Pw july

JULY 2013

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WATER TRENDS • Water market could outperform global economy • Most promising water technologies of this decade • 10 water projects that matter

POWER AND WATER

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CONTENTS JULY 2013 4/

editor’s note

12 / RounD up

8/

ADvisory board

14 / In the region

10 / mosaic

COVER STORY Water Trends

17 / At large

30 / Water market could outperform global economy 32 / Most promising water technologies of this decade 52 / 10 water projects that matter

industry notes 20 / Catching the wave 21 / Saudi Arabia’s first engineered wetlands system 22 / Pooling utilities

The first line of defence On-line partial discharge testing is an effective solution for regular testing of MV substations without taking them out of service

40

on the record

CRITICAL POWER Beating outages with rental power

Connected solutions

24

Jeff Ray, CEO, Ventyx on how his company is partnering its asset-intensive customers to address their biggest challenges by bridging the gap between information technologies (IT) and operational technologies (OT).

42

SPECIAL REPORT

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

26/ Centre Spread: Climate extremes, regional

Facets of efficiency

impacts and the case for resilience

28/Climate Extreme

A warmer world will keep millions of people trapped in poverty, says new World Bank report

46

TEST & MEASUREMENT

38 SPOT LIGHT

6/ NYNAS

36/ MARKET PLACE • • • • •

Fluke Syrinix BWA Water Additives Lanxess Pentair

Neil Enright, Regional Sales Director, Rockwell Automation Middle East on how industrial automation can be an enabler of energy efficiency in the region’s manufacturing and process industries.

OIL & GAS

Power problems

Power & Water Middle East takes a look at common power quality issues, their causes and impacts and the tools available to resolve these issues.

PowerPac of Sikder Group supplied a 100MW quick rental power plant in Keraniganj to increase the local power grid’s capacity.

Easier transition to offshore

Newly-won knowledge is offering hope for fields that today would have been turned down by the economists

48 FLIP SIDE 61/ Nurturing a green future • The Eco-Schools programme aims to develop environmentallyresponsible children to secure a sustainable future • Eco awards for DPS Sharjah 64/ Let the games begin • Online games invite players to explore the complex world of energy by testing their strategic and practical skills • Conservation through Gamification

66/ EVENTS

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Publisher Dominic De Sousa Chief Operations Officer Nadeem Hood • nadeem.hood@cpimediagroup.com Associate Publisher Liam Williams • liam.williams@cpimediagroup.com

Anoop K Menon anoop@cpi-industry.com

Editor Anoop K Menon • anoop@cpi-industry.com Commercial Director Gina O’Hara • gina.ohara@cpimediagroup.com Tel: +971 4 375 1513

A time for giving

A

ccording to a report published as part of the SE4ALL (Sustainable Energy for All) initiative, a population which is four times more than the number of people residing in the US still live without access to electricity; despite all out efforts to limit climate change, fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of the world’s energy mix. The Global Tracking Framework, a multiagency effort led by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Bank, estimates that, as of 2010, 17% of the global population did not have access to electricity while 41% still relied on wood or other biomass to cook and heat their homes. Renewable energy accounted for 18% of the global energy mix in 2010, while global energy efficiency had improved by 1.3% per year on average since 1990. When we juxtapose these findings against SE4ALL’s three key objectives of achieving universal access to modern energy services, doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, all by 2030, the scale of the challenge becomes clear.

How can the Middle East contribute to achieving these objectives? One, the resource-rich countries of the region can fund clean energy initiatives in the energy-poor countries, within the region and beyond. Masdar has set a great example by supporting projects in the developing world that aim to provide energy access through renewable energy technologies. Notables ones include the 15MW solar PV plant in Mauritania, which accounts for 10% of that country’s energy capacity, a six MW wind farm in Seychelles, off-grid solar PV systems for 600 residences in Afghanistan and a 500-kilowatt solar PV power plant on the island of Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga. Second, the region can do a lot more in managing its energy consumption through conservation and demand-side management. It has been estimated that Saudi Arabia could reduce its annual energy costs by USD15 billion to USD32 billion (at constant electricity production costs) through the application of energy efficiency. This has a collective impact in terms of reducing energy waste as well as the global carbon footprint. Lastly, sustainability principles should guide the economic development agenda of the region. Here again, the UAE is showing the way with its long term national initiative, launched last year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to build a green economy in the country under the slogan ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development.’

Meanwhile, from all of us here at Power & Water Middle East, Ramadam Kareem.

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Director Harry Norman • harry.norman@cpimediagroup.com Tel: +971 4 375 1502 Business Development Manager Annie Arif • annie@cpimediagroup.com Tel: +971 4 375 1509 Marketing Manager Jasmine Kyriakou • jasmine.kyriakou@cpimediagroup.com Tel: +971 4 375 1506 Senior Designer Marlou Delaben • marlou.delaben@cpimediagroup.com Designer Cris Malapitan • cris.malapitan@cpimediagroup.com Digital Services Manager IT Department Troy Maagma • troy.maagma@cpimediagroup.com Web Developer Waseem Shahzad • waseem.shahzad@cpimediagroup.com Production James P. Tharian Rajeesh M Circulation Rochelle Almeida rochelle@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 Media City,Off. 214 Tel: +971 4 375 1500 | Fax: +971 4 365 9986 www.powerandwater-me.com Printed by: Printwell Printing Press LLC © Copyright 2012 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.

