and Canada Kanika Saxena Director - North America 25 Kingsbridge Garden Cir. Suite 919 Mississauga, ON. Canada L5R 4B1 kanika@cpi-industry.com tel/fax: + 1 905 890 5031 Published by

Head Office PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 Web: www.megawhatme.com Printed by: Printwell Printing Press LLC © Copyright 2011 CPI. All rights reserved.

While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

NEWS innumbers

themetre TWENTY FIVE

Emerging ma r k ets

Could represent a smart metering market of at least $49 billion by 2020, says a new study by Northeast Group.

Interestingly, UAE is the only country from the Middle East to be listed among the 11 of the 25 well-positioned to begin large-scale smart grid deployments within the next one to three years.

7.6%

Saudi Arabia’s reserve generation capacity compared to the industry norm of 10–20%. NCB’s Saudi Power Sector Review blames this on the mismatch between generation capacity and demand. Total actual generation capacity reached 49,138 MW by the end of 2010, having risen at a 10-year CAGR of 6.7%. However, overall consumption and peak load demand grew at 10-year CAGRs of 6.4% and 7.7% respectively, amounting to 212,263 GW and 45,661 MW.

8 2

Value of the contract awarded to Metito by Qatar’s Ashgal to design, construct and develop trailer-mounted mobile sludge dewatering units for the latter’s sewage treatment plants. The project aims to enhance the capacity of plants with existing sludge dewatering units and provide sludge dewatering facility to plants without the same. Phase 1 of the project will be operational by 2012, with the rest expected to be completed by 2014.

3%

Is the predicted demand growth rate for natural gas in the Middle East over the next 20 years. Deloitte’s Energy and Resources Predictions 2012 report also envisages the region’s gas production to triple during the same period. Some of that production is projected to serve rapidly growing domestic markets whilst the rest is expected to go to other regions via LNG or pipelines.

The total number of substations to be built

by Hyosung Power & Industrial Systems in Qatar under a $233-million contract.

This includes six 220-KV and two 66-KV electrical transformer substations to be delivered by 2013-end. Hyosung is all set to deliver three 132-KV and two 66KV substations in Qatar by 2012 under an earlier contract.

,269

billion

co n t r acts

The total number of contracts signed by the Saudi Ministry of Water and Electricity over the past two years covering water supply, sanitation, water and wastewater treatment, and conservation of dams and wells. These contracts, worth SR36 billion, translate into an average of three contracts awarded per working day.

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Qatari Rials

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The combined value of renewable energy projects confirmed for the Project Village at the 2012 World Future Energy Summit (WFES). Twenty five projects, spanning photovoltaic power, wind energy, solar thermal, waste-to-energy, concentrated solar power and other technologies, have already confirmed for the Project Village. Countries represented so far include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, India, South Africa, Sudan, the UK and US.

Advanced PV System Protection Delivers Worldwide Solutions for Tomorrow's Systems Today Ratings Up To 1500Vdc and 630A With PV systems developing rapidly, no other line up of photovoltaic fuse links and fuse holders offers OEMs and operators such a comprehensive range of benefits. Certified for global acceptance, unique 1500Vdc performance and a choice of sizes, dimensions and ratings up to 630A, it’s a line-up that meets tomorrow’s PV system requirements today.

From string to inverter, the Cooper Bussmann range of fuse links and fuse holders for solar applications really is second to none for total system protection.

Contact your local Cooper Bussmann representative for details.

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www.cooperbussmann.com

All Cooper logos are valuable trademarks of Cooper Industries in the US and other countries. You are not permitted to use Cooper trademarks without prior written consent.

roundup NEWS inbrief

EIC bags $37-mn transformer order from Kuwait

D SCE has also developed a baseline draft on CO2 emissions

Dubai to assess clean coal sites

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he 14th meeting of the Supreme Council of Energy (SCE) was chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, SCE with His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Council, Nejib Zaafrani, Secretary General and CEO of the Council and other members in attendance. The agenda included clean coal power technology (currently undergoing a feasibility study), potential locations of clean coal plants, Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 road map including Dubai Integrated Gas Strategy and Demand Reduction Measures. The Council decided to extend the Quick Wins initiative for energy efficiency implemented by SCE entities to all the government entities of Dubai. Additionally, the Council has decided to participate in a project to develop a renewable energy atlas for the UAE, which will measure potential for solar and wind in the country.

Honeywell announces expansion in Iraq

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oneywell has opened a full-service office in Basra, its second office in Iraq since 2010. The new office will help the company develop strong local capabilities in Southern Iraq, while delivering leading-edge automation and control solutions, equipment and services to Iraq’s hydrocarbon industry. The new facility will also support the company’s training and sales capabilities throughout the country.

Saudi Arabia to tender first nuclear plant in 2012

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audi Arabia, which plans to build 16 nuclear reactors by 2030, will begin the tendering process to construct the first reactor by the end of 2012. The site for the same will be announced by March 2012. The Kingdom, which plans to spend more than $100 billion on its nuclear energy programme, has signed cooperation agreements with South Korea, France and the US for peaceful nuclear energy development.

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ammam-based Electrical Industries Company (EIC) has signed a contract worth SR140 million ($37.3 million) with Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water to supply oil-type distribution transformers. The 1250 kVA transformers, to be deployed in Kuwait's electricity grid, will be manufactured by EIC’s subsidiary Saudi Transformers Company (STC). “We will begin supplying the order by February 2012 and expect to complete it by the end of 2012," said Ahmed bin Nasser Al-Suwaidan, EIC’s managing director and vice chairman of the board. Recently, STC supplied 1,750 distribution transformers and substations to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) under a contract worth SR190 million.

Graphical rendering of the new factory complex

Gulf Eternit to set up new pipe factory

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ulf Eternit Industries (GEI) and Dubai Industrial City have signed a project development agreement to set up a new fibreglass pipe factory in Dubai Industrial City.

The new factory will replace Gulf Eternit’s existing facility in Um Al Ramool set up in 1972. Mounib Hatab, Vice President, Future Pipe Industries Group and Gulf Eternit Industries UAE, said: “Our relocation to Dubai Industrial City, with its close proximity to the Jebel Ali Sea Port and the Al Maktoum International Airport, along with our planned state-of-the-art factory will allow us to introduce a new competitive edge to our business.”

SWCC, Hitachi Zosen sign pact for solar desalination

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audi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and Hitachi Zosen Corporation of Japan have signed an agreement to conduct research on using solar power for desalination. The three-year agreement covers exchange of expertise and knowledge and the setting up of a solar energy complex by the Japanese company.

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Clear solutions for water treatment

TM

roundup NEWS inbrief

UAE signs cooperation framework with IAEA

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he UAE has signed Country Profile Framework (CPF) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The CPF was signed by the Deputy Director-General of the Technical Cooperation Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kwaku Aning and Ambassador Hamad Al Ka'abi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the IAEA. The Country Programme Framework constitutes the frame of reference for the short and medium-term planning of technical cooperation between the UAE and the IAEA for the period 2012-2016. It provides a concise frame of national development needs that can be addressed using the Agency's support in nuclear science and technology.

Alstom to build another power plant in Iraq

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lstom has been awarded a contract worth €400 million

by Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity to build the 728-MW Al Mansuriya gas-fired power plant in the Diyala Governorate. The plant, consisting of four GT13E2 gas turbine units, will be constructed on a turnkey basis, with the first unit scheduled to become operational in early 2013. The Al Mansuriya plant will cater to the entire Diyala Governorate and parts of Baghdad. Alstom is currently rehabilitating unit 1 of the Najaf gas-fired power station under a MoU signed with the Ministry in July 2010. The rehabilitation of the unit, out of operation for five years, will enable the first turbine to contribute 60-MW to the Iraqi electricity network.

The signing ceremony

Siemens to train SEC engineers

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iemens will train eight selected engineers of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) in Germany as part of an Expert Development Programme. The agreement for the same was signed between Roland Fischer, CEO of Fossil Power Generation Division, Siemens Energy and Eng. Ali Saleh Al Barrak, President & CEO, SEC. The 52-week training programme, which will focus on energy and grid technology, will put the SEC engineers through Siemens’ proven dual-training concept. Theoretical instruction will be held at the Siemens Technik Akademie in Berlin and Nuremberg, while practical training will take place at Siemens" gas turbine manufacturing plant in Berlin and transformer production facility in Nuremberg.

MoU to research solar technology for the region

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he Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) and the Spanish Research Centre for Energy Environment and Technology (CIEMAT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to research solar technology suitable for Qatar’s climate and environment. The seven-year agreement allows for sharing of knowledge and expertise and conducting joint research projects on solar energy and its application to desalination.

GE technology to reduce Qatargas emissions

The 23-km project costs Dh127 million

DEWA begins work on new water pipeline project

D

ubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has started work on a 1,200-mm water pipeline to serve various areas along Emirates Road, including Dubai Investments Park, Motor City and Arabian Ranches. The 23 kilometre-long pipeline project costs Dh127 million and will be completed in 13 months.

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E Oil & Gas will supply Qatar Operating Company (Qatargas) with advanced combustion technology to reduce gas turbine emissions to meet Qatar’s new environmental norms. GE will provide Dry Low NOx (DLN) 1.0 combustion system designed to achieve low emissions levels of 25 ppm for nitrogen oxide. The technology will be used to upgrade six GE Frame 6B gas turbines powering three onshore LNG trains at the Qatargas 1 site in Ras Laffan Industry City. The installation of the units will begin in 2012, with the sixth and final unit completed by 2013.

intheregion NEWS MENA

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao to attend WFES Premier will deliver keynote speech during the opening ceremony in Abu Dhabi

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DEWA received four bids for the Hassyan 1 IPP

Hassyan 1 winner to be announced in Feb 2012 The project constitutes the first phase of Dubai’s sixphase power privatisation plan targeting 10,000 MW.

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ubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received four bids from international consortia to construct the 1,600 MW Hassyan 1 Independent Power Project (IPP). The bids for the combined cycle power project were opened on 12th December 2011.

The first consortium is led by TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), Marubeni Corporation, SK E&S Co; the second consortium is led by GS Engineering & Construction Corp; the third consortium comprises of International Company for Power & Water Projects (ACWA Power International), KEPCO and Samsung C&T and the fourth consortium comprises QEWC, QPI, and Siemens Project Ventures.

The selected bidder will own 49% of the project with DEWA retaining 51%.

DEWA had selected 18 developers to submit RFPs for Hassyan 1 IPP in May 2011. The selection was based on qualification documents received from 20 developers responding to the Request for Qualification (RFQ) issued to the 27 developers who showed their interest in the project in March 2011.

Experts from DEWA and the advisory consortium led

by HSBC will jointly examine the technical, financial and commercial studies and environmental impact report to assess the four bids. DEWA expects to conclude the assessment by February 2012, after which the winner will be announced.

Dubai has already established a regulatory framework for independent water and power projects, represented by the Regulatory Supervisory Bureau for Water and Electricity, through Decree No. 9 of 2011, which was issued to make the necessary amendments to Decree No. 1 of 1992 regarding establishing Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and Law No. 6 of 2011 regarding the regulation of the private sector’s participation in producing power and water in Dubai.

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hinese Premier Wen Jiabao will be attending the fifth annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES) that will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from January 16-19 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Regarded as the leading figure responsible for China’s economic policy – which embraces innovation, sustainable redevelopment and renewable energy as core drivers – Premier Wen will deliver the keynote speech at WFES. “From accelerating the deployment of renewable energy to diversifying the energy mix, the UAE shares a lot in common with China,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company. “We are honored to host Premier Wen and welcome his participation during WFES.” Premier Wen has pledged that China will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by 17% by 2015 (per unit GDP). Under its 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, China will generate 11.4% of energy from non-fossil fuels by 2015, and 15% by 2020, up from 8.3 per cent in 2010.

To reach this ambitious goal, China has introduced a range of regulatory and financial incentives, including feed-in tariffs, subsidies, China Development Bank loans, and $200 billion in stimulus funding for cleantech, carbon emission reductions and energy pricing reserves. China is poised to spend $473.1 billion on clean energy investments in the next five years and will add 370 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2020.

The UAE has expanded bilateral trade, strengthened twoway investment and increased cooperation on infrastructure construction and the development of renewable energy.

Masdar Capital has already invested $25 million into UPCC, a major Chinese wind developer.

In addition to Premier Wen’s visit, more than 43 Chinese exhibitors will be attending WFES 2012, and for the first time, host a national pavilion to highlight the country’s rapidly expanding renewable energy market. Chief executives from two of China’s multinational firms in solar energy will also address conference delegates: Shi Zhengrong, CEO of the world’s largest solar panel maker Suntech Power; and Jifan Gao, Chairman and CEO of PV technology leader Trina Solar.

NEWSFLASH Dubai launches Dh12 billion solar project

PG26

intheregion NEWS MENA

Ducab-HV inaugurated H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, opened Ducab’s high voltage (HV) cable plant The new contracts bring the number of GE turbines delivered for SEC projects to nearly 200 over the last five years.

SEC, GE sign $300-mn deal for power plant expansions Projects to add 800 MW to Saudi grid in time to meet 2013 summer peaks, enhance power supply to the kingdom’s remote areas

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E has signed contracts totalling almost $300 million with the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to supply 13 gas turbines and associated services for the expansion of six power plants at various locations across the country.

The expansions will add nearly 800 MW of power to the Saudi grid by the summer of 2013, in time to support peak electricity demands and reduce the risk of blackouts.

“The expansion projects are part of our overall strategy to add an average of 4,000 MW of power annually to the grid in Saudi Arabia as we continue to face a growing demand for reliable electricity,” said Eng. Ali Saleh Al Barrak, President & CEO of SEC. “We have been working with GE for more than 40 years, and the new contracts reflect our continued trust in GE’s power generation solutions and ability to respond to our technology requirements and meet compressed project schedules.”

In addition to supplying 13 Frame 7EA Gas Turbines and associated generators for the plant expansions, GE will provide technical advisory services and performance testing and also provide training for SEC engineers in the operation and maintenance of the gas turbines.

Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Energy in the Middle East, said: “As the leading energy provider in Saudi Arabia, GE continues to deliver localised power generation solutions to our long-time customers such as SEC and provide technology transfer to the region through our advanced technical training and knowledge sharing initiatives.”

The six sites for the expansions are Wadi Al Dwasir, Tabuk, Qurrayat, Sharura, Ala-Wajh and Najran simplecycle power plants. The gas turbines will be delivered to the various sites during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, with commercial operation to begin in May 2013, in time to meet the summer peak demand.

This latest contract follows an announcement, in May 2011, of contracts worth $500 million to supply equipment and services for plant expansions adding 1,680 MW in new power capacity for the kingdom.

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.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the new Ducab-HV factory in a ceremony attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.

Senior managers from joint venture partners and other regional leaders were also present at the event.

The joint venture between Ducab (50%), ADWEA (25%) and DEWA (25%) will offer High Voltage (HV) cable systems up to 400 kV. The Dh500 million HV cable plant is the first dedicated facility of its kind in the region, and will increase Ducab’s production capacity by 15,000 tonnes of conductors.

“We are very proud that Ducab-HV has opened as scheduled and we extend our heartfelt thanks to H.H Sheikh Mohammad for his presence and support. Ducab-HV will benefit the UAE economy by offering an excellent quality alternative to imports. When fully operational, the factory will also generate 130 new jobs, which means more opportunities to hire and develop UAE nationals,” said Ahmad Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab and Ducab-HV. Machine installation for the plant was completed earlier this year, and extensive commissioning testing was also finished to schedule. Most of the machinery at the plant has been sourced from European suppliers, and their experts provided assistance to the Ducab project team during commissioning and installation.

The most notable feature of the Ducab-HV plant is its 148-metre tower (equivalent to a 44 storey residential tower) housing state-of-the-art extrusion equipment. It is the tallest industrial tower in the GCC, and is designed to ensure that the HV cables are manufactured to the highest quality standards. In addition to the extrusion equipment, the tower also contains a series of Clean Room facilities to ensure no contamination occurs during production.

“Ducab-HV will offer the latest in global HV technology to the UAE and the region. All products will be rigorously tested at the state-of-the-art HV laboratory, a specialised facility that also gives the capability for advanced research and development in high voltage systems,” said Jon Vail, CEO of Ducab HV. With a total built up area of 22,000m2 on a site plot of 50,000m2 at the Ducab Jebel Ali site, the factory will have a manufacturing capability of 30,000 tonnes per year of cable in the range of 66kV to 400kV and conductor sizes from 300sqmm to 2500-sqmm.

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intheregion NEWS MENA

EEE bags two major cabling projects in Dubai The projects, for DEWA, are scheduled to be completed in the next 13-14 months

D

ubai-based Emirates Electrical Engineering (EEE) has announced that it has bagged two major cabling projects from the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA).

The first project involves the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of two 132kV cable circuits of 1.6 kilometres each between the CARX 400/132kV substation and Nad Al Hammar 132kV substation. A major portion of the works of this project, expected to be completed over the next 13 months, will be under the Overhead Line corridor near the CARX substation. The power cables and accessories for the project are being procured from South Korean companies LS Cable and Taihan.

The second project involves replacing old oil-filled cables with XLPE cables between the GIS of different substations, between GIS and Generator Transformers totalling 15 circuits, including necessary testing and commissioning activities. Most of the circuits are inside the ‘D’ Power station complex in the Jebel Ali area.

Apart from DEWA, EEE will be co-ordinating with various manufacturers of GIS and Transformers including Siemens, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Ganz, Ellin Hollec, Hyosung, ABB and ACEC to carry out the necessary modification works under this project. The project is scheduled to be completed in the next 14 months, based on shutdown sequence planned by DEWA.

Siemens on schedule for Saudi power project First major shipment for the 2,400 MW Ras Al-Khair power plant announced

T

he main components, including the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) for the first two units of the Ras Al-Khair combined cycle power plant (CCPP) in Saudi Arabia (formerly known as Ras Az Zawr) have been readied for delivery. With a total of six units and a total installed capacity of 2,400 MW, the plant will generate power for an aluminum smelting plant and provide around one billion litres of drinking water a day for the capital city Riyadh.

The order volume for Siemens is more than $1 billion. The purchaser is a consortium comprising of local Al Arrab Contracting Company and the Chinese Sepco III Electric Power Construction Corporation.

The gas turbines were manufactured in the Siemens gas turbine plant in Berlin, with the manufacturing plant in Mülheim a.d. Ruhr supplying the steam turbines. The generators were produced in the Siemens facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Siemens is supplying a total of 12 gas turbines, five steam turbines, 17 generators and ten HRSGs and the entire electrical and I&C equipment for the Ras Al-Khair CCPP and seawater desalination plant.

Saudi Arabia's first wastewater cogeneration project awarded The 200,000 m3/day plant, to come up in the outskirts of Riyadh, will become operational in 2014.

Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) has awarded a SRS 300 million contract to a consortium of Al-Arrab Contracting, Germany’s BWT and Austria’s ILF Engineering to set up the Kingdom’s first tertiary sewage treatment plant incorporating cogeneration. The 200,000 m3/day plant will be located on Al-Kharj Road in Riyadh and is expected to become operational in 2014.

The main components of the project include primary and secondary treatment units, tertiary treatment, sludge digesters, biogas treatment, cogeneration system which will produce electrical and thermal energy by using the biogas produced during sludge digestion, odour treatment systems and control systems. Luay Al-Musallam, CEO of NWC said the cogeneration facility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the pressure on industrial sources of electricity.

Luay Al-Musallam, CEO of NWC said 12 local and international consortiums had bid for the project. He also revealed that in the long run, NWC hopes to convert each of its sewage treatment plants to three-in-one facilities that produce high-quality treated water, generate thermal and electricity energy and lastly, extract useful organic materials.

The Six generators produced in Charlotte, NC, ready for delivery

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january2012

Conference & Exhibition 6-8 February 2012

Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, Qatar

www.power-gen-middleeast.com www.waterworldmiddleeast.com Under the Patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry

CHANGING

POWER&WATER

SOLUTIONS IN CHALLENGING TIMES REGISTER NOW FOR THE REGION’S PREMIER POWER AND WATER INDUSTRY EVENT Delegates, visitors and exhibitors are invited to join POWER-GEN Middle East and WaterWorld Middle East 2012 at the spectacular Qatar National Convention Centre, the new venue of choice in the Middle East.

POWER-GEN Middle East and WaterWorld Middle East are must attend events for the international power and water and wastewater industries, Together, both events will tackle important strategic and technical issues plus developments facing the power, water and wastewater industries as part of a comprehensive line up that includes: • Esteemed opening and ribbon cutting ceremony • Important networking and closing receptions • Top-quality conference programme incorporating 14 conference sessions over six tracks • More than 100 world-renowned chairs and speakers representing over 20 countries participating in informative presentations and lively discussions

• Diverse exhibition floor showcasing the very latest products and technologies by over 100 international companies • Guided technical tour of one of Qatar’s largest power and desalination plants • Invaluable networking opportunities and chance to reach one of the fastest developing regions in the world

For POWER-GEN Middle East enquiries, please contact: Kelvin Marlow Exhibit Sales Manager T +44 (0) 1992 656 610 F +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E kelvinm@pennwell.com

Mathilde Sueur Conference Manager T +44 (0) 1992 656 634 F +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E mathildes@pennwell.com

For WaterWorld Middle East enquiries, please contact: Roy Morris Exhibit Sales Manager T +44 (0) 1992 656 613 F +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E rmorris@pennwell.com

Samantha Malcolm Conference Manager T +44 (0) 1992 656 619 F +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E samantham@pennwell.com

Bridgett Morgan Exhibit Sales Manager, North America T: +918-831-9130 F: +918-831-9834 E: bridgettm@pennwell.com

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21/12/2011 10:34

NEWS international

atlarge Maersk Oil, Siemens join forces for clean power generation Siemens to develop and build turbines for Maersk Oil’s TriGen clean power generation technology.

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aersk Oil and Siemens signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 20th World Petroleum Conference in Doha last month under which Siemens will develop and build turbines for Maersk Oil’s novel TriGen clean power generation technology.

TriGen is a power generator the size of a Maersk shipping container which burns gas with pure oxygen to produce clean power, pure water and ‘reservoir ready’ carbon dioxide. The high purity CO2 is captured, making the power generation emission-free, and is then transported to oil and gas fields for Enhanced Oil/Gas Recovery (EOR/EGR).

Maersk Oil acquired license rights to the pure oxygen combustor from US-based Clean Energy Systems (CES) in January 2011. Siemens will build turbines specially adapted to the combustion process to significantly increase the efficiency of electricity production.

“The agreement with Siemens is another milestone for our innovative clean power project, helping to mature the TriGen technology to a stage where it can be used widely and commercially,” said Bob Alford, TriGen Project Manager at Maersk Oil. “Our goal is to be able to offer a unique product that, for the first time, joins oil and gas production together with power generation in one integrated project. This offers not just zero-emission electricity and pure water but also the ability to extract oil and gas through EOR/EGR.” Alford suggested that the ‘oxyfuel’ turbines would be an ideal solution for the water-scarce Gulf region that has reservoirs that can benefit from CO2 driven-EOR. It is also well suited for countries in South East Asia where many stranded contaminated gas fields could be unlocked using the flexible TriGen technology.

CES has proven the TriGen technology on a small scale over that past 15 years. Now, in collaboration with Maersk Oil, Siemens and the US Department of Energy, it is testing TriGen on a commercial scale power plant in California.

“We at Siemens are very pleased to work with Maersk Oil on the development of this promising technology,” said David Henson, Head of the Conceptual Engineering and Services business segment of Siemens Energy. “The new turbine, named SXT-150, is backed by our vast experience in turbine development. Siemens’ turbine work is focused on providing the materials capable of withstanding high pressures and temperatures, handling the corrosive environment resulting from the CO2 and steam mixture, and implementing changes to increase power. In addition, Siemens will design and deliver the associated equipment to complete the TriGen power system.”

Siemens is currently converting a conventional gas/air turbine to a gas/oxygen turbine for the commercial project in California. The converted turbine will be hooked up to a power grid in North Los Angeles next year and has the capacity to deliver 150-MW of electricity – enough to provide energy to over 100,000 homes.

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The new company will be led

by Thijs Aarten, CEO, KEMA

DNV, KEMA merger creates energy consulting powerhouse The merged entity will provide customers a broader portfolio of services across the entire energy chain.

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NV has acquired 74.3% of KEMA’s shares creating a global consulting and certification major within the clean energy, sustainability, power generation, transmission and distribution sectors. DNV KEMA will consist of all 1,800 KEMA employees and 500 employees from DNV’s renewable energy and sustainability activities. The new company will be led by Thijs Aarten, CEO of KEMA, and headquartered in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Aarten will report to a Supervisory Board chaired by Henrik O Madsen, CEO, DNV. “The combination of cleaner fossil-fuel-based power generation and the increased use of renewables will truly make a global impact. This is the strategic rationale behind DNV’s biggest investment ever which, along with DNV’s other 8,000 employees engaged in supporting our maritime, oil & gas and other customers, makes DNV a leading global player in third party and technical advisory roles,” said Leif Arne Langøy, the Chairman of DNV’s Board of Directors.

“Both KEMA and DNV have strong traditions as independent leading players with world class technical and business knowledge and growth ambitions,” said Thijs Aarten, CEO, KEMA. Henrik O Madsen, the CEO of DNV added: “Over the past two decades, we have become a leading certifier and technical adviser on renewable energy. But to fulfil our ambition of really impacting our customers’ transition towards a low carbon economy we need to also provide independent certification and technical advice to the power generation, transmission and distribution sector. KEMA is globally recognised in this mission sector and is thus a perfect strategic fit.”

Services provided by the merged entity will span the entire energy value chain from energy source to end user, including wind energy, carbon capture and storage, carbon trading, energy efficiency, power generation, transmission and distribution, and energy-related testing, inspection and certification.

GE’s new filter house technology retrofitted to 14 gas turbines in 16 days at the Atlantic LNG complex

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E Oil & Gas has completed a fast-track refurbishment project to eliminate corrosion, or pitting, of compressor blades on 14 gas turbines at Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago’s (Atlantic) production facility in Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago. The project will prevent blade degradation and help to maintain high productivity of the 14 units.

The project includes the supply and installation of new filter house technology and new ventilation systems with separate inlets, to improve filtration and safeguard the blades against corrosion. The GE innovative high efficiency filter house is specifically designed to eliminate gas turbine shut downs for off line axial compressor water washes.

It is also possible to change the filter on line without any additional stop, thus saving an estimated four days of production per year.

Equipment for the first six units was shipped in May and June of 2011, and the installation was completed in July of 2011. Equipment for the additional eight units was shipped

in August with installation starting in early October and now completed.

“Because of the need to solve the pitting issues due to salt crystal presence or other contaminating agents while optimising availability we asked GE to provide us with a retrofit solutions that could meet our requirements and be deployed easily,” said Jeff Bailie, Director Projects/TAR/CSA of Atlantic.

The refurbishment project was performed during the planned plant maintenance carried out through modular replacement under the terms of a Contractual Service Agreement (CSA) already in place between GE and Atlantic.

That agreement was signed in 2005 and covers 27 GE gas turbines and 47 GE centrifugal compressors at the Point Fortin facility. The CSA is supported by a field service and maintenance centre that GE has established adjacent to the Atlantic complex.

“The Point Fortin service facility supports our strategy to provide our global technology and service capabilities and expertise on a local level,” said Andrew Way, Vice President of Global Services of GE Oil & Gas. “We are committed to helping our customers meet the growing demand for LNG by getting the maximum productivity from their existing assets.”

Total capacity of the Point Fortin plant places Trinidad and Tobago among the top seven LNG producers in the world.

international NEWS

Innovative filter house solves blade corrosion

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january2012

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NEWS industrynotes

growthappetite

Metito bets big on emerging markets Rami Ghandour, Executive Director, Metito Utilities on expanding the scope of the company’s concession business in China, tapping into opportunities in Africa and India (with South America in sightS)

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ast October, Metito announced the strategic buy-out of Berlinwasser International’s 49% minority stake in Berlinwasser China Holdings (BCH).

BCH, a Hong Kong-based company, was formed in 2008 as a joint venture between Metito Utilities Ltd (MUL) and Berlinwasser to expand on the successful operations of two wastewater concessions already held and operated by the latter in China since 1999. Metito Berlinwasser, a 60:40 JV established in the same year to focus on the concessions in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) water sector will continue as before, with its scope expanded to include India. Currently, this JV’s portfolio comprises of an O&M and two consultancy contracts.

Commenting on the BCH buy-out, Rami Ghandour, Executive Director, Metito Utilities, said: “As a global emerging markets company, it is important for us to diversify and grow our exposure to fast growing markets

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like China. In the past 20 years, China’s lowest quarter on quarter growth rate was 6.5%. Even in a worst-case scenario, the economy is expected to grow by seven per cent” BCH currently owns and/or operates five wastewater concession agreements and one O&M contract China. Together with expansions to existing plants, the concessions have a current treatment capacity over 1.2 million m3/day and provide services to over 5.3 million people, a significant increase compared to the 2008 figures of 630,000 m3/day and 2.3 million people. The duration of the concessions, largely concentrated in the municipal sector, ranges between 25-30 years.

MUL intends to accelerate its growth in the country by actively pursuing more wastewater projects and expanding BCH’s scope to include industrial water, desalination, sludge and solid waste.

MUL has advanced plans to develop three new projects. Additionally, it is also looking at acquisitions to grow its wastewater concession portfolio, and is already in the process of doing due diligence on two concession companies.

The news of the buy-out comes one year on from the issue of preference shares in MUL which was structured

by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and NBK Capital Mezzanine Fund to support MUL’s activities in the MENA and China. The funds remaining

from this investment, plus additional debt finance from HSBC, were used to conclude the strategic buy-out.

On the China trail

Commenting on China’s wastewater market, Ghandour said that a significant amount of the country’s wastewater is discharged into waterways without treatment. He continued, “With pollution of the country’s water resources becoming a major issue, Beijing has issued a directive to clean up the rivers.

As the economy continues to grow and living standards improve, people are also becoming less accepting of an environment where such things are not taken care of.”

There is a very strong push to increase the quantity of sewage treated as well as the quality of treatment, which has led to a growing demand for more sophisticated treatment processes. “Here we are building with an eye on future demand, but in China, existing demand itself is very high,” said Ghandour.

China is also predicted to become the third largest desalination market in the world. “The Greater Beijing Region in the North is among the most densely populated areas in China, but the water-rich areas are in the south,” said Ghandour. “They have only two options – first, bring water from the south to the north via huge canals, which will take

It is extremely difficult to find people in china who can work to very professional international standards, yet blend in with the local culture.

Emerging market play

He is also optimistic about taking the China story to other emerging markets, pointing out that while the company’s roots, history and home market is the Middle East, it has been operating in 22 countries. Metito is looking to boost its presence in India and SE Asia. The

Libya team, which re-located to a bigger office in Algeria following the break out of hostilities, is addressing the French speaking markets in North Africa, and has bagged projects in Mauritania and Mali. The plan is to expand further into North and South Africa, and eventually, move into South America as well.

Ghandour believes that Metito is the only company in the industry with such a global emerging market spread. “You have companies who are strong in one area or region; but in terms of global play, it is still very limited,” he claimed.

Central to the strategy is combining global expertise with local experience, which Ghandour feels is a strong differentiator for his company. He reeled off a few statistics: “In Indonesia, we have 200 people and they are all Indonesians; we have 200 in China and they are all Chinese; In Egypt, our 700-strong workforce is Egyptian.

We prefer to recruit, train and develop people locally.”

Such an approach is also effective in communicating the message of longterm commitment to the market. For example, MUL entered Indonesia in the early 90s before the Asian crisis. When the crisis started in the late ‘90s, others left, but MUL stayed. As a result, the company was able to establish itself and grow as the market responded positively to its commitment.

He is also proud of the fact that Metito has always empowered its local management. “We are in markets that move quickly. So a local team capable of taking action and moving quickly is a must. I believe that flexibility and risk mitigation must go hand in hand.”

Ghandour believes that geographical diversification helps Metito to maintain overall growth even for a company of its size. “Markets go up and down. We had significant business in Iraq before the war and in Libya before the uprising.

The earliest hit we took was in the 1970s when the war in Beirut forced us to close our operations, forcing us to start from scratch. We took these hits, survived and continued to grow.”

In the Middle East, Ghandour is hopeful that Iraq’s water sector is getting to a stage where it will take off again. The company had been serving Iraq on a limited scale so far due to the security situation. In Saudi Arabia, which he describes as the most competitive market in the region today, the company is focussing on niche

areas like industrial water where quality is paramount over price. MUL continues to tap into opportunities in Qatar and the UAE. In Egypt, where MUL very is active, it is business as usual. “In Egypt, we continue to get small projects. However, decisions on large PPP projects may happen only after a stable government is formed,” he said.

India in sight

Metito currently has three sets of operations in India – an engineering and design centre in Pune with 100 engineers, a finance support group in Chennai and the global centre for its chlorination business in Mumbai.

Barring the chlorination business, the company has historically never served the domestic Indian market, something that Ghandour hopes to change. He said, “While we have a huge Indian talent pool, their orientation has always been international, which isn’t going to be competitive locally. We plan to build up a separate team in with the same set up to serve the Indian market.”

Metito plans to leverage the penetration and branding achieved by its chlorination business in India’s municipal water sector. And in a break with convention, Ghandour doesn’t rule out taking the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) route to serve the concession business. “There aren’t too many concession companies In India as EPC was the norm in the water sector.

But in China, the acquisitions we are looking at will be concession-based, not EPC,” he clarified.

Ghandour observed that decision making in India is decidedly slower as the process is decentralised at each state levels, while from a regulatory point of view, India is behind China by 8-10 years. “However, the first few projects have been awarded, and there is lot of ‘lessons learned’ taking place. It is important for us to be in the market now rather than 5-10 years later,” he said.

While the company doesn't have a panIndia partner yet, it is scouting for “right opportunities and also acquisitions.”

industrynotes NEWS

time due to the scale and second, set up desalination plants, where we can contribute based on our expertise and experience in the Middle East.”

Ghandour attributes the success of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in China’s wastewater sector to the sheer pace of decision-making.

He said: “There is already a need, it is immediate and big; so they cannot afford to sit and deliberate for long. They have developed a very efficient system which has served them well for the past 12 years.” In China, wastewater projects come to market with one month to sixweek bidding period. Within 48 hours of the tenders being opened, the names of the preferred bidders are made public, and within one to two weeks, the initial concession agreement is signed. In contrast, for the Muharraq project in Bahrain, from initial concept to signing of the concession agreement took three years. “The process for getting a project financed is much simpler in China,” said Ghandour. “Here, you easily spend a million dollars on the financing documentation alone.” He feels that in the Middle East, the system is mostly structured for large scale water and power projects that cost billions. “When you try to apply the same system to a $30 million project, you will effectively cripple that project. Costs of one or two million dollars for a two billion dollar project is not a big deal but could seal the fate of a $30 million project,” Post-acquisition, Berlinwasser will continue to provide technical support and services to BCH and all the direct staff will be retained. The majority of the management team – comprising of Chinese who are German citizens or German educated - have been with BCH from the start. Ghandour said: “They are top notch professionals who have come through the Berlinwasser system. It is extremely difficult to find people in China who can work to very professional international standards, yet blend in with the local culture and ways of doing things. We consider ourselves very lucky in that regard.”

By Anoop K Menon

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NEWS industrynotes

waterchampion

LG achieves a LEED first in the region LG Electronics Building in JAFZA is the first in the Middle East to get LEED gold certification as a multi-building property.

Sustainability highlights include energy efficiency, water conservation and diversion of construction waste from landfills.