POWER AND WATER

Analyze power quality and calculate energy loss.

Poor power quality. It affects how your facility operates. It affects your bottom line. Fortunately, there’s the new Fluke 435 Series II Power Quality and Energy Analyzer. It features the most advanced waveform and power efficiency functions available and calculates the cost of wasted energy. So don’t settle for half the job–do the whole job with Fluke.

Learn more: fluke.com/pqandenergy.

Fluke EEMEA: Arjaan Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai - UAE. Tel: +971 4 446 5050, Email: info.me.africa@fluke.com, www.fluke.com POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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Spotlight

Insulating oil analysis and its role in transformer condition monitoring

Bruce Pahlavanpour, Nynas AB

O

il and paper have been used as insulating materials in oilfilled electrical equipment for nearly a century. Despite the apparent mechanical weakness of oil and paper they are effective insulators, especially in combination. This is exemplified in the observed synergism of paper impregnated with oil: the dielectric strength of paper and oil on their own is 40 and 12kV per mm respectively, however their dielectric strength in combination is 64kV per mm, which is significant improvement.

Even in ideal conditions, oil and paper will degrade, or ‘age’, as their useful service lives is finite. The actual processes involved depend on the operating conditions of the equipment, but the rate of ageing is normally a function of temperature and moisture. Both oil and paper will age rapidly at high temperatures and moisture acts as a catalyst for the ageing of oil. There are also other catalysts present in a transformer which are responsible for oil ageing; these include copper, paint, varnish

At Nynas, we’re passionate about everything to do with power.

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POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

and oxygen. The principal mechanism of oil ageing is oxidation, which results in acids and other polar compounds being formed. These oxidation products will have a deleterious effect on the paper degradation processes.

Transformer condition Monitoring Early in the history of oil filled electrical equipment, it was realised that an explosion in a transformer was caused by the rapid evolution of gases formed by deterioration of the insulation, but it was not until the early twenties when Buchholz

Spotlight

developed his gas and oil actuated relay. Since then it was accepted that the action of electrical or thermal stress in oil would cause sufficient deterioration to evolve gases which would then dissolved in the oil.

Analyzing gases dissolved in oil is widely used as a diagnosis method for oil filled transformers. This diagnosis method is effective for preventing accident and transformer failure.

Condition assessment and monitoring techniques have received a technological boost in the last

few years but at the heart of it is a technique dating back several decades. Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is still the best technique for detecting abnormalities in transformers. The sampling of oil and subsequent analysis for dissolved gases is well defined in IEC60567. The interpretation of the results is less straightforward as there are recognised standards and several other publications, which may be used for interpretation of DGA results. Whilst they may have

similar approaches they may not always lead to the same conclusion.

Gas concentration ratio is the most commonly used method.

Analysis of dissolved gases in oil is widely used as a diagnosis method for oil filled transformers. It is relatively simple and cheap to use. This diagnosis method is effective for preventing accident of transformer. Although DGA is an extremely valuable tool with many applications but as in any single test procedure, it does not furnish a total picture of the condition of transformer.

Need to talk to a transformer oil supplier who understands your business? One who’s local enough to be near you, yet global enough to have the expertise you need. Get in touch. www.nynas.com

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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POWER AND WATER

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POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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MOSAIC

Water CONSUMPTION DUBAI 2011 2012

Water Total system requirement

MIG

93,356 96,380

Wells

MIG

2,251

(desalination water demand)

1,119

Water Consumption (MIG) 2012

Others 9,281 10.92%

Industrial 2,622 3.09%

Residential 49,112 57.82%

532,885 532,885

No. of Consumers No. Consumers 2012

Others 2,942 0.53%

Others 104,444 80.43%

Residential 446,372 80.43%

Others*: Non-commercial (Mosques, Police stations, government hospitals, Government schools, DEWA offices, Staff Premises etc)

USD27.2 billion

The projected size of the global market for photovoltaic (PV) materials in 2018; in 2012, the same was USD17.8 billion. According to Lux Research, metals, including polysilicon, metallisation pastes, and metallic absorber materials in CIGS, will gain the biggest market share, reaching USD12.8 billion in 2018.

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Technology

Revenues USD Millions

Fabric Filter

11,700

Industrial Scrubbers and Adsorbers

Commercial 23,931 28.17%

Industrial 1,227 0.22%

World Air Pollution Control Revenues 2014

6,800

Electrostatic Precipitators

7,600

Air Monitoring

4,600

Power Plant Flue Gas Desulfurization

7,500

NOx Control

8,700

Stationary Thermal and Catalytic Treatment

2,000

Total

48,900

Power plants, incinerator operators and chemical plants will spend USD8.7 billion in 2014 for NOx control systems. This will represent 18%of a total world market of USD48.9 billion. This is the latest forecast in Air Pollution Management, an online report published by the McIlvaine Company. (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

USD250 million

Transmissions upgrade market revenues in 2020, which will constitute more than half the total for the overall smart grid technology market. According to Navigant Research, the market for smart grid technologies will reach USD73 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2020, totalling USD461 billion in cumulative revenue from 2013 to 2020.

USD12.5 billion

Total project financing for the Sadara project, a world-scale, fully integrated chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City II, Saudi Arabia. Sadara is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Company. The first production units are expected to come on-line in the second half of 2015.

65%

The percentage of LEED projects in the UAE out of the total of 1,200 across the Middle East. Seven out of the eight LEED-platinum certified projects in the region are in the UAE, apart from 24 silver certified projects making the country a leader among the emerging markets in terms of LEED-certified buildings, ahead of Brazil and India.

POWER AND WATER

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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ROUND UP

Dates announced for Emerson EMEA user meet

T Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower receiving the first International District Energy Association (IDEA) Annual Innovation Award

Global recognition for Empower’s use of TSE

E

mpower, the largest district cooling service provider in the region, was awarded the first International District Energy Association (IDEA) Annual Innovation Award at IDEA’s 104th annual conference and trade show in Miami, Florida. The new Annual Innovation Award celebrates innovation and creativity in technology, engineering and operations within the district energy industry. Empower was selected as the winner by a panel of judges comprising IDEA members, for its effective use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) in combination with Reverse Osmosis (RO) process which optimises the efficiency of its large district chilled water plants. It also serves to minimise the use of valuable potable water by testing a series of blended proportions to maximise water savings.

Eaton bags Sadara deal

E

aton has entered into an agreement with Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Company, to supply motor control, power distribution solutions and engineering services.

Under the multimillion dollar agreement, Eaton will provide equipment and services to enhance the overall reliability and safety of Sadara’s world scale, fully integrated chemical complex currently under construction in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia.

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he 2014 Emerson Global Users Exchange, Europe, Middle East and Africa will be held from April 1-3, 2014 at the International Congress Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. Themed ‘Breakthrough to Excellence’, the event will again be tailored to meet the needs of users from the three regions. Delegates will learn how their peers are competing in challenging economic times – from using technology to compensate for the shortage of people and skills, to maximising the life cycle value of investments. “We were very pleased with the huge attendance of our Middle Eastern and African customers at the Global Users Exchange in Düsseldorf in 2012, and we expect a larger crowd in Stuttgart in 2014,” said Dave Tredinnick, president, Emerson Process Management Middle East and Africa. “This event provides a unique opportunity for delegates to share their successes to help our community get the best out of their automation investments.”

Daikin McQuay launches efficient DC solution

D

aikin which provides advanced air conditioning solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications has introduced the new WCT 6,000 water-cooled centrifugal chiller, which the company claims is the most efficient and largest commercial capacity district cooling (DC) chiller in the world. “Chiller compressor design is a key factor to attain highest levels of sustainable plant room energy efficient performance, that’s why Daikin McQuay’s WCT 6,000TR system includes a pair of two-stage centrifugal chillers arranged in series-counter flow to reach the high lift typically required in district cooling systems.

The two-stage centrifugal compressors have inter-stage flash economisers that increase the life of the unit” said Maged Makar, Business Development Manager at Daikin McQuay Middle East.

Ventyx to finalise on regional partnerships

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entyx, a leading supplier of industrial enterprise software for assetintensive industries, is in final stages of discussions with key local players in the Middle East for business partnerships.

“The three sectors we focus on – utilities, natural resources and oil & gas – are being driven to a significant extent by the Middle East,” said Julien Groues, Vice President – Europe, Middle East, India & Africa, Ventyx.

“I expect most of our growth in the EMEIA region to come from the Middle East.” He spoke to Power & Water Middle East at the sidelines of VentyxWorld 2013, the first annual gathering of the company’s global customer community in San Francisco.

Ventyx’s references in the region include Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Saudi Arabian Mining Company (MA’ADEN), TRANSCO, Dubai Airports and DEWA among others. “I believe that what we do is critical for the Middle East,” said Groues.

“Outages are just not acceptable in many of the GCC countries. Utility assets also take a beating in the high temperatures.

While these are relatively recent we need to build a data bank now.”

MI develops technology to secure ADWEA network

A

team of experts from Masdar Institute and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) has developed a transient model of the ADWEA power system to investigate the feasibility of installing a novel technology for enhancing the system stability and security. ‘High Temperature Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (HTS-FCL)’ will help mitigate high fault currents and secure the ADWEA power system. The technology can also substantially reduce the risk of power tripping or fire hazard that can lead to total shutdown of the electricity grid. Members of the expert team have also co-authored a paper titled ‘Novel Technique for Reducing High Fault Currents Enhancing the Security of ADWEA Power Systems’ which was published in the IEEE’s Transaction on Power System.