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G Electronics’ Office and Warehouse building in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai was awarded the LEED Gold Certification for New Construction from the US Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Institution (GBCI), making it the first LEED-certified multiple-building property in the Middle East. LG’s achievement was also acknowledged with a special appreciation certificate from EHS, the regulatory arm of Trakhees – Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, Government of Dubai.

The LG Building integrates energy conservation measures through high- performance building envelope insulation, and efficient AC units, fans, and motors, PV Solar panels and LED lighting. It also uses building finishes with low VOC paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. Key activities on the energy conservation front included: • Reduction in daily power consumption through LG’s own LED lighting system.

Occupancy sensors installed in all meeting rooms and corridors save energy by automating light-switches.

• LG earned major points in the Energy and Atmosphere category by installing its flagship ‘Multi-V Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) AC System,’ which was also commended by the USGBC and Green Building Certification Institution (GBCI).

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The high COP figures of 4.3 and Zero ODP refrigerant R-410A bagged LG major points in the Energy and Atmosphere category. The innovative VRF technology enables improved energy efficiency by allowing occupants to choose whether to air condition or heat only the zones in use.

• The building also includes a 30 kW ongrid solar PV system.

All these measures are expected to contribute to energy savings of 21.5%.

The LEED credits with regard to water savings were as follows:

WE credit 1.1: Water-Efficient Landscaping - Reduce by 50% Achievement: 67.8% reduction in potable water consumption in landscape irrigation.

Drip-type of irrigation has been used to water the project’s entire landscaped area. In addition, the project design includes selected native and regionally adapted species which are drought tolerant and thrive with a minimal amount of water, minimising irrigation needs. The project's landscaping has been designed so that trees, shrubs and groundcover are carefully blended together with similar water and sun exposure requirements enabling further reduction in water use.

WE Credit 3.1: Water Use Reduction – Reduce by 20% Achievement: 31.8% water savings achieved indoors through installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures.

All the male toilets within the project incorporate low-flow urinals set to two litres per flush and low-flow

water closets at six litres per flush. All female toilets incorporate dual-flush type water closets with six and three litres flush rate. Specifications of the fixtures utilised for the project are above the standard practice in the region.

In addition, restrooms with showers incorporate low-flow shower heads with aerators to ensure a constant flow rate of six litres/minute, irrespective of input pressure.

“Beyond producing energy efficient products, LG is looking to play a leading role in reducing its carbon footprint and act as a corporate model. We believe responsible companies must contribute to sustainable growth by minimising the environmental impact caused by their business activities, and the LEED Gold Certification is an acknowledgement of our efforts,” said H.S. Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf.

LG has also implemented a green educational programme that enhances the educational elements of the LG Building and the LEED process.

The JAFZA project fits into LG’s global environment plan to become one of the world leaders in reducing the impact of climate change. LG aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 14 tonnes by the end of 2011, an increase from the 12.9 million tonnes reduced in 2010.

Dr Ju Won Kim, General Manager of the AC Academy said: “Being a strategic partner of the UN’s Champions of the Earth awards since 2009, we have a heartfelt vision of becoming a corporate leader in environmental issues and inspiring the next generation. We want to inspire the green practice locally by implementing the sustainable ideas in our own building.”

By Anoop K Menon

cybersecurity

The saga of Stuxnet in 2010 and its tail piece Duqu in 2011 firmly put the spotlight on the growing vulnerability of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) to threats from cyber space.

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tuxnet is the first discovered malware to target ICS and more specifically, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), while DuQu, dubbed ‘son of Stuxnet,’ due to the strong similarities in their architecture, operates as intelligence gathering tool, apparently aiming to prepare the ground for attacks such as Stuxnet.

Two sets of commentaries, one from clean-tech market intelligence firm Pike Research and the other from global security, storage and systems management solutions vendor Symantec provide two different perspectives of the threats. Pike Research’s report focuses mainly on the SCADA systems installed by US power utilities as part of their smart grid roll outs while Symantec’s commentary looks at what 2012 has in store.

The discovery of Stuxnet transformed ICS security from a ‘nonissue’ to ‘critical’ overnight, but the rapid change also meant that industry had very little time in hand to consider what is needed or how to develop a manageable approach to security. In the case of power utilities in the US, a key security vulnerability in their smart grid deployments is the SCADA system, observes Pike Research in its new report ‘Industrial Control Systems Security.’ Summing up the issue, the report notes that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created a gold rush mentality, with utilities and vendors submitting requests quickly in order to obtain some of the funding.

Many of those requests simply stated

a list of infrastructure components, without adequate consideration of cyber security requirements. As a result of these two developments, the utility industry now has a large installed base of smart grid components, but little idea how to secure them. According to Pike Research, the risks to the electrical grid will require utilities to make major new investments in cyber security for ICS in the coming years, to the tune of $4.1 billion between 2011 and 2018.

“Many SCADA systems were deployed without security in the belief that SCADA would always be isolated from the Internet,” said senior analyst Bob Lockhart. “But it’s not, and even when it is, attacks such as Stuxnet can circumvent the isolation by using USB memory sticks to spread. And SCADA security has different objectives than IT security. The familiar ‘confidentiality, integrity, and availability’ is replaced with ‘safety, reliability, and integrity.’ This is nearly impossible to accomplish with the infrastructure-only approach taken by most information security products.”

Symantec points out that critical infrastructure protection programme awareness and engagement has actually waned even as advanced

63% Average decline in overall CIP readiness in 2011

persistent threats (APTs) continue to target industrial control-related organisations. In his commentary, Bulent Teksoz, Chief Security Strategist, Emerging Markets, Symantec quotes extensively from the findings of the recent Symantec Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) survey, which found that companies were generally less engaged in their government’s CIP programmes in 2011 compared to 2010.

In fact, only 37% of companies were completely or significantly engaged in such programmes in 2011, versus 56% in 2010.

On a global scale, the survey noted, overall CIP readiness declined an average of eight points (from 60 to 63% who said they are somewhat/extremely prepared in 2011 compared with 68 to 70% in 2010). “When combined with recent revelations around the Duqu threat, the findings of the CIP Survey are particularly troubling,” writes Teksoz. Duqu’s purpose was to gather intelligence data and assets from organisations such as manufacturers of ICS components. The attacker behind Duqu were looking for information such as design documents that could help them mount a future attack on an industrial control facility.

Teksoz observes that there is no reason to assume the attacker were unable to gather the intelligence they were looking for. In addition, it is likely other similar reconnaissance-type threats exist and have simply not yet been discovered. Thus, it’s quite likely that 2011 saw the foundation for the next Stuxnet-like attack being laid. In that sense, Duqu is essentially the precursor to a future Stuxnet.

industrynotes NEWS

Industrial control systems at risk

By Anoop K Menon

january2012

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NEWS industrynotes

combustionoptimisation

Bjorn Skjervold, CEO, Magnetic Emission Control (MEC)

Magnetic breakthrough Norwegian technology major sets base in the UAE to promote patented combustion engine technology across the GCC, India and Africa

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ith the GCC caught up in the contradictory position of being the main producer and emitter of carbon while also taking a leading role in pursuing green and renewable initiatives, we decided that the time was right to expand our footprint to the UAE, which is the region's innovation hub,” said Bjorn Skjervold, CEO of Magnetic Emission Control (MEC) explaining his company’s decision to set up regional headquarters in the UAE. According to 2011 Key World Energy Statistics, in 2009, the Middle East accounted for 5.2 per cent of global CO2 emissions. The members of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) are among the top 15 countries globally in terms of per capita CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, with Qatar ranking first, Bahrain third while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait are fifth and sixth respectively.

MEC’s unique and proprietary technology is based on a new understanding on how magnetic fields impact ambient air and liquid fuel(s) prior to combustion. It essentially optimises combustion processes by introducing correctly calibrated magnetic fields on the combustion engine, making

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the combustion process faster, efficient and cleaner to reduce particle emissions, while the increased torque due to improvements in combustion results in increased fuel efficiency. Skjervold claimed that MEC’s patented technology increases fuel efficiency by up to 20%. The results came out of a series of 'Engine-Dynamometer Tests' conducted in cooperation with the Auburn University in the US. Another series of tests were conducted using the J1321 test, an industry standard developed by the International Organisation of Engineering Professionals.

Currently, MEC has over 16,000 satisfied customers in Europe and the US, many of whom reported fuel savings of between 8-12%. “We have established ourselves in Scandinavian countries, Austria, Germany, Netherlands and other parts of Europe. In the US, we have been working since 2001,” explained Skjervold. The customers comprise of railroads, the earthmoving industry, trucking, bus and taxi companies, cement and asphalt industry and ground equipment in airports.

In the region, MEC plans to strengthen the competence and capacity through strategic partners. “We plan to establish teaming agreements with strategic teaming companies to represent MEC in different countries,” said Skjervold. MEC’s technology, he continued, has applications in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), marine sector, coal burning power plants, gas turbines, asphalt and cement production and open flares.

He listed the benefits of using MEC technology as follows: • Increased low down torque • Reduced fuel consumption • Reduced emissions (CO2, NOX) • Reduced soot and emission particles • Clean combustion compartment • Clean lubricant oil • Reduced engine wear and tear Skjervold pointed out that with large fleets, the installation time could be as less as five minutes per vehicle.

He gave an example of RTA Dubai, which has a fleet of 3,000 taxis. At a conservative assumption of 10% reduced fuel consumption, if one looks at a fuel consumption of 100 litres a day (two tanks / 24 hours) per taxi, the savings could be to the tune of 30,000 litres/day, 900,000 litres/month and 10.8 million litres/year on taxis alone. A single unit installation typically comprises of two different units – one on the fuel pipe and the other on the air supply pipe, and the life span of the installation can be 10 years and more.

Though several factors have to be considered on the pricing side, in Scandinavia which is the home of the technology, the cost works out to an average of $400 per installation.

Skjervold believes that the biggest opportunity for increased fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions is through combustion engine manufacturers, who can incorporate the technology during the manufacturing stage.

By Anoop K Menon

leadingedge industrynotes NEWS

Trending 2020 Selected predictions on fossil energy, alternative energy and power systems from DNV’s Technology Outlook 2020 report

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lobal energy consumption will increase by 19% towards 2020 even as oil, gas and coal continue to dominate the energy mix, according to a report released by global risk management firm DNV. DNV’s Technology Outlook 2020 attempts to predict the key technologies that will be in play towards 2020 in four key industrial sectors: shipping, fossil energy, renewable and nuclear energy, and power systems.

According to the report, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) demand is expected to grow from the current 200 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 350 mtpa by 2020. However, natural gas’ potential to be a bridge towards a low-carbon economy can become clear only under a stricter CO2 regime, in which gas would compete with new coal combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

On the renewable energy front, wind energy is expected to take the lead, accounting for eight per cent of global electricity production by 2020 with solar contributing 2.3%. Despite Fukushima, the report predicts that deployment of generation III nuclear reactors will continue, representing an abatement potential of 20 Giga tonnes of CO2 in 2020. But a major constraint is the identification of long-term solutions for nuclear waste.

The report predicts that the transition to a low-carbon energy future will continue over the next decade on the basis of European Union’s renewable directive to cut CO2 emissions by 20 % by 2020 and ‘American Power

Act,’ which targets reduction of GHG emissions by 17% below the 2005 level.

Going granular

Gas-fired power plants: Gas-

fired power plants currently provide about 20% of the world’s electricity production, corresponding to four trillion kWh. A scenario where gas maintains its relative share translates into an annual increase in gas-based power generation of 2.1%, corresponding to 15 GW of added capacity per year over the next decade, with Combined Cycle Power Plants taking the centre stage.

By 2020, additional improvements and optimisation of clearance, higher turbine inlet temperature and improved part load efficiency are expected to increase net power efficiencies in both Combined Cycle and Simple Cycle plants, while optimised emission control combustion systems will be in demand to meet stricter NOx and CO2 emission regulations. The report marks Fluidised bed combustion and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) as interesting future technology options because they can accommodate alternative fuels such as biomass.

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), which uses half the fuel of an open cycle gas turbine and has much higher part load efficiency, is also on the watch list.

Solar power: Solar power has

been relatively expensive, but the development of thin-film photovoltaics (TFPV) could be a ‘game changer.’

The report predicts TFPV production costs to fall to $0.2/W in the next 10 years and reach grid parity in selected markets by 2015. In the sunniest areas the levelised cost of electricity from TFPV systems is about $0.15/ kWh, comparable with the electricity

from nuclear power. For Crystalline Silicon PV (Cr-PV), the workhorse of the solar industry, the report predicts an increase in commercially available PV efficiency of up to 30% by 2020.

While acknowledging the benefits of concentrated solar power (CSP), the report notes that CSP plants will need to address the challenges of requiring as much cooling water as fossil fuel power needs and the necessity of direct sunlight.

Nuclear power: According to the

report, by 2020, the world´s nuclear energy capacity will grow by 19% but the contribution of nuclear energy to total energy will remain approximately the same. Issues that are critical to expansion of nuclear power include life extension of current reactors, safe operation of new reactors, successful implementation of advanced reactor designs, and viable solutions to nuclear waste disposal. Further, small, modular nuclear reactors will expand the use of nuclear power in remote or mobile applications.

Power systems: Managing variable power generation from renewables will be the key challenge for power systems in 2020. The key measures recommended include new transmission capacity, grid code requirements for variable-output renewable energy sources plants similar to ones for conventional power plants and bulk energy storage solutions like CAES and Distributed Battery Energy Storage.

To download the report, visit www.dnv.com

NOTE: DNV merged with KEMA in December to form DNV KEMA.

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NEWS industrynotes

energysecurity

Dubai launches Dh12 billion solar project The 1,000 MW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be implemented by the Supreme Council of Energy (SCE)

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ubai has launched a Dh12 billion solar energy project to support the emirate’s energy diversification strategy and reduce carbon footprint.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which will be built in phases, will target a production capacity of 1,000 MW by 2030. The launch event in Dubai was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The first project in the Park is a photovoltaic (PV) plant of 10MW capacity, which will be funded by the Supreme Council of Energy (SCE) for Dubai. The project is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2013.

To reduce Dubai’s dependence on fossil fuel (natural gas), the SCE developed Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to diversify energy sources, wherein renewable energy is expected to account for one per cent of the emirate’s energy mix by 2020 and five per cent by 2030. This is in addition to generating 12% from nuclear power, 12% from clean coal and the remainder from gas.

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Dubai produces 4.5MW of solar power in private, small-scale systems with the largest three systems in Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah and Meydan.

According to studies by SCE, in Dubai, available global irradiation usable by photovoltaic (PV) technology is 2,105 kWh/m² and the direct part of the irradiation (DNI), which is used by Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is roughly 2,061 kWh/m².

The introduction of renewable resources in Dubai’s energy portfolio will take two forms: Distributed solar generators installed by clients (roof top or ground mounted) and solar power plants.

The Engineering Consultancy Services tender for the 10 MW plant was released in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Consultants have already been selected and a tender to construct the facility is expected to be awarded by summer 2012. The selected consultants include ILF Consulting Engineers, Al Ruyah International Engineering, Fichtner Lahmeyer International, KEMA Middle East, and Tractebel Engineering.

The Dubai government has allocated a 48 km² site in Seih Al-Dahal, on the Dubai Al Ain area, to accommodate the park’s eventual capacity of 1,000 MW. While the initial 10MW project will be based on PV, the rest of projects of the solar park are expected to use a mix of PV and CSP technologies as new

well as new technologies. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of DEWA said ease of integration to the grid was a key consideration behind the choice of PV for the first 10 MW project.

An international consultant has been appointed to develop standards that will integrate renewable energy to Dubai’s distribution and transmission system.

The project aims to study an optimised technical integration into the system by conducting modelling and simulation stability tests, considering advice on infrastructure required, penetration levels desired, geographical restrictions and so forth. The consultant will also examine feed-in tariffs, an important element to attracting private sector participation in renewable energy projects. A licensing system will also be set up by the Dubai Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) for parties interested in connecting to renewable energy sources.

Dubai hopes to take advantage of the falling cost of solar energy. The DEWA chief pointed out that cost of solar technology has fallen from 120 fils/ kWh in 2004 to 70 fils/kWh in 2011. "We hope to see more decreases in prices in the future," he said.

By Anoop K Menon

The second MENA Water Leakage Summit will once again bring together stakeholders from the region’s water sector to explore and discuss current issues,best practices and regulations for leakage reduction.

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ontherecord FEATURE interview

In passing Ian Barbour is General Manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions. He is responsible for developing and implementing Dow’s water and process strategy and oversees the global operations of the business, which numbers approximately 1,800 people and nine manufacturing facilities across the globe. In his two decades plus innings with Dow, Barbour has led various initiatives, including the acquisition of OMEX Environmental Engineering in July 2006 in China and launching the Dow Water Solutions business in September 2006.

During a quick stop over in Dubai, he spoke to Anoop K Menon on the significance of recent investments in Saudi Arabia, how Dow is making RO desalination more competitive and the sustainability challenges it could throw up.

If you had to sum up the significant developments in the company between 2009 and now, what would they be?

T

he two bellwether events for us globally were the acquisition of Rohm & Haas in 2009 and the investment plan laid out in 2011 for a world class Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. The acquisition of Rohm & Haas has been an enormous shot in the arm for Dow’s water business. Prior to that, we had a nice ion exchange business, but Rohm and Haas had a better one. That’s how post-acquisition, we changed our name to Dow Water & Process Solutions from Dow Water Solutions. The change reflected the fact that the Rohm and Haas Ion Exchange business (and also had a sizeable water business) had carried out a lot of application development work in non-water areas. So while we talk a lot about water purification, water treatment, removing contaminants, there is also a side of our business where we look at the selective removal of something valuable, which is the process solutions side. It is the same technology applied in a slightly different way.

Our world class manufacturing facility for DOW FILMTEC RO elements in Saudi Arabia constitutes a major investment for the water side of the business. It will complement our business presence with a manufacturing

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footprint and strengthen our global competitiveness.

What led Dow to set up a membrane manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia?