ROUND UP

Rockwell Automation opens Middle East HQ in Abu Dhabi

R

The three year deal covers three airports and an off-site check-in terminal

MAF Dalkia bags Abu Dhabi airport contract

M

AF Dalkia has secured a contract from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) to provide a full range of services across ADAC’s four airports in the UAE. The three year contract will see MAF Dalkia providing a full scope of project management, hard (technical) services, security systems in addition to energy saving strategies across the four airports. MAF Dalkia’s scope of work for ADAC will include: development, implementation and updates of SOP’s and Fit Outs; full technical services covering energy management and conservation, security systems, heating and electrical services and specialised airports operation systems.

Dow E&T presents paper on Advanced Cable Performance

D

ow Electrical & Telecommunications (Dow E&T) presented a paper on Correlation of Accelerated Ageing Phenomena and Long-Term Cable Performance at CIRED 2013 Conference in Stockholm last month. Medium voltage (MV) cable qualification testing typically involves cables being electrically broken down after an extended wet ageing protocol and their retained electrical strength measured.

Utilities, cable makers and industry experts generally agree that the results of such tests are a good indication of ultimate cable performance and expected lifetime. Dow’s paper demonstrated that, while such tests can differentiate poor performing materials from those with superior performance, correlating qualification data to life expectancy is much more complex.

The study focuses on DOW ENDURANCE™ HFDC-4202 TR-XLPE insulation, Dow’s next-generation enhanced cable insulation material for distribution cables.

ockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, formally inaugurated its Middle East head quarters in Abu Dhabi last month. Occupying an area of approx. 9,000 sq ft in Al Wahda Commercial Tower, the office, staffed by 45 employees, will provide sales, services, repairs, technical support, logistics and training to the region. The countries covered by the Middle East HQ include the UAE, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Libya. In Dubai, Rockwell Automation has a sales and service facility, an integration facility (Oil & Gas MAC Contracting) and an industrial automation repairs and service facility (through Lektronix acquisition). The company has also set up a sales and service facility in Saudi Arabia.

Germany launches incentives for PV storage

G

ermany has announced a new incentive programme in May to support the installation of photovoltaic (PV) storage systems with the government contributing up to 30% of the costs. Under the programme, the PV customer would benefit from storing up their low-cost PV power for additional private consumption after daylight hours. A McKinsey study indicates that by 2020, PV installations for private consumption could reach more than 350 GWp and constitute more than half of the globally-installed capacity. “The government initiative is giving the German PV market a new perspective on how to grow even beyond the direct private consumption potential of about 100 GWp,” said Tobias Rothacher, Senior Manager of Renewable Energies at Germany Trade and Invest. “Should decentralised storage systems become mainstream, the German PV market could potentially aim for more than 400 GWp of installed PV capacity.”

The Change Initiative building

Dubai home to world’s #1 sustainable building

T

he Change Initiative, a UAE-based sustainability venture, announced that it has been awarded the LEED Platinum certification, obtaining the position of the most sustainable building in the world from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The Change Initiative has obtained 107 points, breaking the previous record of 104 points, out of a maximum of 110 on the LEED sustainability guidelines, where points are awarded for Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design, and Regional Priority.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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IN THE REGION

DEWA awards water projects worth AED102-mn The SCADA project for water transmission network and two new water pipeline projects will help DEWA meet the increasing demand for water in Dubai

L

ast month, Dubai Electricity and water Authority (DEWA) awarded three key water projects - a SCADA system for the main transmission network and two new pipeline projects in Hatta and Palm Jumeirah respectively. The AED14 million SCADA project aims to enhance and increase operational efficiency of Dubai’s main water network through centralised round-theclock monitoring and control. “This contributes to the isolation of leakages in the shortest possible time to reduce unaccounted-for-water (UFW) losses in the main transmission network,” said H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. The project also includes integrating hydraulic modelling with the SCADA system.

“The project is expected to be finished within 15 months,” said Al Tayer.

DEWA has also launched two water pipeline projects in Hatta and Palm Jumeirah. Valued at AED30 million, the Hatta project includes the planning and laying of new water pipe distribution networks ranging in size from 100-450mm in diameter, and over a total length of 30 kilometres.

“We have completed 10% of the total so far, and aim to deliver water to the expanding residential areas in Hatta shortly,” added Al Tayer. The project is expected to be completed within 14 months as per schedule.

The AED57.7 million water pipeline project in the Palm Jumeirah includes planning and laying of 600/900mm-diameter GRP water-transmission pipes, over a total length of three kilometres.

The main objective of the project is to meet the increasing demand for water from current and future projects in the crescent area of the Palm.

The project is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.

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Veolia Water bags Saudi desalination deal The 178,000 m3/day desalination plant, which will be built at the Sadara Petrochemical Complex in Jubail City, will come on stream by June 2015.