T

here were really two drivers behind the decision – we have grown our RO business very significantly over the last 20 years. When we acquired FILMTEC in 1985, it was a small operation based in Minneapolis. We grew it to its current level in Minneapolis, so our entire production footprint for FILMTEC is in Minneapolis. As the business has become significantly large, we realised there is a bit of a risk in concentrating production in only one location. We experienced the situation first hand when our ion exchange plant in Japan was hit by the tsunami. If it had been the membrane plant, we would have been out of business. So derisking the manufacturing strategy was a key driver. Also we needed to have more membrane capacity on the ground by 2014. So we took a decision to invest in a world scale increment of RO membrane capacity elsewhere besides Minneapolis. The second driver was the market potential in Saudi Arabia, which is no-doubt a huge desalination market, but from our standpoint, an untapped one as far as spiral wound RO is concerned.

The Kingdom was the first to invest in desalination. But they invested in the technology available at the time, and they have an enormous installed base

based on those legacy technologies.

However, membrane technology has moved on and is today, more energy efficient and therefore, more cost- efficient than other desalination technologies.

We hope that putting a manufacturing presence in Saudi Arabia will help our agenda of driving the adoption of RO in the Kingdom, which is good for us. As the population in Saudi Arabia grows, as the economy grows, the amount of petroleum resources that will have to be deployed just to make water and power becomes a very significant number. The extent to which Saudi Arabia can adopt a more efficient desalination technology, we believe there will be a lot of opportunities.

So we are putting up a world scale incremental capacity in Saudi Arabia in both membrane sheet manufacturing as well as downstream rolling of that sheet into elements. We are still scoping the number of jobs, but it should be in the region of 100 to 150. My wish is to build the world's best RO production plant in Saudi Arabia. I believe Dow is the leader in the way we do it now, but as production grew in Minneapolis, we ended up shoehorning equipment here and there. In Saudi, we are literally starting out on a blank piece of paper. We can design this thing from scratch, start to finish; so I am asking my engineers to build the most efficient membrane facility the world has ever seen.

some of the largest desalination plants in the world are claiming 50-60cents/m³, while 10 years ago it was probably $3/m³ OR MORE

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t Dow Water & Process Solutions, our business strategy is to have a portfolio of what we call enabling components. The components that we target are the ones that are crucial to water separation or purification. The largest part of our business is the ion exchange franchise; the second largest is the RO membrane franchise, which also includes NF (Nano Filtration). The third major pillar of our strategy is UF. If you look at it, Dow Water & Process Solutions has really been built by acquisitions – FILMTEC in 1985 to enter RO; OMEX in 2006 to get into UF and Rohm and Haas in 2009. Ion Exchange, RO, NF and UF are the basic pillars of our ‘component strategy’ today.

In our view, they are complementary.

Yes, there were days when RO cannibalised the ion exchange market for basic softening and demineralisation, but most of that has already passed.

Today, you see these products being quite complementary.

In particular, I see a lot of opportunities for UF. For example, if you take a seawater desalination facility which makes 100,000 m3/day of permeate - in order to make that you need to feed the RO unit about 200,000 m3/day of pre-treated water, which translates into a lot of UF membranes if you replace conventional filtration. I see tremendous synergies in having the RO franchise, the FILMTEC name, the number one position in the market coupled with a UF offering – when we put them all together, what we have is a compelling proposition for the customer which also drives larger revenues for us.

In ion exchange too, if it’s an ultra pure water facility, there is a polishing step.

The growth we see is primarily in the membrane space. Here, in this region, we are getting growth from desalination and wastewater. When we look at the applications in the region, they tend to more lean on the membrane side, so I would like to guess that our membrane business is higher than ion exchange business in the region.

The President of the International Desalination Association (IDA), in an earlier interview, had ticked energy efficiency as the major focus area for desalination industry in the future. Could you tell us about Dow’s achievements on that front?

W

e have some very impressive numbers on that front. In brackish water desalination, we have reduced energy requirement by 50% in the last decade. We have a public commitment out there for another 35% reduction by 2015. We spend a lot of our R&D investment on lowering the cost of water, and when you want to do that in the area of RO, the biggest cast out there is energy. We have developed new membranes that offer better flow and lower energy consumption and that’s what has driven the RO market.

That's all amazing because when Dow bought FILMTEC in 1985, it had a pact on the polyamides technology, which we lost in early ‘90s. I always wonder what would have happened if we hadn't lost that pact. Where would RO technology be today versus where it is now? When we lost the pact, we had to completely change our business model to drive down costs and increase efficiency. As we did that, the cost to produce a m3 of water has dropped significantly. Some of the largest desalination plants in the world are claiming 50-60 cents/m3, while 10 years ago, it was probably $3/m3 or more.

The Perth desalination facility is often lauded as a baseline example of good environmental practice. Is the buzz justified?

I

n Perth, we are down to a range of 2.7 kWh/m3. But we really cannot compare water from one part of the world with another. Our challenge is to show the Middle East the success that RO is enjoying in rest of the world.

When you look at the distribution of large desalination plants and the technologies that have been deployed, the Middle East looks different. Energy cost is a huge component, so cogeneration plants

predominate and that drives some of the technology selection. We want to bring to the region the success we have had in other parts of the world. So we entered into an agreement with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to establish Dow’s Middle East and Africa R&D Centre on the University’s campus. Our investment in KAUST is specifically to do research around the things that are unique to this region. The warm water in the Arabian Gulf, its high salinity levels, the presence of oil and varying quality levels are the objections we hear against RO. I feel these can be managed today with proper pre-treatment.

The region has always emphasised water production or desalination for obvious reasons. However, wastewater treatment and reuse too is coming into spotlight, which provides opportunities on the membrane front where Dow is concerned.

We are building a portfolio of products to address that demand. In fact, a key driver behind the Omex acquisition was the need to get a low pressure membrane to play more broadly in the wastewater and waterreuse space.

interview FEATURE

You have FILMTEC, which is the poster child for your water business in this region; you also have ultra-filtration (UF) and Ion Exchange businesses. How do all these pieces fit together?

As RO desalination overtakes thermal desalination, there are murmurs in the market place about recyclability of membranes. Is it something that Dow is looking at?

W

e have done quite a bit of work in trying to understand the carbon footprint involved in manufacturing membranes. We have also started to map our sustainability footprint. With more and more customers adopting the life cycle approach to improve sustainability, we have started to look at the recyclability of membranes.

With plants getting big, customers need to feel they are managing their business sustainably.

When a membrane reaches the end of operational life, taking it apart and recycling it is difficult because it is made up of many different parts and pieces.

It is also an issue that requires an industry-wide initiative.

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FEATURE coverstory

Energy efficiency in the water industry Following manpower, energy is the second highest operating cost for most water and wastewater companies. Population growth, urban migration and increased affluence all intensify the demand for drinking water and on effluent disposal facilities.

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urthermore, new technologies have been adopted to meet increasingly strict drinking water and effluent quality standards. As a consequence the water sector’s energy consumption has increased considerably during the last decade.

The result is that high energy consumption, which is inextricably linked to the issue of carbon emissions, will affect the water industry worldwide for the foreseeable future.

It is important, therefore, to minimise the use of energy by optimising efficiency across the water cycle.

This article builds upon some of the principal findings of an UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) managed project to develop a compendium of best practice and technologies for the energy efficient design and operation of water industry assets. The project, supported by Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) partners worldwide, looked at the whole water cycle from abstraction to discharge. The report also reviewed energy recovery technologies incorporated in water company assets.

For European countries the energy required for water treatment and supply - plus wastewater carriage and treatment - accounts for one per cent – three per cent of national energy consumption. For the UK, the figure is two per cent of national energy consumption. In the US, the percentage of national energy consumption used in the provision of water services is greater, 3-4 per cent, as a result of higher levels of demand for water. For example, domestic consumption per capita for England and Wales (2005) was 151 litres per capita per day (lcd); compared with

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Conservation and energy reduction are future imperatives within the whole water cycle whatever the commercial or stakeholder pressures argue Malcolm Brandt and Roger Middleton.

South California (2004) 550 lcd, or New Jersey (2004) 284 lcd.

An important, implicit conclusion that can be drawn from these figures is that reductions in water demand will have a direct and substantial impact upon the energy consumed by the water sector. Any reduction in demand will reduce the volumes to be processed in the whole water cycle and thereby, energy demand.

Recognising which activities within the water cycle are the most energy intensive is important when identifying how energy consumption can be best reduced. Figure 1 shows the pattern of energy use in the water cycle in the UK, based upon data from water companies’ 2009 annual return to Ofwat. The data reflects water companies’ expenditure on energy for various elements of the water cycle.

The information Figure 1 provides is aligned closely to energy consumption data from other sources across the world, which shows that pumping represents upwards of 80% of drinking water energy demand and at least 30% for wastewater. For wastewater services, the major energy demand is from aeration, which accounts for up to 60% or more of consumption.

In addition to illustrating energy consumption, Figure 1 also shows the potential energy savings for each element of the water cycle through interventions such as more efficient pumping and aeration equipment or management. The graph also suggests which activities have the most potential to act as a source of renewable energy.

For wastewater services, the major energy demand is from aeration, which accounts for up to 60% or more of consumption.

Counter-impact

As they seek measures that will help reduce energy consumption, water companies will also face challenges that will, potentially, have the opposite effect. As has already been shown, cutting demand will have a very positive impact upon energy consumption. There are, however, factors that point to increased rather than reduced demand. The world’s population is growing and with this growth comes the need for more water. The pressure on the water sector’s energy requirement is twofold: more drinking water is used, and more wastewater requires treatment. In addition consumption per head is rising, both across the developed world and in areas of rapidly increasing personal affluence such as India and China.

There is also little sign that the trend towards more exacting water quality standards will cease. Technology continues to expand our ability to analyse water quality; and experience suggests more detailed analysis results in more proscriptive standards. Meeting these standards requires more treatment steps and more energy-intensive technologies.

If regulation has the side effect of increasing energy consumption, stakeholders need to ensure that the standards being imposed offer substantive benefits. Regulators should be able to demonstrate that the public health or environmental improvements they seek are proportionate to any adverse environmental impact resulting from increased use of energy and greater green house gas emissions.

The use of orthophosphate to manage plumbosolvency provides an example of the tensions that can arise.

Orthophosphate dosing has helped reduce levels of plumbosolvency. However, this treatment step also increases the level of phosphorus that needs to be removed during the treatment of wastewater.

The affordability of energy will drive efficiency improvements in the future. For asset planners, the design priorities should be linked not with current energy prices but with estimates of future energy costs. An asset with a 50 year life should be assessed against energy cost estimates for, say, 25 years ahead. Capital costs are less than 10% and energy costs are already more than 80% of the whole-lifecost of plant; with higher energy costs this balance should be a major consideration for investment. Higher future costs will also raise the operational profile to maintain plant at best efficiency condition.

coverstory FEATURE

Below is a further summary of the energy efficiency opportunities evidenced in the report; the reductions are shown as percentages.

• Conservation/water loss reduction: 5% - 10%. The potential for reduction is greater where utilities are resource constrained • Pumping • Existing pumps: 5% - 10% • Pump technology improvements: 3% - 7% • Clean water processes: up to 20%, but low usage • Activated sludge process: up to 25% • Building services: up to 15% • Renewable energy: combined heat and power (CHP) engines from biogas can contribute significantly to the net energy demand of the water industry • Utilities that only abstract, treat and distribute drinking water have limited opportunities to generate renewable energy; hydro turbines

Anglian Water’s Cotton Valley sludge treatment centre recovers energy from the advanced sludge treatment process to drive CHP engines

Energy used in the water cycle: UK (Energy Efficiency in the Water Industry: a Compendium of Best Practice and Case Studies; GWRC)

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thewaterwattsnexus FEATURE coverstory

As they seek measures that will help reduce energy consumption, water companies will also face challenges that will, potentially, have the opposite effect.

At Glencorse Water Treatment Works a hydro turbine will produce up to one third of the work’s onsite power requirements

Linear trend

The relationship between water and energy demands is linear. Consequently, as has been previously stated, one of the best ways of reducing the water industry’s energy requirements is to reduce the amount of water put into supply. Conservation will reduce all components of the water and energy cycle. Demand reduction, however, cannot be achieved by water companies in isolation.

There are many other energy conservation measures, however, over which water companies have a much greater level of influence. Increased use of natural pre-treatment is seen as a way of reducing the energy consumption of the overall water treatment process. Allowing a greater level of material to settle out of the raw water before it enters the main treatment process cuts the energy requirements of subsequent elements of the treatment train.

Optimising existing treatment processes is another area which has demonstrated significant potential to reduce energy demands. The changes need not require major capital investment and often focus on operations-led adjustments to process management. Two case studies in the compendium demonstrate this: • Fixed-speed borehole submersible, duty/standby pumps were changed to small variable-speed units, running in parallel resulting in reduced borehole drawdown compared with the single fixed-speed pump arrangement. The payback period was 33 months; energy was saved and the carbon footprint reduced.

• In secondary aeration process lanes, the inlet penstock controls were re-calibrated to ensure equal flow split and ammonium control was used to regulate the DO input in the last pocket of each lane delivering a 30% reduction in energy use.

Through energy recovery, the water cycle offers water companies significant potential to reduce the amount of

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energy they procure from third-party suppliers. Energy recovered from advanced sludge treatment, for example, can be used to feed the treatment process using CHP engines.

This has been achieved at a number of locations including Anglian Water’s Cotton Valley sludge treatment centre.

The opportunity to install hydro turbines exists at any point in the hydraulic gradient where energy has to be dissipated for operational reasons. For example, at the head of a treatment process to reduce raw water transmission main or wastewater collection system terminal pressures, within distribution for pressure management and at the end of effluent discharge pipes. At Scottish Water’s new Glencorse Water Treatment Works the energy of raw water flows is being harnessed by a hydro turbine to produce up to one third of the works’ onsite power requirements.

Although there are many steps water companies can take to reduce their energy consumption, their ability to bring about meaningful change needs to be viewed in context.

International estimates of the energy used for domestic hot water are reported to be between 10% and 20% of nation’s energy consumption compared with between one per cent and four per cent for the municipal water cycle. It has also been suggested that reducing the domestic hot water temperature by 20 degrees C will have more impact on carbon emissions than can be delivered by energy efficiency measures. Both are relevant. Conservation and energy reduction are future imperatives within the whole water cycle whatever the commercial or stakeholder pressures.

(The authors are with Black & Veatch)

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FEATURE r&d

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Two degree target is under threat

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lobal carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels have increased by 49% in the last two decades, according to the latest figures by an international team, including researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia (UEA). Published in the journal Nature Climate Change (Rapid growth in CO2 emissions after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis by GP Peters, G Marland, C Le Quéré, T Boden, JG Canadell and MR Raupach), the new analysis by the Global Carbon Project shows fossil fuel emissions increased by 5.9 per cent in 2010 and by 49% since 1990 – the reference year for the Kyoto protocol.

On average, fossil fuel emissions rose by 3.1 per cent each year between 2000 and 2010 – three times the rate of increase during the 1990s. They are projected to continue to increase by 3.1 per cent in 2011.Total emissions which combine fossil fuel combustion, cement production, deforestation and other land use emissions - reached 10 billion tonnes of carbon in 2010 for the first time. Half of the emissions remained in the atmosphere, where CO2 concentration reached 389.6 parts per million. The remaining emissions were taken up by the ocean and land reservoirs, in approximately equal proportions. (To convert emissions to billion tonnes of CO2, multiply the value by 3.67) Rebounding from the global financial crisis of 2008-09 when emissions temporarily decreased, the high growth in 2010 was caused by both emerging and developed economies. Rich countries continued to outsource part of their emissions to emerging economies through international trade. Contributions to global emissions growth in 2010 were largest from China, the US, India, the Russian Federation and the EU. Emissions from the trade of goods and services produced in emerging economies but consumed in the West increased from 2.5 per cent of the share of rich countries in 1990 to 16 per cent in 2010.

“Global CO2 emissions since 2000 are tracking the high end of the projections used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which far exceed two degrees warming by 2100,” said co-author Prof Corinne Le Quéré, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and professor at the University of East Anglia. “Yet governments have pledged to keep warming below two degrees to avoid the most dangerous aspects of climate change such as widespread water stress and sea level rise, and increases in extreme climatic events.

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magine if the next coat of paint you put on the outside of your home generates electricity from light -- electricity that can be used to power the appliances and equipment on the inside. A team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame has made a major advance toward this vision by creating an inexpensive "solar paint" that uses semiconducting nanoparticles to produce energy.

"We want to do something transformative, to move beyond current silicon-based solar technology," said Prashant Kamat, John A Zahm Professor of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry and an investigator in Notre Dame's Center for Nano Science and Technology (NDnano), who leads the research. "By incorporating power-producing nanoparticles, called quantum dots, into a spreadable compound, we've made a one-coat solar paint that can be applied to any conductive surface without special equipment.”

The team's search for the new material, described in the journal ACS Nano, centred on nano-sized particles of titanium dioxide, which were coated with either cadmium sulphide or cadmium selenide. The particles were then suspended in a water-alcohol mixture to create a paste.

When the paste was brushed onto a transparent conducting material and exposed to light, it created electricity.

"The best light-to-energy conversion efficiency we've reached so far is one per cent, which is well behind the usual 10 to 15% efficiency of commercial silicon solar cells," explained Kamat. "But this paint can be made cheaply and in large quantities. If we can improve the efficiency somewhat, we may be able to make a real difference in meeting energy needs in the future."

"That's why we've christened the new paint, SunBelievable," he added. Kamat and his team also plan to study ways to improve the stability of the new material. The research was funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

By Arnie Phifer, University of Notre Dame This paste of cadmium sulphidecoated titanium dioxide nanoparticles could turn large surfaces into solar cells. (Credit: ACS Nano)

The car as a power plant?

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ater discharged into lakes and rivers from municipal sewage treatment plants may contain significant concentrations of the genes that make bacteria antibiotic-resistant. That's the conclusion of a new study on a sewage treatment plant on Lake Superior in the Duluth, Minn., harbor that appears in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Timothy M LaPara and colleagues explain that antibioticresistant bacteria - a major problem in medicine today - are abundant in the sewage that enters municipal wastewater treatment plants. Treatment is intended to kill the bacteria, and it removes many of the bacterial genes that cause antibiotic resistance. However, genes or bacteria may be released in effluent from the plant. In an effort to determine the importance of municipal sewage treatment plants as sources of antibiotic resistance genes, the scientists studied releases of those genes at the Duluth facility.

Although the Duluth facility uses some of the most advanced technology for cleaning wastewater -so-called tertiary treatment - the study identified it as an important source of antibiotic resistance genes. Sampling of water at 13 locations detected three genes, for instance, that make bacteria resistant to the tetracycline group of antibiotics, which are used to treat conditions ranging from acne to sexually transmitted diseases to anthrax and bubonic plague. LaPara's team says their research demonstrates that even the most high-tech sewage treatment plants may be significant sources of antibiotic resistance genes in waterways.

r&d FEATURE

The STP path to antibiotic resistance

he car will be our future power plant, declared TU Delft Professor of Future Energy Systems and sustainable energy entrepreneur Ad van Wijk during his inaugural address last month, while advocating a new perspective on energy. The energy debate, he pointed out, almost always focuses on the availability of energy. How much fossil energy is left or how many households does one wind farm supply with electricity. “What the debate should be about is which energy services are needed, a warm house, a boiled egg or a tonne of steel for example, and how these services can be offered in an energy-efficient way.”

Van Wijk plans to challenge conventional thinking on energy by developing the ‘Green Campus’ at TU Delft. “By means of a series of innovations on the TU Delft terrain, we want to develop a sustainable, living and entrepreneurial campus designed to discover, learn and inspire,” he explained.

One of the projects is a sustainable parking garage, which will also serve as an electricity plant. Initially, the garage will only offer facilities for charging electric vehicles. In the future, Van Wijk also expects cars to be fitted with fuel cells.

When these vehicles are parked, the fuel cells will convert biogas or hydrogen into electricity. The garage will turn into an electricity plant of considerable size. Van Wijk said: “If you use fuel cells to generate electricity in the parking garage, our 500 car garage will also be a 40 MW electricity plant.” There is also an added bonus for car owners: they will actually be paid for parking.

He predicted that the fuel cell car will be the new, efficient and flexible electricity production park of the future.

“In one year, we buy more electricity generating capacity via our cars than the electricity production capacity currently in place in the Netherlands.” The greatest challenge, however, will be to innovate the energy industry and the legislation and regulations necessary for these changes. Another project is the Energy Wall (see photo).

Energy Wall will be positioned along the Kruithuisweg, the motorway connecting the A13 and the railway station Delft Zuid. The wall will generate energy, provide roadside lighting and reduce the emission of particulates and noise. Photo: Florian Heinzelmann, TU Delft

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FEATURE sectorreport

menawater&wastewater Opportunities aplenty As economic development speeds up, Middle East governments are moving aggressively towards promoting water conservation/ storage, wastewater recycle and reuse and desalination of sea water in order to meet the burgeoning water consumption needs of all sectors. The region is also investing heavily in water and sewerage networks to ensure 100% connectivity to the growing population.

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he region is at a very sensitive stage where it is trying hard to balance the three Es, namely Energy, Environment and Economy. This strenuous act is shoring up business opportunities in the environment sector. On the energy side, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to add more than 140,000 MW of new power generation capacity in the next decade. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will alone invest $80-100 billion in adding 75,000 MW by the year 2020 from current capacity of 46,000 MW. Economically, the GCC region is making brisk developments and is anticipated to be a $2 trillion economy by the year 2020, supplying 25% of the world’s oil. Contribution of non-oil sectors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to go up from 35% in 2010 to 40% in the year 2020, as economic diversification gains pace.

Such rapid growth is undoubtedly straining the already scarce and stretched water resources in the region. Water requirements by all the three sectors, namely, agriculture, domestic and industrial are set to grow from 35 billion m3 to 49 billion m3 by 2020 in the GCC. Whilst, the sewage collection rate in the GCC is 52% of the total sewage generated; however, contribution of recycled water to total water withdrawal is between four to eight per cent. All the GCC countries are water-stressed with the per capita renewable water resources much below

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Sasidhar Chidanamarri of Frost & Sullivan sums up the key trends in the region’s water and wastewater sector in 2012

the critical level of 1,000 m3/day. Over drafting of groundwater aquifers has led to deterioration of groundwater quality, further constraining groundwater supplies.

The GCC region mirrors the trend followed by emerging economies like India, Brazil, and China where up to 80% of the water withdrawals are meant for agricultural purposes. However, in case of developed economies like the United States, industries consume the majority. The industrial growth in the GCC region, though aimed at de-risking the economy from frequent shocks of Oil & Gas sector, is expected to unfold opportunities for advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions.

Urbanisation is another mega trend severely impacting the already low levels of available water resources pegged at 1,200 m3/per person/ per year as against the global average being 7,000 m3/per person/ per year. In the Middle East, urbanisation levels are about 50%, but the urban growth rate is about four per cent. Urbanisation levels are expected to touch 70% by the year 2020. Hence, the real challenge lies in continuing economic growth, eradicating poverty and preserving the environment.

Provision of water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is vital to make the Middle Eastern cities viable, liveable and competitive, in order to attract foreign investment, increase

implementing solar technologies in desalination would lead to cost reduction, lower operating expenses (opex)

optimisation of feed water temperature of the RO plant by using cooling water from the heat rejection section of the MSF, extension of the life of the membranes and low water production cost. Another technological trend likely to gain a foothold in the GCC region is the solar-powered desalination market.

Solar energy received on each square kilometre of the desert land is sufficient to desalinate an amount of 165,000 m3/day. Realising that desalination consumes vast amounts of energy, implementing solar technologies in desalination would lead eventually to cost reduction, lower operating expenses (OPEX) over the concession period and help earn carbon credits.

These advantages translate to lower water tariffs for consumers in the long term.

The GCC region is witnessing installations of large capacity MBR plants. Muscat in Oman, has recently

commissioned a 76,000 m3/ day MBR plant that treats sewage to low levels of suspended solids, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and colour, for use in irrigation and other industrial applications. These developments are revealing signs of a more expansive market for MBRs in the Middle East.

sectorreport FEATURE

employment and economic growth.

Investments in clean technologies and environment friendly practices through the implementation of advanced treatment technologies not only solve water issues but also promote green growth and sustainable living The region is facing an uphill task of meeting the growing demand for water by industries, improving water supply and sanitation to the growing population, planning to prevent depletion and contamination along with optimisation of available water resources. In its path towards meeting these challenges, opportunities are unfolding for the water sector particularly in the areas of recycle and reuse technologies such as Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and sea water desalination.

The Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market in the GCC region is pegged at $1.3 billion in 2011 and is expected to reach $2 billion by 2016 growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of seven per cent over the next five years. Desalination is expected to continue playing a critical role in the overall water supply in the MENA region. Across the Middle East, a total of 39 million m3/day of desalination capacity is expected to be added between 2010 and 2020. This translates into an approximate investment of $4550 billion in the desalination sector. Frost & Sullivan, in a recent study, estimated the MBR market in the Middle East at $120 Million in 2010. The MBR market represents just nine per cent of the overall treatment equipment market, which is pegged at $1.3 billion. The MBR market is slated to grow at CAGR of 17.7%, most of the revenue will again be anchored by the GCC region.

Global opportunities

The ageing water and wastewater infrastructure of the developed regions coupled by the increasing stringent legislation will catalyse replacement opportunities as well as advanced and efficient treatment systems.

Rapid increase in populations both in developing countries as well as major urban centres will influence major investments for water and wastewater treatment needs. Growth markets include the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and APAC, which are

The CEO's Perspective Technological Impact

In desalination, Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is expected to garner greater market share than thermal technologies, especially in the small-capacity plants market. With technical advancements resulting from various researches, RO is gaining importance in the market for its lower energy consumption. The GCC region is also witnessing newer developments such as RO or Multi Stage Flash (MSF) hybrid desalination plants that offer significant advantages such as small seawater intake facilities,

january2012

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FEATURE sectorreport

menawater&wastewater characterised by high population density lacking adequate drinking water and sanitation.

The cumulative global desalination capacity was 68 million m3/day in 2010.

The Middle East and North Africa region contributes to more than 50% of the world’s desalination capacity. Saudi Arabia is now the largest producer of desalinated water in the world, accounting for 17% of the global desalinated water capacity, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 14%. The world’s desalination capacity is expected to double from 60 million m3/day to 120 million m3/ day by 2020. Much of the expansion is anticipated to occur in the Middle East.

On a global scale, Middle East’s MBR market represents 20% of the global MBR market. It has the potential to grow at a remarkable rate of 18% CAGR in the next five years as compared to the global CAGR of 13.9% over the next four years.

Best practices

The GCC is a market where most end users are now seeking performance over price. As opportunities in recycle and reuse grow, the market is seeking innovation and newer technologies like MBR to treat and reuse wastewater.

The growing numbers of Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) projects indicate an increase in adoption of energyefficient systems. The use of energy recovery devices (ERDs) and variable frequency drives (VFDs) are making RO desalination a cost-effective and energy efficient solution. With growing number of BOT projects in the region, industry participants must also have the capability to finance the projects. The ability to secure funding will play a key role in the market. Apart from the above, improved project management skills are also being sought to prevent time and cost overruns.

Services market is another area of great opportunity where end users, industries in particular, are outsourcing the operations and maintenance (O&M) of water and effluent treatment plants so that they can focus on their core competencies.

End-user Perspective

Municipalities form the major chunk of end users for water and wastewater treatment equipment. In order to augment the water and wastewater infrastructure, governments of Middle East countries are using Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) wherein the risks are shared optimally

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between the public and private sector for sea water desalination. There is also a need for institutional capacity building such as dedicated agencies, availability of sufficient skilled staff and detailed policy planning. Most importantly, the private sector has to ensure efficient delivery of services over the concession period without unreasonable hikes in water tariffs. Both Public and Private sectors have to bear in mind that water is still considered a “free” resource in most of the developing nations.

In order to bring improvements in efficiency and quality of service, the PPPs representing huge stakes for both private and public sector agencies have to be a mutually rewarding.

The Commercial segment has driven the demand for MBR systems, mainly on account of urbanisation and development of the real estate sector in the MENA region. Oil & Gas sector has also been at the forefront in developing and adopting advanced treatment systems for the wastewater treatment.

both public and private sectors have to bear in mind that water is still considered a "free" resource in most of the developing nations

Competitive analysis

The competition is intense in less technologically intensive water treatment systems. When it comes to complex systems like MBR and desalination, the market is concentrated in the hands of few players of global repute. However, the competitive landscape in MBR and desalination is changing with the entry of new participants from regions like India, Asia Pacific and China. The competition for components such as membranes is also increasing due to new entrants from China. However, as manufacturing quality standards for systems and discharge standards for effluent become stringent, players with the capability to treat multicomplex contaminants are certainly going to have an advantage over other low-cost manufacturers.

YOUR ONE-STOP GUIDE TO CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION...

The Big Project is the Middle East’s leading monthly B2B magazine for the construction industry.

40,880 readers per month AVERAGE PROJECTED READERSHIP

Strategic outlook for the year 2012

It is widely known, and fully documented, that the Middle East, despite the severe water crisis, has been at the vanguard of embracing new technologies. Whether it is the new eco-friendly solar powered desalination plants or forward osmosis desalination or the large capacity MBR systems, the region is making maximum attempts to shore up infrastructure to tide over the water scarcity issue. The region holds significant potential for industry participants mulling a foray into the development of water and wastewater infrastructure including desalination, water and wastewater treatment, water transmission, and wastewater collection network. The Middle East region has the potential to drive the market for membrane-based systems such as reverse osmosis, MBR and ultra-filtration (UF) on the treatment side. Additionally, the Middle Eastern countries are keen to allow the private sector to tackle critical water and wastewater issues. In its quest for sustainable and green growth, the region is expected to be the testing ground for advanced and newer treatment technologies.

(The author is Industry Manager, Environmental and Building Technologies Practice, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, Frost & Sullivan)

CONTACT DETAILS Associate publisher Liam Williams liam@cpidubai.com TEL: +971 (0)4 440 9158

Editor Melanie Mingas melanie@cpidubai.com TEL: +971 (0)4 440 9117 GSM: +971 (0)56 758 7834

Assistant editor Dan McAlister dan@cpidubai.com TEL: +971 (0)4 440 9118

FEATURE countryreport

UAE The UAE, which is the secondlargest Arab economy and the world’s fourth biggest oil exporter, recorded real GDP growth of 1.4% in 2010 after a 1.6% contraction in 2009 shaking off negative vibes emerging from Dubai’s sovereign debt concerns and a real estate bust.

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on-oil GDP continues is the key driver of the UAE’s economic growth, accounting for over 71% of the economy. Major non-oil sectors include trade (16%), manufacturing (12%), real estate (eight per cent), construction (seven per cent), and the financial sector (seven per cent).

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected UAE’s real GDP in 2011 to grow by 3.3, slightly higher than an earlier forecast of 3.25% thanks to record crude prices in 2011. The unrest in the Arab world has also prompted flight of capital into the UAE thanks to its highly favourable business and investment climate, even as the country

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has become the regional headquarters of over 25% of the top 500 companies in the world. At the same time, economic activity continues to be underpinned by government spending albeit at lower levels compared to Saudi Arabia and other GCC members. While IMF has projected real GDP growth of around 3.8 per cent in 2012, the Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri has been quoted as saying that the country’s economic growth could slow to around three per cent in 2012 if the situation in Europe and the US continues to be volatile.

Saudi American Bank Group (SAMBA) said in its monthly bulletin that

The UAE’s energy and utilities sectors could buck the country’s fiscal consolidation trend in 2012

a recovery in Dubai’s non-oil economy with strong crude prices and higher production will lift the UAE’s real GDP by nearly 4.3 per cent in 2011 before it slows down in 2012. Large increases in oil, NGL and gas production will ensure a strong contribution from the UAE’s hydrocarbons sector in 2011. But the report added that a downscaling of Abu Dhabi’s development spending plans, deteriorating global trade, growth and financial conditions, lower oil prices and a possible OPEC mandated cut in oil output, will all weigh heavily on the economy next year. Citing its own figures and projections by the IMF and other institutions, SAMBA said while the

East Wastewater Treatment and Reuse conference in Abu Dhabi in November last year, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) planning and forecasting department manager Malcolm Haddock said the organisation plans to spend Dh 5.8 billion on wastewater projects in 2012. In the case of Dubai, the emirate is all set to announce the winning consortium for its first Independent Power Project (IPP) in February 2012. The 1,600 MW Hassyan 1 is a combined cycle power project, which will be developed on a build-ownoperate (BOO) basis. On the renewable front, The National newspaper reported that Torresol Energy, the solar venture between Masdar and the Spanish company Sener, is working on the

while construction and infrastructure continue to retract, the oil & gas sector remains a key area of investment. preliminary design of a 50 to 100MW plant in Abu Dhabi. In March 2011, Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar, Total, and Abengoa Solar, had announced the $600-mn financial close of Shams 1, one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power projects.

It is not all bleak on the infrastructure front either. The ongoing development of the Khalifa Port and the Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) is slated to become the focal point for Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing, logistics and traderelated sectors. As per recent reports, KIZAD had Dh18.4 billion of committed projects from more than 30 industrial companies spanning glass to clean

technology. It aims to account for 15 per cent of the capital's non-oil GDP by 2030. In the long run, large-scale transportation projects such as Etihad Rail, expansion of ports and road networks will all have a positive impact on the UAE's economy. DP World announced that it will be investing around $850 million over three years adapting 1,860 meters of quayside and 70 hectares of yard from an existing general cargo berth in Jebel Ali Port into a new container terminal within the existing container port. The new terminal will be able to handle the next generation of mega container vessels.

Recently, the federal government announced the setting up of $2.7 billion development bank to support the nation’s economic development. The bank will support various development initiatives, including industrial and real estate projects, and facilitate real estate credit applications for building, maintaining and renovating residential properties. The UAE government has also approved a draft 2012 budget of $11.4 billion, with health, education and social services expected to absorb bulk of the outlay. Nearly four per cent of the budgeted expenditure is targeted at infrastructure projects.

In Dubai, the budget approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai last month, called for Dh32.26 billion of government spending next year against anticipated revenues of Dh30.4 billion, resulting in a projected Dh1.8 billion deficit. That spending was about Dh1.42 billion less than the amount outlined in the 2011 budget, reflecting an effort to improve efficiency and save money across government departments. The 2012 budget represents "continuing efforts to raise the efficiency of government spending through increasing productivity and improving economic and social returns", the Dubai Government Media Office said in a statement, citing the Department of Finance. Despite the spending cuts, Dubai's budget outlines large outlays on infrastructure, transport and economic development, which together take up 41% of total expenditure. About Dh5.9 billion has been earmarked for completion of infrastructure

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countryreport FEATURE

UAE would record a real GDP growth of around three per cent in 2012, it would still be near the 3.2 per cent growth recorded in 2010 and in contrast with the 3.5 per cent contraction of real GDP in 2009. According to SAMBA, fiscal consolidation and economy wide deleveraging are likely to remain themes for UAE in 2012.

The overall 2011 project market in the UAE was slow, if the report by Citi Investment Research & Analysis is any indication. By end-October 2011, the UAE had awarded projects to the tune of $14 billion, almost $20 billion below 2010 figures for the same period, placing the country third behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The report, titled ‘MENA Construction Projects Tracker,’ said Saudi Arabia’s share of the total GCC projects has grown three per cent to $650 billion, while the share of the UAE has contracted three per cent to $600 billion. According to the report, while construction and infrastructure continue to retract in the region as a whole, oil & gas sector remains a key area of investment with $10 billion of projects added to pipelines across the main MENA markets. Last year, Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (GASCO) signed a lump sum turnkey (LSTK) agreement with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the new Habshan - Ruwais - Shuweihat gas pipeline.