M

arafiq, Saudi Arabia’s leading water and electricity services operator, has contracted Veolia Water to design, build and operate the largest ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. With this contract, Veolia Water will generate USD310 million (EUR232 million) in revenue for the plant’s design and construction, and USD92 million (EUR69 million) in revenue for its operation for 10 years, with an option to extend the contract for a further 20 years.

The 178,000 m3/day plant, which will supply the Sadara petrochemical complex built by Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco in Jubail Industrial City II, will come on stream in June 2015. The water supplied will be used in this immense facility’s two cooling towers and as boiler feed water.

To meet the very strict water quality standards required by Marafiq and minimise this new plant’s impact on the environment, Veolia Water, through its subsidiary Sidem, has designed a plant combining two seawater treatment solutions: ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis.

After an initial treatment phase involving dissolved air flotation (DAF) to capture the suspended particles in the water and ultrafiltration, the water will then be desalinated by reverse osmosis membranes before being remineralised. The combination of these various processes will ensure a secure water supply, limit the risk of plant failure and extend its lifespan, while at the same time reducing the site’s energy requirements and costs.

Jean-Michel Herrewyn, CEO, Veolia Water said: “With this new reference, Veolia Water confirms its position as a leader in desalination and the reference partner for industrial entities. Veolia Water’s unique expertise and technology were the deciding factors in meeting the requirements of the exacting clients Marafiq, Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical.”

• 178,000 m3/day peak capacity • Design & Construction: USD310 million • Largest UF and RO desalination plant in Saudi Arabia

IN THE REGION

The system can potentially reduce natural gas used for EOR by up to 80%

Oman commissions the Middle East’s first Solar EOR project Enclosed trough system from GlassPoint uses the sun’s energy to produce steam for thermal EOR, thereby reducing the need to burn natural gas

P

etroleum Development Oman (PDO), the largest producer of oil and gas in Oman, and GlassPoint Solar, a global leader in solar enhanced oil recovery, have successfully commissioned the Middle East’s first solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project. By harnessing the sun’s energy with GlassPoint’s Enclosed Trough technology, the solar EOR project produces a daily average of 50 tonnes of emissions-free steam that feeds directly into existing thermal EOR operations at PDO’s Amal West field in Southern Oman. The 7MW system is in regular operation and recently passed its first performance acceptance test since coming online, exceeding contracted steam output by 10%.

“PDO has successfully extended the life of its heavy oil assets by deploying innovative EOR technologies over the past few decades,” said Raoul Restucci, Managing Director of PDO. “The GlassPoint system is proving it can reliably fuel thermal EOR with solar power while reducing the need to burn natural gas. This solar EOR solution provides for an economically viable and environmentally sustainable long term

resource to develop Oman’s heavy oil portfolio, while saving valuable natural gas resources for use in other gas-dependent industries.”

Today, EOR applications account for a significant portion of Oman’s annual natural gas consumption. By incorporating solar steam, PDO can significantly reduce the amount of natural gas it burns to produce steam for EOR. GlassPoint’s solution can cut natural gas used for EOR by up to 80%, helping Oman release its natural gas resources for higher value applications such as power generation, desalination, industrial development or export as LNG. “PDO is widely recognised as the EOR pioneer throughout the Middle East,” said Rod MacGregor, GlassPoint CEO. “Deploying the region’s first solar EOR project further underscores its leadership and commitment to advancing new technologies that will economically expand production of existing reserves.”

“Preliminary results from this project demonstrate that solar steam generated with GlassPoint’s Enclosed Trough architecture is equally effective as natural gas for thermal

EOR,” said Dr Syham Bentouati, Head of New Technology Implementation at PDO. “This unit serves as a performance and operational baseline for future solar steam generation projects in Oman, providing us with valuable information for planning potential future large-scale solar steam projects.”

GlassPoint’s unique Enclosed Trough design encloses parabolic mirrors inside a glasshouse structure, protecting the solar collectors from harsh conditions of high wind, dust, dirt, sand and humidity common to Middle East oilfields. The glasshouse enclosure enables the use of ultra-light, low-cost reflective materials and proven automated washing equipment, further reducing costs. GlassPoint steam generators are designed to use the same low-quality boiler water as once-through steam generators, the industry’s current standard, eliminating the need for costly water pretreatment.

“GlassPoint is committed to generating in-country value by partnering with local contractors and manufacturers,” added MacGregor. “More than 40% of the solar installation was fabricated and constructed with the help of Omani companies, and we plan to increase the percentage of local content significantly as we grow throughout the country and region.”

Construction on the project began in January 2012 and finished in December 2012. The project was completed on time, on budget and with no Lost Time Injuries in accordance with GlassPoint and PDO’s shared commitment to sound engineering execution and health, safety, security and environment leadership. The Amal project is 27 times larger than GlassPoint’s solar EOR system, installed at Berry Petroleum’s 21Z oilfield in Kern County, California, USA, which has been in daily operation for two years.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

15

IN THE REGION

Siemens wins major contracts in the Gulf

Kevan P Lawlor, President and CEO of NSF International, presents a gift to Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim, VP, Zayed University at the reception announcing the opening of NSF Middle East

The four contracts bagged in the UAE and Saudi Arabia involve the supply of gas turbines and sub-stations for projects addressing the growing demand for electricity in the two countries.

IN THE REGION

Siemens will supply five SGT62000E gas turbines to Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)

NSF International opens Abu Dhabi office

NSF Middle East will mainly provide local testing, auditing and certification services for water, food and beverage industries and QMS and EMS certifications

N

SF International, a global independent public health organisation that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences and consumer goods industries, has opened an office in Abu Dhabi to better meet the growing demand for testing, certification, auditing, consulting and training services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

NSF International has been active in the Middle East for more than 25 years, working with more than 1,000 companies in the region. NSF Middle East will provide auditing and product certification services for the water and food industries, as well as quality and environmental management systems certification. It will be led by Mosbah Dannaoui, an expert in water distribution product quality and testing and in quality and environmental management systems. NSF has nearly 70 years of experience in standards development and testing for water treatment, distribution and filtration products. NSF International water services include testing, certification and auditing for municipal water treatment distribution components and chemicals, plastic piping systems, plumbing fixtures and fittings, point-of-use and point-of-entry water systems.

NSF International developed the American National Drinking Water Standards for chemicals and products that come in contact with drinking water (NSF/ANSI 60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals - Health Effects; NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects).Many international plumbing codes, and all major US codes, require or accept certification to these NSF standards for pipes and plumbing components. In fact, the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) recently adopted NSF/ ANSI Standard 61 as a requirement for kitchen taps and bathroom faucets. Companies in the MENA region will have access to NSF’s global market approval programme to help them enter other international export markets for water distribution and treatment products by helping them navigate the product certification product approval process for these countries.

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POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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he past two months saw Siemens bagging four major power sector deals in the Gulf region – two in the UAE and two in Saudi Arabia.

Recently, the electrical engineering giant was awarded a turnkey contract from Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) to supply three high-voltage substations to the emirate. Under the terms of the contract, Siemens is responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and handing over of three 132kV/33kV/11kV substations to the areas of Abu Shagara, Al Khan and Muweleah in Sharjah. This scope of supply includes substations, transformers and capacitor banks. The project is scheduled for completion in 16 months. Last month, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) awarded Siemens two contracts valued at approximately SR1 billion. The first contract includes the supply of five SGT6-2000E gas turbines, which will add 388 MW to Saudi Arabia’s electricity grid. The turbines will be used to supply power to the Rafha, Qurayyat and Arar areas. The second signing is for a turnkey project to build the Al-Kharj 2 380 kV substation. Under the contract, Siemens will supply all key components such as gas insulated switchgear, transformers, line reactors, switchgear, protection systems, telecommu-nication systems, and will also build the substation. The substation will enhance the reliability and security of power supply, while addressing the growing demand for electricity in the Al-Kharj region.

In Abu Dhabi, TRANSCO (the Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company) awarded a contract to Siemens to supply a high-voltage grid substation at Mirfa. The project will help meet growing demand for and enhance the availability of power in the UAE capital. Under the contract, Siemens will supply, deliver, install, test and hand over the 400/220/33-kV grid substation and components, including gas-insulated switchgears, 500MVA and 100MVA transformers, reactors and all other supporting technology. The grid substation will connect the new Mirfa Power Plant with the TRANSCO network. TRANSCO is a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), the owner of Abu Dhabi’s power generation and transmission grid.

The Mirfa contract follows a deal with TRANSCO announced in October last year to build the Shamkha 400/132/33 kV substation in Abu Dhabi on a turnkey basis. Siemens was also contracted by the same company in 2011 for the construction of the 400kV Mahawi substation.

AT LARGE

ABB picks insider for CEO post

Head of Discrete Automation and Motion division Ulrich Spiesshofer to succeed Hogan as ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer

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he Board of ABB has unanimously appointed Ulrich Spiesshofer, the head of its Discrete Automation and Motion (DM) division, as Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Joe Hogan in this role in an orderly transition on September 15, 2013. Hogan will continue with ABB for some months as Senior Advisor to the Board.

Spiesshofer joined ABB’s Executive Committee in 2005 and was named responsible for DM in 2009. He has led a doubling of the division’s revenues by organic and inorganic means, and the integration of Baldor – ABB’s largest ever acquisition. He has increased profit margins through a turnaround in Robotics, as well as the profitable growth and relentless execution of the motors and drives activities.

“ABB has developed a strong bench of

talent: I am extremely pleased that the new CEO comes from within the company, and brings a solid track record and deep knowledge of the portfolio,” said ABB Chairman Hubertus von Grünberg. “Ulrich has been a key force in shaping and implementing ABB’s strategy, and the integration of Baldor stands out as a benchmark for successful large acquisitions.”