According to data in the UAE’s 2010 yearbook released in September 2011, Abu Dhabi is pumping $5.3 billion into the improved exploitation of the Sahil, Asab, Bab and Shah fields, in a bid to increase production, from 1.4 million bpd to 1.8 million bpd.

According to BMI, while the construction and infrastructure market in the UAE remains stagnant, with public investments driving activity, the energy and utilities sector has been perhaps the strongest performer. BMI’s Key Projects Database points to nearly $60 billion of utilities projects (including the nuclear power plant) are underway, or are planned in the UAE. In September 2011, Samsung C&T was awarded a $600 million order to build a 1,023 MW combined cycle power plant by Emirates Aluminium Company (EMAL).

Abu Dhabi is expected to launch a new Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP) in Taweelah or Mirfa in 2012.

Speaking at MEED’s 7th Annual Middle

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FEATURE interview

cabletalk

“There are many things that make us unique in the certification business,” says Graham O’Geran, Operations Manager at the UK-based British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC). “One, we certify only cables; second, we are actively involved in educating the public about the dangers of faulty cables; third, we are a nonprofit.” The 40-year old organisation, which provides professional certification services for the global cable industry through inspection of production facilities, cable testing and issue of the BASEC mark, has top cable manufacturers in the Middle East in its clientele roster.

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nlike many commercial certification bodies, we don’t have owners or shareholders, only stakeholders with votes. So we are not under any pressure to make profits,” explained O’Geran.

BASEC ploughs back its operational profits into activities involving public education and spreading awareness about the risks associated with using faulty and non-approved cables.

While the cable industry has safety standards, the fact that anyone can self-declare means safety and quality are interpreted differently. For example, even if a cable is marked with only a standard number, the probability that nobody other than the manufacturer has examined that cable is high. O’Geran cited the example of fire risks associated with faulty cables in the context of high rises and massive mixed use complexes mushrooming across the region. He continued, “A faulty cable could be the cause of the fire but more devastating would be the failure of cables managing

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Why product certification matters?

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Graham O’Geran, Operations Manager at the UK-based British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) spoke to Anoop K Menon on the dangers of faulty cables and the importance of product certification.

power supplies and control circuitry for the emergency systems.” BASEC subjects fire performance cables to tests that assess whether the cable remains operational throughout the fire and damage from falling items and is resistant to the effects of water spray from sprinklers or fire fighting activities.

“Under test conditions, these cables should remain operational for maximum 120 minutes. But some of the cables we tested lasted all of one minute 30 or 40 seconds, which is quite worrying,” said O’Geran.

In the UK, BASEC is working to educate the marketplace and public on the dangers of using unsafe, nonapproved or counterfeit cables. In the UAE, it is working with the utilities, civil defence authorities and the Emirates Authority for Standardisation & Metrology (ESMA) to ensure that only approved cables are used in the country.

Problems commonly encountered in faulty cables include undersized copper

conductors with low conductivity, nonfire-resistant sheathing, and insufficient or poor quality armouring. “With copper prices shooting up, manufacturers may be tempted to save money by making cables as close as they can to the minimum requirements,” said O’Geran.

“For example, a container load (20 tonnes) of copper will cost $200,000 at $10,000 a tonne. Taking out 5-10% of that cost makes you competitive on the cost front.”

O’Geran has come across instances where the conductor is deliberately undersized and even ones where manufacturers make incorrect assumptions about the cable’s application, for example, treating a fire performance cable as a ‘red coloured’ cable without understanding its special characteristics like, for example, glass tapes that keep away flame from conductors.

However, O’Geran also acknowledged that the urge to ‘cut

all type testing confirms is that a particular cable sample met the requirements on that particular day, this doesnt give assurance

Limitations of QMS

Apart from product certification, BASEC also provides management system certification for Quality Management (ISO 9001), Environmental Management (ISO 14001) and Health & Safety management (OHSAS 18001). “Though it would be a lot cheaper to use local organisations, companies approach us because they know they will get more value from our audits like reducing waste, improving quality,” said O’Geran.

However, BASEC’s stance has been that management system certifications don’t provide sufficient scope or detail to ensure ongoing quality in cable production, something that only product certifications can provide. So management system certification does not result in BASEC approval of any cable as no testing is involved. Manufacturers with only these certifications are not permitted to mark their cable with the BASEC mark.

Manufacturers who want BASEC’s product approval are required to undergo and maintain certification to the BASEC Product Certification Requirements tailor-made for cable production. “We look at a wide range of requirements ranging from sales

process to process control to test and measurement equipment to packaging and even product recalls,” said O’Geran.

Again, while BASEC helps manufacturers get their cable product type tested, it doesn’t mean they are BASEC approved or marked BASEC. “All type testing confirms is that a particular cable sample met the requirements on a particular day, but this doesn’t give assurance of ongoing production or production quality,” explained O’Geran.

“There is nothing stopping someone from producing a golden sample to get favourable type test report. At BASEC, we take up to 180 samples a year and test them to destruction.”

In fact, BASEC approves a cable to a full manufacturing standard than to a particular test. To initially gain the product approval, the manufacturing facility must be successfully assessed against BASEC Product Certification Requirements with samples of the cables in question subjected to a range of tests specified in the standard beacuse these standards, apart from specifying the dimensions and materials of a cable, require that a range of specific tests are undertaken to prove the construction and performance. Once all tests are passed, the manufacturer is awarded a certificate with an approved range of production.

Thus, only after BASEC has verified that a cable manufacturer has the production facilities, processes, testing capabilities and the ability to make good cable is a product marking licence awarded, permitting the manufacturer to display the BASEC mark on their products. Each approved cable is then regularly retested

by BASEC to ensure ongoing conformity.

BASEC auditors visit manufacturing sites and other key locations of clients one to four times every year with each visit taking up to five days. The auditors check all aspects of management and production, and the operation of each machine is checked. Discrepancies from the requirements of the standards have to be rectified within the period specified

by BASEC. Further, BASEC approval also incorporates surveillance testing where assessors visit each manufacturer several times a year to select samples for surveillance testing done in parallel with the audit of production process and management systems. For all test failures, the manufacturer is required to implement corrective and preventive

actions which are verified by the BASEC auditor during the next visit. “If there is a serious problem, we require the manufacturer to quarantine the batch, scrap or rework the cables. Also, they need to identify how the problem happened so they can stop it from happening again,” said O’Geran. Every three years, BASEC takes a complete reassessment of the manufacturer.

Value engineering

Where the manufacturer carries out value engineering for cost reduction, can the outcomes result in non-conformity issues with regard to approvals?

O’Geran pointed that BASEC offers approvals to ‘true standards.’ For example, in the case of copper conductors, cable standards specify the maximum conductor resistance permitted. Drawing down the diameter of the copper wire too much has the effect of increasing resistance (reducing conductance). Cables with resistance higher than specified may overheat or offer a reduced the level of safety. In extreme cases, this could result in fire or electric shock. He continued: “Cable manufacturers can set their modern equipment to much closer tolerances.

Of course, copper is too expensive to waste, but part of our audit process is to check and ensure that the design meets the minimum requirements, the test plans are good enough to ensure that the cable don’t go below standard.”

For cable manufacturers in the region, the major deterrent to availing BASEC’s certification services is the cost. Interestingly, BASEC doesn’t actively solicit customers. “We speak to utilities, specifiers and consultants about the benefits associated with approved cables, not necessarily BASECapproved. Often cable manufacturers come to us to get approved because the utility or specifier or consultant put ‘BASEC-approved’ in the specifications.”

O’Geran aspires to raise the level of awareness about faulty cables in the UAE to level that exists in the UK today. He said, “Our clients Ducab and NCI account for 80% of the cable manufacturing capacity in the UAE. However, that doesn’t mean that 80% of the cables in the UAE are from their factories as imports supply a substantial part of the cable market here.” So he surely his tasks cut out.

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interview FEATURE

corners’ pervades across the entire chain – thus, people using the cable will go to the cheapest place while those specifying the cable will work to the tightest tolerance. He continued, “The problem is that in the whole chain of custody, everyone is trying to save their five or 10%. When you get the end product in your hands, you may be actually looking at a serious problem without realising it.”

Another troubling issue is counterfeiting, with cables often marked with standards and approvals to which they have no claim or where the cable’s materials of construction are substandard or risky substitutes.

A significant part of O’Geran’s job is to keep tabs on cables sold in the market place. “We spend a lot of time going out, tracking down bad cables and sharing the information with the clients. If the cable is non-BASEC, we get back to the manufacturer and tell them who is selling the cable. We also issue press releases to warn people, trade media, inspectorates, trade organisations and buyers about the problem.”

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FEATURE casestudy

sandfiltration

Tertiary value The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is located in one of the world's most arid regions, yet beneath the surface lie reserves of fresh water; a resource which worldwide is only now being seen as finite, and in need of conservation and protection. In a country where desert temperatures can approach 45 degrees C, this concern is even more immediate.

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he protection of this life-giving element in Dhahran falls to Dhahran Utilities Department (DUD), which performs a critical function in the distribution of water, the collection of wastewater, and water well maintenance and in a constant programme of education and support for the principles of water conservation, seeks ever more effective ways to convince people of the precious value of water.

As part of DUD's continuing campaign to conserve water through reclamation and treatment, last summer the Department celebrated the completion of the expansions of Dhahran North Sewage Treatment Plant (NSTP) and the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWTP). Combined, the projects will add 40% to the plants' treatment volume capacity, and will contribute to the annual saving of billions of gallons of groundwater.

The work was undertaken by Saudi Aramco which owns and operates many water reclamation facilities. The NSTP is located in Doha, and the AWTP is located inside the Dhahran community.

These two plants serve the Saudi Aramco community as well as Doha, Dana, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).

The Dhahran NSTP had been

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Continuous sand filters enable the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dhahran to recycle 10 million gallons per day (MMGD) of high quality tertiary water for irrigation purposes, saving approximately three billion gallons of precious groundwater every year.

By Chris Taylor

expanded from eight to 10 million gallons per day (MMGD) to meet anticipated demand by the year 2010; and in line with original plans to increase the recycling of tertiary water, the AWT plant has been expanded from three to 10 MMGD. Work at the NST plant included the installation of two additional settling tanks and a bypass overflow line to divert effluent to the emergency pond during heavy rains. About three MMGD of the NSTP secondary effluent is further treated at the tertiary level for use in irrigation throughout the community's planted areas.

The expansion activities at the AWT plant included a new six MMGD continuous backwash filter, a 1.5 million gallon storage tank, a new irrigation pump station and tertiary distribution piping. The project also replaced the existing hazardous chlorine gas used in both plants with sodium hypochlorite.

With the project completed, the AWT plant will be able to recycle 10 MMGD of high quality tertiary water for irrigation purposes, saving approximately three billion gallons of precious groundwater every year. In Dhahran now, 100% of wastewater is treated to a tertiary level and is suitable for irrigation; the effluent pumped out of the NSTP and treated at the secondary level is pumped to the

AWTP and treated at the tertiary level.

The greatest use for reclaimed water irrigation is for community landscaping and sports fields. Community landscaping includes parks for family activities, common green areas in housing developments, and roadside strips. In Dhahran, some reclaimed water is also used to water resident's front gardens, and to grow grass turf for use within the community.

Abqaig, al-Hasa and Tanijib communities all have tertiary wastewater treatment facilities, and DUD is currently conducting a study to upgrade Rahima and 'Udhailiyah STPs to a tertiary level.

Munir M Rafie, Aramco's executive director, Community, Buildings and Office Services, said this is in line with the company's interest in the treatment of sanitary drainage water, because of the company's belief in protecting the health and sanitation of the environment and community. He added that the treatment plants are the most developed in the region, and are operated according to the latest technology available worldwide.

Throughout the wastewater treatment and effluent re-use processes, the fitration requirements were met

by Nordic Water Products (formerly Waterlink) and their DynaSand

a key advantage is that the filter does not have to be taken out of operation for backwashing or cleaning Twenty-four individual filter modules were installed, each having six square metres of horizontal surface area, to be installed in six concrete cells. The filters' designed flow capacity is 3,950 gallons per minute, equivalent to 897 m3/ hour, with maximum capacity some 17% beyond that.

One of the factors that made this project particularly challenging was that it entailed connecting and installing expansion pipes and equipment inside the plants whilst they were operating at full capacity.

1 Concrete housings for 24 DynaSand units, plus space for an additional eight

The filters' designed flow capacity is 3,950 gallons per minute, equivalent to 897m3/hour, with maximum capacity some 17% beyond that.

The water to be treated is admitted through the inlet distributor (1) in the lower section of the unit and is cleaned as it flows upward through the sand bed prior to discharge through the filtrate outlet (2) at the top. The sand containing the entrapped impurities is conveyed from the tapered bottom section of the unit (3), by means of an air-lift pump (4), to the sand washer (5) at the top. Cleaning of the sand commences in the pump itself, in which particles of dirt are separated from the sand grains by the turbulent mixing action. The contaminated sand spills from the pump outlet into the washer labyrinth (6), in which it is washed by a small flow of clean water. The impurities are discharged through the wash water outlet (7), while the grains of clean sand (which are heavier) are retained to the sand bed (8). As a result, the bed is in constant downward motion through the unit. Thus, water purification and sand washing both take place continuously, enabling the filter to remain in service without interruption.

David Barrie is Aramco's Project Engineer for Community Projects Division in Dhahran. He claimed the project's timescale had also been very tight, but that the team had pulled together to meet it. "The project's construction period was 19 months, which set a new standard for such projects in Aramco. It was very challenging, but I was fortunate to have an excellent team and a cooperative contractor. After completion, the project was turned over to Dhahran Utilities for operations."

casestudy FEATURE

continuous sand filter. Its proven reliability with more than 8,000 installations over 10 years, and no moving parts for maintenance, made it the sound choice for this application.

A further key advantage is that the filter does not have to be taken out of operation for backwashing or cleaning: simultaneous with the filtration process, fouled sand is cleaned in a dedicated wash process and the suspended solids discharged with the wash water.

In the DynaSand filter, fouled sand is continuously removed from the filter bed, washed and recycled without interruption to the filtration process. The DynaSand filter is based on the counterflow principle.

2 Final construction of the DynaSand plant 3 Inlets to the DynaSand plant

4 One cell in the DynaSand plant

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TEST measurement

electricalreview Tan Delta anyone?

With an increasing failure rate of substation electrical equipment, utilities and heavy industry must focus on preventive and predictive maintenance to ensure power system integrity and reliability. Electrical insulation is a common reason for electrical equipment failures and tan delta/ dissipation/power factor (PF) testing is a popular way of diagnosing and estimating the condition of insulation as it ages.

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here are, however, a number of issues relating to PF testing that are not nearly as widely understood as they should be.

PF testing is widely used on electrical equipment such as power transformers, circuit breakers, generators and cables. PF values, trended over time, can help in detecting problems like contamination, high moisture content and presence of voids in the insulation. Excitation current tests, along with PF tests, performed on power transformers, can also help in detecting turn-to-turn insulation failure.

Dissipation/Power Factor vs. Voltage

Dissipation factor tests are usually performed at 10 kV or the readings are converted to 10 kV equivalent.

The best voltage for PF tests is a frequently debated topic as instruments are now available that allow the tests to be performed at voltages from 27 V to 12 kV. What test voltage is “good enough” for accurate and reliable measurements? The answer depends on the type of test specimen and the test conditions.

Most power transformers have oil-paper type insulating systems that exhibit a flat response when PF is measured as a function of test voltage.

However, motors and generators typically have dry or solid insulation whose PF values may vary with test voltage. Values increase with increasing

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Dinesh Chhajer of Megger’s Technical Support Group shares little known facts about tan delta/power factor testing

test voltage due to the voids that are almost invariably present in solid insulation. The increase in PF value as a function of voltage corresponds to increasing ionisation in the voids.

One reason that industry has standardised on a 10 kV test voltage is for immunity against electrostatic interference; power transformers operating in HV substations are subject to a lot of electrical noise and interference. An HV test signal provides better signal to noise ratio, giving more accurate measurements.

Test instruments with very high noise suppression capability are required for measurements in HV substations as the test current is very low in insulation tests and noise levels can be as high as 20 times the test current.

Negative power factor values

For perfect insulation, the PF should be zero. In practice, any value close to zero is considered to indicate a good insulation system. PF test sets always try to measure a single capacitor, but if the test object has some phantom circuits along with that single capacitance, the results look strange.

For example, when performing tests on bushings, three-winding transformers or inter-phase insulation of rotating machinery, the PF values will sometimes be negative. PF is a measure of watts loss in the insulation.

Negative PF therefore corresponds

to watts generation. Obviously, insulation cannot generate power, which shows that negative PF values are not real but instead tell us that the insulation does not behave as an expected capacitance.

Fig 1

Specimen in UST mode with surface loss components

Negative values also appear with some specimens that have high surface leakage. As shown in Fig 1, phantom circuits introduce a current (Is) which changes the phase angle of the measured test current (IT). The surface loss current (Is) is predominantly resistive (Rs) and has a very small phase angle with respect to the applied voltage. Capacitive coupling (Cc) may be present as a result of this parallel path of Rs to main insulation under test.

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design – for example, the presence of electrostatic grounded shield between the inter-windings of a transformer. In other cases, where negative values are encountered users should consider eliminating all external effects by following best testing practices such as verifying proper grounding circuits, cleaning external bushing surfaces, avoiding unfavourable weather conditions and using guard circuits effectively. Repeated negative values after taking these precautions could point toward contamination or a bad insulation system.

Excitation Current vs.

Voltage

Fig 2

Vector diagrams with different Is phase angles and different magnitude of INET

Smaller phase angles for surface loss current (Is) can lead to negative PF values. Measured test current (IT) is the vector difference of total current (INET) and surface loss current (Is). In UST or GST configurations, this surface loss makes the measured test current (IT) phase angle greater than 90º, resulting in negative PF values.

It is important to understand where negative PF values come from. For some specimens it is just a result of

Fig 3

Excitation current measurement on a Delta winding with third leg grounded

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Excitation current testing is commonly performed along with PF testing. It is a voltage dependent test and is always performed in UST mode. Like PF tests, the excitation current readings are normalised to 10 kV equivalent values, using a linear approximation. When dealing with specimens that are highly inductive like power transformers, the relationship between voltage and current is not linear.

Assuming a linear relation to determine 10 kV equivalent excitation gives only approximate values. It is, therefore, important to perform tests at the same voltage if excitation current historical data needs to be trended.

Tests performed at different voltages and then corrected to 10 kV may not be comparable. This is important as trending data is critical when evaluating problems with turn-to-turn insulation.

When performing excitation current measurements on delta windings, it is important to ground the third leg of the delta configuration as shown in Fig 3.

Since excitation current is a UST test, grounding the third leg eliminates the current flowing in the other two windings from the measurement circuit.

Depending on the inductance and resistance of each winding, if third leg is not grounded the results would be approximately 30% to 50% higher than true readings.

A transformer with magnetised core can exhibit higher excitation current measurements than normal. IEEE 62-1995 section 6.1.3.4 states: “If a significant change in the test results is observed, the only reliable method of excluding the effect of residual magnetism is to demagnetise the transformer core.” The factors discussed here that affect excitation current measurements should be borne in mind before performing the test.

Temperature correction factors for PF readings

The dissipation factor values are highly dependent on temperature. IEEE C57.12.90 section 10.10.4 Note 3 (b) states that “Experience has shown that the variation in power factor with temperature is substantial and erratic so that no single correction curve will fit all cases.” Nevertheless, correction factor tables have traditionally been used to bring all data to a common base of 20 °C. It is imperative only to compare a specimen’s PF values that are taken at a similar temperature or corrected to the same temperature accurately.

For different specimens, changes in temperature affect PF values in different ways. And even the same specimen will become more temperature dependent as it ages. Temperature correction factors are highly dependent on insulating material, its structure, ageing, presence of moisture or contamination and other influences. However, temperature correction data is based upon the average values. Since each test object is unique, using these average corrections introduces errors.

New transformers have relatively weak temperature dependence and the use of standard tables overcompensates. As the object ages, same average correction factors

TEST&

TEST measurement

electricalreview

errors, and the IEEE recommends performing PF tests at or near 20 °C However, it’s not always practical to cool down or heat up the test specimen to 20 °C. Fortunately, new technology makes it possible to accurately correct PF values to 20 °C without resorting to correction factor tables based on averages. Using dielectric frequency response (DFR), the unique temperature correction factor of each test object can be determined. This is possible because a PF measurement at a certain temperature and frequency corresponds to a PF measurement made at different temperature and frequency. Therefore by measuring PF at different frequencies, it is possible to determine the temperature dependence of the specific test object.

With this technique, PF can be measured at any insulation temperature [5 °C – 50 °C] and then corrected to 20 °C accurately and precisely.

Conclusion

Electric apparatus has failed and will continue to fail because of insulation deterioration. A proactive approach is the key to monitoring the integrity of the insulation system and preventing or at least anticipating such failures. Tan delta/power factor diagnostic testing is an important tool in determining the quality of the insulation and estimating its remaining healthy life.

Dissipation factor readings are dependent on various factors and it is important to be aware of these. Test voltage, electrostatic interference, temperature, humidity, surface losses and other parameters can greatly influence PF measurements. A better understanding of the impact of these parameters will help in obtaining accurate measurements that can be relied upon in the decision making process.

measurement TEST

would under compensate and error pre- dominates in the other direction.

Trending of PF values becomes more critical in the second half of the life cycle. In this second half, correction factors should be larger because of the increased effect of temperature on the insulation.

Using average factors can lead to incorrect trending and inaccurate estimation of the remaining healthy life of the object. IEEE Standard 621995 states, “Testing at temperatures below freezing should be avoided, since this could significantly affect the measurement.

Among the primary reasons for performing this test is the capability of detecting moisture in insulation. The electrical characteristics of ice and water are quite different and it is much more difficult to detect the presence of ice than it is to detect water; sometimes it is impossible. ”Measuring PF at too high or too low a temperature can introduce

Using dielectric frequency response (DFR), the unique temperature correction factor of each test object can be determined.

january2012

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FEATURE backtobasics

toolkit Commonly asked questions about generator selection

Genset basics Will you require stand-by or prime power supply? Simply stated, prime power is required when you have no other source of power. A stand-by generator set is a backup to utility power.

Why differentiate? The rating of a generator for backup power assumes the generator will be in occasional use for periods of several hours or days. Prime power generators are expected to run 7/24 for 365 days per year. Generators are rated are higher for backup use than for prime power.

G

enerator sets produce either single or three phase power. Choose a single phase generator if you do not have any motors above five horsepower.

Three-phase power is better for motor starting and running. Homeowners usually require single phase whereas industrial or commercial applications frequently require three phase power.

A three-phase AC system has three individual circuits or phases. Each phase is timed so that the current alternation of the first phase is one third of a cycle (120º) ahead of the second and two thirds of a cycle (240º) ahead of the third (2). Three-phase power is commonly found in industrial settings where very large inductive loads (such as large electric motors) must be started.

Common voltages are 120/208, 480, and 600 VAC. Three-phase power is typically found in large generators and only very rarely in units under a 10-kilowatt output rating. The formula for determining power output in watts for a three-phase generator is:

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watts = volts x amps (averaged) x 1.73 Generators are rated in either kVA (Kilovolt amperes) of kW (kilowatts), Kilo meaning 1000. kVA is always higher than the kW. The basic electrical components are the engine generator set and associated meters, controls, and switchgear. Most installations include a single generator set designed to serve either all the normal electrical needs of a building or a limited emergency circuit. Sometimes the system includes two or more generators of different types and sizes, serving different types of loads. Also, two or more generators may be operating in parallel to serve the same load. Automatic starting of multiple units and automatic synchronising controls are available and practical for multiple-unit installations.

Operating speed

The frequency output of a generator depends on a fixed engine speed.

Frequency (Hz) is measured in Hertz (cycles per second) and basically it is the number of times that an AC supply oscillates in one second. Frequency is held constant by the mechanical and or electronic governor mounted on the generator. An excellent level of frequency control is one per cent while a 2-5% level of control is usually adequate.

AC switchgear and controls

• All generator systems require a circuit breaker and a distribution panel.

• The circuit breaker protects the generator set from short circuit and unbalanced electrical loads.

• The distribution panel divides and routes the connected loads and includes circuit breakers to protect these loads.

• Stand-by systems also require a main circuit breaker between the utility source and the transfer panel. The transfer panel switches power from the utility to the generator unit and back so that both aren't on at the same time.

In order for engine-driven generators to provide automatic emergency power, the system must also include automatic engine starting controls, batteries, an automatic battery charger, and an automatic transfer device. In most applications, the utility source is the normal source and the engine generator set provides emergency power when utility power fails. The utility power supply is monitored and engine starting is automatically initiated once there is a failure or severe voltage or frequency reduction in the normal supply. Load is automatically transferred as soon as the standby generator stabilises at rated voltage and speed. Upon restoration of normal supply, the load is transferred back to the normal source and the engine is shut down.

Selection considerations for diesel engines

To make a decision on the type of engine, which is most suitable for a specific application, several factors need to be considered. The two most important factors are: power and speed of the engine.

The power requirement is determined by the maximum load. The engine power rating should be 10 – 20% more than the power demand by the end use. This prevents overloading the machine by absorbing extra load during starting of motors or switching of some types of lighting systems or when wear and tear on the equipment pushes up its power consumption.

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FEATURE backtobasics

enigines should be run as closely as possible to their rated speed to avoid poor efficiency and to prevent build up of engine deposits Speed is measured at the output shaft and given in revolutions per minute (RPM). An engine will operate over a range of speeds, with diesel engines typically running at lower speeds (1300 – 3000 RPM). There will be an optimum speed at which fuel efficiency will be greatest. Engines should be run as closely as possible to their rated speed to avoid poor efficiency and to prevent build up of engine deposits due to incomplete combustion – which will lead to higher maintenance and running costs. To determine the speed requirement of an engine, one has to again look at the requirement of the load.

For some applications, the speed of the engine is not critical, but for other applications such as a generator, it is important to get a good speed match.

If a good match can be obtained, direct coupling of engine and generator is possible; if not, then some form of gearing will be necessary - a gearbox or belt system, which will add to the cost and reduce the efficiency.

There are various other factors that have to be considered, when choosing an engine for a given application. These include the following: cooling system, abnormal environmental conditions (dust, dirt, etc.), fuel quality, speed governing (fixed or variable speed),

poor maintenance, control system, starting equipment, drive type, ambient temperature, altitude, humidity.

Suppliers or manufacturers literature will specify the required information when purchasing an engine. The efficiency of an engine depends on various factors, for example, load factor (percentage of full load), engine size, and engine type.

Electrical Power Generation Rating Guidelines Rating Typical Load Factor

Standby

Prime + 10%

Prime

Continuous

60% or less

60% or less

60-70%

70-100%

Varying

Varying

Varying

Non-Varying

100

500

No Limit

No Limit

Typical Load Typical Hours/Year

Typical Peak Demand

80% of standby rated kW with 100% of rating available for duration of an emergency outage •

Typical Application

•

Building service standby Enclosure / sheltered environme nt

80% of prime 100% of prime rated +10% rated kW kW used with 100% of rating occasionally, but for available for less than 20% of duration of an operating hours emergency outage • • • • •

Standby Rental Power module Unreliable utility Interruptible rates

• • • • •

Industrial Pumping Construction Peak shaving Cogeneration

100% of continuous rated kW for 100% of operating hours

• • •

Base load Utility Cogeneration

Typical load factor is the typical loads applied to the generator set divided by the engine operating hours under those loads.

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energyworld

Concentrator systems are conquering the market. An optical feature concentrates light on tiny solar cells, which helps generates electricity more efficiently.

(Photo: Amonix)

G

rey clouds are gathering over the solar energy industry in Europe.

While Conergy, Q-Cells and Solon have been reporting poor numbers for some time, the contagion has spread to even supposedly safe companies like Solarworld and inverter manufacturer SMA. The former shut down production capacities and eliminated jobs while the latter saw its share prices drop after forecasting reduced profits.

At first glance, the trend is surprising because post-Fukushima, 2011 was expected to herald the turnaround of renewable energy sector. The Fukushima disaster pushed Germany to phase out nuclear power with renewable power expected to fill the shortfall to a large extent. But in many European countries with feed-in compensation, photovoltaic (PV) has fallen from grace on grounds of ‘out-of-control expansion’.

Governments are cutting the feed-in compensation for PV instead of voting for its accelerated expansion.

At 7,247 MW in 2010, the volume of PV power that went online in Germany was double that of 2009. The strong growth led to spiralling funding costs for solar energy. In line with the Renewable Energies Act (EEG), the costs were passed on to the consumers. The EEG reallocation charge was increased by 70% to 3.53 cent per kilowatt hour (kWh). The basic regression of nine per cent was raised to 13% with effect from January 1, 2011. This has resulted in a slowdown in the German PV market: “This year we are expecting

Funding cuts are slowing down demand for solar modules in Europe and driving the photovoltaic (PV) industry towards consolidation.

The manufacturers are responding with cutbacks and innovations.

maximum expansion of 5,000 MW”, says Carsten Körnig, CEO, German Solar Industry Association (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft).

The shrinking effect

It’s not the just German market which is shrinking. According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), newly installed PV capacity worldwide more than doubled to 16,629 MW in 2010. However, governments have started back-pedalling: In Italy, the cut in feed in tariffs rates have made investments less attractive since June.

As a result, the level of expansion in 2011 is expected to be noticeably lower.

The EPIA expects new installations of 3,000-5,000 MW in contrast to 3,600 MW the previous year.

Spain, France and the Czech Republic aren’t far behind either. After lavish funding drove expansion on the Iberian Peninsula to 2,708 MW in 2008, the Spanish government has been nipping new concepts in the bud.

Restrictions on the claim to feed-in incentives and a capacity limit on expansion to 500 MW per year led the market to slump to 17 MW in 2009.

The compensation for open-air and major commercial roof installations, two previous growth drivers, were been cut to such an extent that now even steadfast investors have deserted the country. They cannot find any opportunities in neighbouring France either due to capping of yearly capacity to 500 MW under a new solar funding

scheme. However, projects approved prior to that were given the go-ahead, which will take up the capacity to the 1,000-1,250 MW range in 2011. But industry experts believe that the upper limit of 500 MW will halve the market in 2012. In the Czech Republic, the expansion of solar PV has already come to a standstill. After record-breaking 2010 where new installations totalled 1,490 MW, the EPIA is expecting only 100 to 200 MW in 2011 as Prague completely cut funding for open-air installations in March 2011.

Is PV thus running out of steam just before reaching its status as a competitive source of energy? EPIA expects installations worldwide to decline by 20% to 13,300 MW in 2011.

New markets like China, India and US cannot, for the time being, compensate for the slump in Europe.

This has created a serious problem for many manufacturers who had invested in new production lines. The older factories, which produced at costs, no longer have any markets to sustain them, resulting in massive surplus capacity. According to US market researcher iSuppli, production capacity will grow to 42,000 MW by 2012 – coupled with demand of just around 20,000 to 27,000 MW. “We are faced with an impending market adjustment process from which only a few companies will emerge from unscathed,” predicts Stefan de Haan, analyst at iSuppli.

january2012

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energy RENEWABLES

Fighting for a place in the sun

• 53

RENEWABLES energy

energyworld

German module manufacturers are mainly banking on quality as a sales criterion (Photo: aleo solar)

Race for efficiency

Manufacturers are seeking to boost product development to get the competitive edge. They are investing in cost-effective production and commercialisation of new cells with higher efficiencies. “The companies are doing everything to avoid becoming victims of the market adjustment process,” said de Haan, with help from machinery and plant manufacturers.

Companies such as Centrotherm and Grenzebach supply production equipment, which enables the manufacturers to increase the degree of efficiency coupled with a reduction in manufacturing costs. The suppliers will present their production-related innovations and new products from 23 to 26 October 2012 at the International Trade Fair for Solar Production Equipment, solarpeq, in Düsseldorf.

Chinese manufacturers are also pushing the technology bar, exemplified

by Yingli Green Energy, which is seeking to increase the efficiency level of its cells up to 20% using a special type of silicon, mono-crystalline n-type silicon, and so-called Metal Wrap Through (MWT) technology. Silicon cells consist of two areas of different thicknesses, which possess varying degrees of conductivity.

In standard cells, a lower, thicker layer is enriched with boron in order to achieve a surplus of positive charge-carriers; in the upper emitter, phosphor ensures a surplus of negative charge-carriers. n-type cells are structured in exactly the opposite way. Their advantage is that boron is less critical for the degree of efficiency due to its atomic properties.

54 •

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As a result, it is either possible to use cheaper silicon containing more impurities or to manufacture cells with higher efficiency. Yingli is implementing the MWT concept by placing electricity busbars - necessary for individual cell relay in the reduction of shade level - on the reverse and connecting them with the metal contacts on the front using tiny holes. The higher light incidence generates an increased amount of electricity.

JA Solar from China has developed a solar cell, which with an average 17.5% efficiency, converts exactly one percentage point more of sunlight into electricity compared to standard cells made of multi-crystalline silicone.

The key to higher efficiency is a new semi-conductor called ‘Quasi-Mono.’

It is produced similar to simple multicrystalline silicon, but has mostly mono-crystalline properties and less crystal defects, which can be detrimental to energy generation. “As a result, the energy output of solar modules can be clearly increased with just minimal additional expenditure,” said Philipp Matter, Vice-President JA Solar Deutschland. The company has been selling modules consisting of QuasiMono cells since this summer under the “Maple” brand.

To avoid getting left behind, German manufacturers are keeping up through their innovations. Bosch Solar Energy and Schott Solar are also producing MWT cells and manufacturing selective emitters. Q-Cells in contrast, has optimised the reverse of their cells in such a way that, compared to previous

Q-Cells standard cells, efficiency has increased by more than one percentage point to 19.5% for multi-crystalline and 20.2% for mono crystalline material.

Special anti-reflective (glare) and passivating coatings minimise light reflections and charge-carrier losses, explains Head of Technology Peter Wawer.

High-tech from China: Modules produced by Chinese manufacturers are in great demand worldwide.

(Photo: Suntech)

Challenges for crystalline

Innovations in glass also play a key role in increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Specially treated surfaces coated with light traps or anti-reflective layers ensure that more light penetrates the module and remains there. At the same time, the industry is constantly reducing the thickness and weight of its glass thus reducing costs – a decisive aspect for the solar energy industry, which is desperately searching for rapid costreduction measures.

The use of so-called concentrator systems is aimed at PV cost-cutting.

The technology has passed the laboratory stage and is on its way to commercialisation. “The globally installed concentrator performance could be increased from the current level of 100 to 2,000 MW by 2015,” said Arnulf Jäger-Waldau from the Joint Research Centre of the EU Commission. The basic idea behind the technology is simple: attractively priced optics replaces expensive semi-conductor material.

The systems work with lenses or mirrors, which similar to a burning lens, concentrate the sun’s rays on one cell. A tracker ensures that the units follow the sun’s position.

Advances in new PV applications such as thin film and concentrated PV systems have raised the competition for suppliers of crystalline technology.

energy RENEWABLES

Advances in new PV applications such as thin film and concentrated PV systems have raised the competition for suppliers of crystalline technology.

In series production, CIGS modules for example, reach an efficiency level of 14%. CIGS stands for a semiconducting combination of copper, indium, gallium and selenium. The usual level for thin film is around 10% efficiency, on average around 16% is achieved by modules in crystalline silicon. As a result, thin film is making inroads into efficiency areas which were previously the preserve of silicon technology.