Spiesshofer also initiated other business expansion activities in DM based on organic growth and acquisitions. These have helped DM to grow faster than the market and to expand into new business areas such as e-mobility and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), as well as to better balance the business geographically. The planned acquisition of Power-One would make ABB a leading global supplier of solar inverters.

CEO Joe Hogan said: “Ulrich has done a

tremendous job in DM based on the solid knowledge and experience acquired in many successful years within ABB and outside. With his strong contribution and team-oriented collaboration, our mid-term strategy has been making great progress.”

Prior to taking over DM, Spiesshofer was responsible for Corporate Development, leading strategy development and implementation across the power and automation businesses, in very close collaboration with all of ABB’s teams. This included ABB’s roadmap for mergers and acquisitions and the formation of ABB’s technology venture arm. In this role, he strengthened ABB’s operational excellence and procurement processes, laying the groundwork for the cost savings program which has been executed over the past few years of global economic crisis.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

17

AT LARGE

Energy consumer of the future PowerMatching City II will investigate energy services that best serve consumer needs; it will also validate the cost-benefit aspects of smart energy grids in actual practice.

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n 17th June, six Dutch companies, three knowledge institutes and 40 households initiated a pilot in Groningen and Hoogkerk in the Netherlands in which consumers will be testing innovative, smart energy services related to sustainable energy choices and cost savings. The objective is to investigate which smart energy services best meet consumer requirements in order achieve a sustainable and cost effective energy supply. The trial forms part of second phase of PowerMatching City, which boasts of being the world’s first live, total-concept smart grid.

“I am delighted that today we are taking a new important step towards the energy system and the energy consumer of the future together with households, companies and knowledge institutes,” said Albert van den Noort, PowerMatching City II’s Project Manager. He pointed out that PowerMatching City is a great example of achieving change through means of open innovation with players from different backgrounds and disciplines working together.

Participants in Power Matching City II will be given accurate update of their energy consumption and generation down to five minutes through tablets. Each month they will receive a digital ‘energy shadow invoice’ based on their actual energy consumption.

Under the current energy system, consumers pay a monthly invoice based on the estimated energy consumption, while a final invoice is prepared at the end of the

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Power Matching City handheld device year. Since consumers are provided accurate insight into their energy consumption behaviour and the associated costs, they can control their energy consumption on the basis of costs. An investigation will be conducted to determine the savings the consumer can realise this way.

In addition, an assessment will be conducted to determine to what extent the consumer, as part of a local community, is prepared to collectively use as much sustainable energy as possible. The extent to which sustainability is a motivating factor in their energy consumption behaviour will be investigated. The participating households will make use of a smart energy system in which demand and supply of energy is automatically matched – not only within the households themselves, but also between the participating households.

The first phase of PowerMatching City was pronounced one of the hundred most sustainable projects in the world during the UN Conference for Sustainable Development in Brazil, Rio+20. The project

demonstrated the feasibility of creating a smart energy grid with corresponding market models using existing technologies.

The results produced by PowerMatching City I showed that smart energy grids play a vital role in the transition to a sustainable energy system as they facilitate large-scale integration of sustainable energy.

In PowerMatching City II, the research goes a step further: the focus is not only on the energy system, but on the energy consumer of the future and his needs as well. Furthermore, the costs and benefits of smart energy grids for the various involved parties will be validated in actual practice.

Using capacity management and gas, an assessment will be conducted to determine how a smart grid in which households can exchange electricity with each other in a fully automated way can operate stably and reliably.

The number of households in PowerMatching City II has been expanded from 18 to 40 while 10 electric vehicles have been added to the pilot. Energy technologies being deployed in phase II includes energy storage, peak shaving, hybrid heat pumps, micro CHPs (combined heat and power), smart charging stations for electric vehicles and smart household appliances.

The PowerMatching City consortium consists of the project partners DNV KEMA, Enexis, Essent, Gasunie, ICT Automatisering and TNO, and knowledge partners - Technical University Delft, Technical University Eindhoven and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen.

Industry Notes

Catching the wave

A hydrokinetic ocean wave energy system for the Middle East? Anoop K Menon reports.

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he big question is how long the Middle East will be able to maintain its status as a low cost energy consumer and major energy exporter,” says Terence L Bolden, Chief Executive Officer, SebaiCMET a clean-energy technology group which is seeking to introduce its wave energy technology in the region.

“With the region firmly set on the path of economic and energy diversification, what we are offering is an alternative that sits well with other forms of renewable energy.”

SebaiCMET’s Marine Hydrodynamic Kinetic (MHK) system is a wave power device which harnesses the power of the ocean’s waves to produce clean electricity. Given the UAE’s pioneering role in highlighting the region’s renewable energy potential especially in the realm of solar energy, Bolden feels that the country can set a regional benchmark with wave power as well, competing with the likes of the UK, which is currently leading the wave power technology marketplace.