A key reason for the increased degree of efficiency in thin-film applications is rapid advances in the production techniques and materials. In the past, one of the greatest problems in manufacture was the separation of the semi-conducting layers quickly and homogenously on large surfaces.

The latest vacuum coating machines produce more even absorbers, thus increasing the efficiency of the modules.

Modules for the Pope: The countries of Southern Europe are regarded as the solar energy markets of the future. But in addition to Italy so far only the Vatican has lived up to these expectations. (Photo: Solarworld)

(Article courtesy: solarpeq 2012 Messe Düsseldorf )

january2012

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FEATURE marketplace

productfocus They can also avail the availability of real-time accurate and recorded information to take effective action to prevent system failures and potential environmental contamination.

Nortech claims that the system’s own 24/7health check give users the confidence they are always receiving notifications and accurate records for equipment trend analysis.

MEGGER

Battery Voltage Monitor - BVM

NORTECH Remote monitoring for pump stations

N

ortech Management’s WebSCADA Pump Station Remote Monitoring System & Service enables continuous monitoring of the performance and operation of sewage and wastewater pump station packages using wireless communications.

According to a press release issued by the company, the system is designed to monitor the running of single and multiple pumps, together with the associated sensors and probes to ensure the correct operation of a pump station.

The system consists of Nexus Smart Box (RTU) which employs wireless GPRS communications to transfer data from the pump station to Nortech’s iHost WebSCADA. When iHost receives urgent alarms from a pump station, it forwards these on as SMS text messages and emails to all nominated users, enabling remedial action to be taken.

Connecting the Nexus Smart Box to the pump station control panel can be undertaken when the pump station is being installed or retrofitted to existing stations.

“The Nortech WebSCADA system is potentially the new standard for the forthcoming adoption of small pumping stations,” said David Johnson, Nortech’s Director of Sales & Marketing. “Operating a real-time pump station performance specification would supersede the traditional equipment specifications as a means to ensure performance and reliability.”

Events including pump stopped/running, pump healthy/ tripped, and high level alarm as digital outputs provide information about key equipment and alarm conditions. Flow rate, well depth, temperature and vibration are analogue outputs that provide information for detecting changes in operational conditions. Armed with this information, the press release noted, operators and contractors responsible for the management of residential, local authority, commercial and industrial pump stations can optimise maintenance services to achieve greater plant efficiency and manage operating costs.

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• january2012

T

he Megger BVM is a battery voltage measurement device used for the capacity testing of large, industrial battery banks commonly found in electrical power sub-stations, telecom facilities and computer data centre UPS systems. According to the press release issued by Megger, when used in conjunction with a load device, such as the TORKEL unit, and test data management software, such as PowerDB and TORKEL Win, the BVM enables to perform a completely automated battery bank capacity test as per IEC test method. The test also meet NERC/FERC requirements. The BVM is designed in modular form where one BVM device is used for each battery or “jar” in the string to be tested. According to Megger, one BVM for each battery connects to the next in a “daisy-chain” fashion, thereby providing easy and economical expandability to meet the testing requirements for small-to-large battery bank systems. The included dolphin clip can be removed and exchanged with different styles of standard banana plug clamps and / or extension cables to accommodate any battery connection requirement.

Megger claims that setup is fast and easy as each BVM is identical and can be connected in any battery test position, enabling maximum flexibility and inter-changeability. Up to 120 BVMs can be daisy chained in a single battery bank under test. The BVM ‘Auto Discovery’ feature enables the host device to automatically determine the number of batteries under test and provide sequential identification of each BVM in the test string.

tenders&projects Project Number TPR13665-SA Project Name Yanbu Transformation Station

PROCUREMENT updates

Construction Project

Territory Saudi Arabia Client Name: Saline Water Conversion

Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks

Tender Categories

Corporation - SWCC (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11691 Postal/Zip Code: 85369 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 463 1111/ 463 4546/ 463 0503 Fax: (+966-1) 464 3235/465 0852 E-mail: info@swcc.gov.sa Website: http://www.swcc.gov.sa Construction of 380kV transformation station at Yanbu.

26,670 February 6, 2012 This project is in Saudi Arabia.

Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement Department, Saline Water Conversion Corporation Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Tender result date will be on February 06, 2012.

Power Generation & Distribution

Project Number MEW/53/2010-2011-K Project Name Shuaiba North Co-generation Territory Client

Description

Tender Cost $ Closing Date

58 •

• january2012

Plant O&M Project Kuwait Name: Ministry of Electricity & Water (Kuwait) Address: Ministry of Electricity & Water Bldg., South Al Surra Street, Ministries Area City: Safat - 13001 Postal/Zip Code: 12 Country: Kuwait Tel: (+965) 2537 1000 Fax: (+965) 2537 1420 / 1421 / 1422 E-mail: webadmin@energy.gov.kw Website: http://www.energy.gov.kw Carrying out operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Shuaiba North co-generation electric power and water distillation plant.

Carrying out operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Shuaiba North co-generation electric power and water distillation plant.

17,860 March 6, 2012

Remarks Tender No. MEW/53/2010-2011

This project is in Kuwait. The tender is open to pre-qualified contractors only. Tender documents can be collected from: Central Tenders Committee (CTC) Safat 13011, Kuwait Tel: (+965) 2401200 Fax: (+965) 2416574 E-mail: info@ctc.gov.kw A pre-bid meeting will be held on August 25, 2011. Bid Bond is KD 2.4 million.

Tender Categories Potable Water Works Power Generation & Distribution

Project Number MPP2330-O Project Name Adam / Manah Solar Power Plant Project

Territory Oman Client Name: Public Authority for

Description

Budget $ Period Remarks

Financial Consultant Legal Consultant Technical Consultant Tender Categories

Electricity & Water (Oman) Address: Public Authority for Electricity & Water Bldg., Al Azaiba Area City: Muscat 130 Postal/Zip Code: 1889 Country: Oman Tel: (+968) 2461 1100 / 2461 1111 Fax: (+968) 2460 3977 / 2461 1133 Website: http://www.paew.gov.om Build-own-operate (BOO) contract for the construction of a photovoltaic or concentrated solar plant (CSP) with capacity of 200 MW. 600,000,000 2013 This project is in Oman. Client has selected a location for this plant. It will be located in Adam and Manah in Al Dakhiliya region. The scheme is likely to be privately financed, continuing Oman's model of developing independent power production. The government has formally approved this project.

Macquarie Group (Australia) Chadbourne & Parke LLP (USA) WorleyParsons (Oman) Power Generation & Distribution

Project Number ZPR190-E Project Name Wind Farm Project - Gulf of Suez

Territory Egypt Client Name: Egyptian Electricity

middleeasttenders.com +971 2 634 8495

Period Remarks

Specialist Consultant Technical Consultant Tender Categories

Project Number ZPR101-K Project Name Abdaliya Thermal Solar Power &

Natural Gas Hybrid Plant Project

Territory Kuwait Client Name: Partnerships Technical

Description

Budget $ Period Remarks

Bureau (Kuwait) Address: Touristic Enterprises Co. Bldg., 2nd Floor, Al-Jahra Street City: Shuwaikh Country: Kuwait Tel: (+965) 2496 5900 Fax: (+965) 2496 5901 E-mail: ahedaib@ptb.gov.kw Website: http://www.ptb.gov.kw Build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract for the construction of a thermal solar power and natural gas hybrid plant at Abdaliya with total capacity of 280 MW. 720,000,000 2015 This plant will be located in the East of Kuwait. The project will have a capacity of about 60 MW solar power and roughly 220 MW in gas-fired capacity. The plant's site has been chosen. The

Technical Consultant Tender Categories

Project Number Project Name Territory Client

Description

Tender Cost $ Closing Date Period Remarks

original site was rejected due to sub-surface oil and a nearby site has been chosen instead. Toyota Tsusho is concluding feasibility and technical studies. Once the studies are concluded, Toyota is set to enter negotiations on the power purchase agreement (PPA) and energy conversion agreements (ECA) with the Ministry of Electricity and the client.

As Toyota proposed this project and carried out the necessary studies, it is likely the company will build the plant. However, it will still need to compete with other firms in a tender. According to Kuwaiti law, the company will be awarded a five-point advantage over the other bidders putting it in a strong position for the contract. The solar/ gas facility will be 100% owned by the developer. The sponsor will be responsible for financing the project as an independent power project (IPP). It is understood that the technical, environmental and feasibility studies have been completed. Issue of RFP for the BOT contract has been delayed to January 2012.

Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Dubai) Power Generation & Distribution

updates PROCUREMENT

Description

Transmission Company (EETC) Address: Abassia, Nasr City 11517 City: Cairo Postal/Zip Code: 12612 Country: Egypt Tel: (+20-2) 2261 8579 / 2684 3824 Website: http://www.eetc.net.eg Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contract to build a wind farm in the Gulf of Suez with capacity of 250 MW of power.

2014 This project is in Egypt. The wind farm will be built alongside a series of similar projects in the coastline, west of the Gulf of Suez. Germany's Fichtner has been awarded the technical consultancy contract. Fichtner will advise in the BOO selection process. It is understood that the wind measurement studies are ongoing and this is expected to be completed in January 2012.

Request for Proposals (RFP) for the BOO contract is expected to be issued in first quarter of 2012.

Garrad Hassan (Egypt) Fichtner Gmbh & Co. KG (Germany) Power Generation & Distribution

346/2011-O Transmission Line Construction Project Oman Name: Rural Areas Electricity Company (Oman) Address: Subsidiary of Electricity Holding Company S.A.O.C City: Mina Al-Fahal PC 116 Postal/Zip Code: 850 Country: Oman Tel: (+968) 2469 5162 / 2447 3251 Fax: (+968) 2469 5311 Website: http://www.ehcoman.com Construction of a transmission line from the 33/11kV Primary Substation in Duqm to Duqm North Switching Substation.

1,925 January 30, 2012 2013 Tender No. 346/2011 This project is in Al Wusta region of Oman. It is understood that the following companies have

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PROCUREMENT updates

tenders&projects

Tender Categories Project Number Project Name Territory Client

Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks

Tender Categories Project Number Project Name Territory Client

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purchased tender documents for the main contract: 1) Al-Habib & Company LLC 2) Global Chemicals & Maintenance System LLC 3) Galfar Engineering & Contracting S.A.O.G 4) Larsen & Toubro Ltd. 5) Oman National Engineering & Investment Company.

An award is expected in the second quarter of 2012.

Power Generation & Distribution 345/2011-O Saraya Bandar Primary Substation Project Oman Name: Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (Oman) Address: Gubrah, P.C 112 City: Muscat Postal/Zip Code: 3732 Country: Oman Tel: (+968) 2458 8600 Fax: (+968) 2458 8666 E-mail: medc@medcoman.com Website: http://www.medcoman.com Construction of 3x20 MVA, 33/11kV primary substation at Saraya Bandar.

4,410 January 30, 2012 Tender No.345/2011 This project is in Oman. It is understood that the following companies have purchased tender documents for the main contract: 1) Galfar Engineering & Contracting SAOG 2) Bahwan Engineering Company 3) Modern Centre Electrical & Sanitary 4) Larsen & Toubro Ltd. 5) Oman National Engineering & Investment Company.

An award is expected in the second quarter of 2012.

Power Generation & Distribution ZPR569-K Rawdhatain-D & Sabriya-B Bulk Intake Substations Project Kuwait Name: Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Address: KOC Industrial Area City: Ahmadi 61008 Postal/Zip Code: 9758 Country: Kuwait

Description

Closing Date Remarks

Tender Categories Project Number Project Name Territory Client

Description

Period Status Remarks

Tender Categories

Tel: (+965) 398 9111 Fax: (+965) 398 3661 E-mail: kocinfo@kockw.com Website: http://www.kockw.com Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build two main bulk intake substations, each of 11kV/72 MW capacity in Rawdhatain-D and Sabriya-B. January 29, 2012 This project is in Kuwait. Invitation to bid (ITB) has been issued for the EPC contract. An award is expected in the first quarter of 2012.

Power Generation & Distribution MPP2567-SA Rabigh Steam IPP - Phase 2 Saudi Arabia Name: Saudi Electricity Company - Central Region (Saudi Arabia) Address: Burj Al Faisaliyah Bldg., Floor 22, King Fahad Road City: Riyadh 11416 Postal/Zip Code: 22955 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 461 9030 / 461 9009 Fax: (+966-1) 403 2222 E-mail: informus@se.com.sa Website: http://www.se.com.sa Construction of a steam independent power project (IPP) at Rabigh with capacity of 1,700 MW. 2017 New Tender This project is in Mecca province of Saudi Arabia. The plant will be built near existing power plants at Rabigh. Client will issue a request for qualification (RFQ) to developers in early 2012 once land agreements and other permits have been secured.

Power Generation & Distribution

Project Number GT11114700-Q Project Name Fahahil Stripping Plant

Gas Turbine Enclosures Replacement Project-1 Territory Qatar Client Name: Qatar Petroleum (QP) City: Doha Postal/Zip Code: 3212 Country: Qatar Tel: (+974) 4440 2000

middleeasttenders.com +971 2 634 8495

Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks

Tender Categories

CLASSIFIED

ADS Rates: (9x6cm) 3 issues: $500/issue 6 issues: $400/issue 12 issues: $300/issue

updates CLASSIFIEDS

Description

Fax: (+974) 4483 1125/ 4449 1400/ 4483 1995 E-mail: contracts.services@ qp.com.qa Website: http://www.qp.com.qa Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Commissioning (EPIC) contract for replacement of gas turbine enclosures at Fahahil Stripping Plant.

140 January 29, 2012 Tender No. GT11114700 This project is in Dukhan fields in Qatar. It aims at enhancing the operation ability of the equipment and decreasing the risk of explosion by adding ability to detect unforeseen potentials of fire. Scope of work includes the design and detailed engineering, procurement, installation, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning and testing of the gas turbine enclosures and related safety equipment at Fahahil Stripping Plant. Tender documents can be obtained from: Contracts Department - Corporate Division, Qatar Petroleum Royal Plaza, G Wing, Fourth Floor (Room G13), Doha, Qatar.

Tender documents will be released only to authorized company representatives with Letter of Authorisation on company Letterhead.

The non-refundable tender fee is payable to: Doha Bank Ltd. QP branch, Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar OR Qatar National Bank QP branch, 2nd floor, Al Sadd Plaza, Doha, Qatar.

STC & LTC Tenders - Fee per tender QR 200.00 GTC Tenders - Fee per Tender QR 500.00.

Bid bond is QR 750,000. Bond validity is (150) days from the bid closing date till June 27, 2012 and offer validity is (120) days from the bid closing date till May 28, 2012.

Power Generation & Distribution

FREE ONLINE LISTING on 6 issues and above bookings!

h2ome.net/megawhatme.com For more information, please contact

Vedran Dedic | vedran@cpi-industry.com | +971 55 864 4831 North America: Kanika Saxena | kanika@cpi-industry.com | +1 905 890 5031

www.ksb.com

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calendar2012

January 16-19, 2012, Abu Dhabi

EVENTS calendar

WFES 2012

Now in its fifth year, the World Future Energy Summit (EFES) is the world’s leading event committed to promoting advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and waste and water technologies. WFES 2012 will be held in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces. The annual summit engages political, business, finance, academic and industry leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy.

On the theme Powering Sustainable Innovation, WFES 2012 will stage both a high-level conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world promoting their latest products and services.

Contact: Kenneth Visande

Tel: + 971 2 409 0313 Fax: + 9712 444 7634 E-mail: kenneth.visande@reedexpo.ae URL: www.worldfutureenergysummit. com

February 6-8, 2012, Doha

WaterWorld Middle East 2012 The first annual WaterWorld Middle East conference and exhibition, which is targeted at the water and wastewater industry in the Middle East, will be co-located with POWER-GEN Middle East, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012. Both events are being held at the brand new Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha under the patronage of His Excellency, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar. Over two days, both WaterWorld Middle East and POWER-GEN Middle East will deliver a total of 14 strategic and technical sessions over six tracks by expert speakers representing more than 27 countries across the globe. A major focus of the conference will be how high demands for energy and fresh water coupled with diminishing water supplies, can be met through more sustainable and energy efficient technologies.

Contact: Sue McDermott

Tel: +44 - 1992 656 632 Fax: +44 - 1992 656 700 Mobile: +44 - 7984 927 441 E-mail: suemc@pennwell.com URL: www.waterworldmiddleeast.com

February 7-9, 2012, Dubai

Middle East Electricity Middle East Electricity ranks among the region’s leading energy event focusing on power, lighting, new and renewable, nuclear and water sectors. With the region expected to attract investments over $560 billion in renewable energy projects, MEE has set aside a dedicated section for Solar at the 2012 event. The event organisers have instituted seven awards including Project of the Year;

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Best innovation or technology of the year; CSR Initiative of the year; CEO of the year; Power & Water Utility of the year; HSE project or initiative of the year and Renewable Project of the Year.

Contact: Latha Ravi

Tel: 971 4 4072611 Fax: 971 4 335 3526 E-mail: latha.balasubramanian@ informa.com URL: www.middleeastelectricity.com

March 13-15, 2012, Dubai WETEX 2012

WETEX 2012 is an important regional resourcing platform for national and international companies to access wide range of latest technology and management solutions in the water, energy and environment sectors. This event also provides an avenue for industry leaders to keep abreast of the latest developments in the Gulf region in these fields as well to network and tie up with strategic partners to pursue innovative solutions. WETEX 2012 incorporates SmarTech, which provides a B2B and B2C marketing opportunity to promote energy-efficient home appliances and related green building products and FOSSIL FUEL @ WETEX 2012, to be launched in 2012, as WETEX’s first international exhibition for energy industry professionals.

Contact: Abdul Syed Abdul Hameed Tel: +971 4 3072460 Fax: +971 4 3244599/3248111 E-mail: abdul.hameed@dewa.gov.ae URL: www.wetex.ae

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