With seven years of testing and four years of development behind it, the MHK system is ready for a full scale commercial pilot. Bolden continued: “I feel the Middle East is the perfect place to test the complete system, either on an island or isolated community so that we can see the total benefit. Moreover, most of the components can be manufactured locally while assembly and development will definitely be done locally.”

The MHK system basically harnesses energy from the motion of swell waves

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Loading the Wave Wing 2012 test model on to the Research Vessel Thunderforce by Florida Institute of Technology students. The testing was funded by SebaiCMET.

nine to 18 metres deep; its wings converts the elliptical motion of the waves into linear mechanical motion to drive a magnetic generator which is connected by cable to onshore power grid. “The temperature and viscosity of the water doesn’t really affect the kinetic energy that is produced,” said Lee Marcum, Chief Research & Development Officer, SebaiCMET. “The magnetic generator is housed inside an enclosure custom-made to local conditions. We don’t use any form of hydraulics or moving parts that would create problems for marine life or the ocean environment.”

“Since these are mainly compositebased systems, we don’t have corrosion and bio-fouling issues that you have with metals,” added Bolden.

The MHK system can be scaled up by coupling the units together to make a complete system or farm depending on the space, the characteristics of the ocean floor where the system is to be installed and the appetite of the local authorities.

A standard size unit is approximately 2.5 x 2.5 x 4.5 metres in size and can generate anywhere between 0.25 MW to 1 MW of energy. These systems are located two to five kilometres from the shore on the sea floor.

“Wave energy is not intermittent like wind and solar because it is the moon that causes the force to move the waves back and forth underneath,” said Marcum. “The movement of our wings is much consistent, frequent, determinable and efficient.”

Over the past seven years, the company has invested time and money into incorporating safety and risk mitigation features into system design to deal with natural disasters like storms or hurricanes.

Bolden said that future generations of the MHK system will be self anchoring and robotic in terms of how they are operated and deployed on the ocean floor. He was at pains to assure that the technology is environmentally safe and compatible with marine environment. “Marine life tends to congregate near a system that doesn’t threaten life,” he explained. “Our systems don’t have blades or turbines; the interval in the back and forth movement of wings allow fish to move around; we are advised by some of the best coating consultants in the US; we also have no visible pollution as everything including the cabling is below the surface.”

What could make SebaiCMET’s wave power technology attractive for countries in the region is its desalination component. Marcum elaborated: “For desalination, the mechanical linkage brings in the sea water, compresses it, sends it through filters and takes the water to the shore.

The same kinetic energy is able to produce enough force and pressure to send the filtered water through RO system or to a storage tank from where it can be passed through a filtration system if needed.”

“The other option is to micro-grid this technology which can lower the overall cost tremendously,” said Bolden. “We can make isolated communities independently powered and sustainable.

INDUSTRY NOTES

Saudi Arabia’s First Engineered Wetlands System

Located at the Ma’aden-Alcoa joint venture project site, the system will treat two million gallons of wastewater daily and save over USD7 million annually in potable water costs.

S

audi Arabia’s first engineered wetlands wastewater management system has been set up by Alcoa and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) system in Saudi Arabia at their joint venture project site. The newly constructed system will reduce water demand by nearly two million US gallons (7.5 million litres) per day and save more than USD7million (SR 26 million) annually that would otherwise be used to purchase fresh water.

The Alcoa-designed and engineered technology – known as a Natural Engineered Wastewater Treatment system – collects sanitary and industrial wastewater and then cleans and disinfects the water without the use of chemicals or the creation of water discharge and odours associated with conventional tank systems. The water will then be reused in the manufacturing process and for irrigation at the Ma’aden-Alcoa aluminum complex at Ras Al Khair. The complex includes a refinery, smelter and rolling mill.

“Sustainable development is a core value for Ma’aden,” said Abdulaziz A. Al Harbi, Ma’aden Aluminium’s president.

“It is also a critical component of our operating excellence that will enable Ma’aden Aluminium to become the

world’s lowest-cost producer of primary based system and eliminated an estimated aluminum, alumina and aluminum prod1,000 metric tonnes of steel for piping and ucts, with access to growing markets in tanks. The project is expected to be fully the Middle East and beyond.” operational by the end of July this year.

“This innovative waste management system demonstrates the value of combining Ma’aden’s local knowledge and expertise with the technological depth and sustainability leadership that Alcoa brings to the Ma’aden-Alcoa joint venture,” said Ray Kilmer, Alcoa’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “Together with Ma’aden, we are bringing to life this oasis in the desert which will safely treat and conserve water in a way that is good for the environment and Alcoa’s wetlands system the bottom line.”

This sustainable technology, demonAlcoa’s wetlands system comprises three strated via full-scale deployment at the steps including (1) an anaerobic treatment Alcoa Technical Centre near Pittsburgh, tank which breaks down and separates Pennsylvania, is now being considered for organic material in the water; (2) a passive other wastewater treatment applications engineered wetland that utilises vegetathroughout Saudi Arabia. tion for further treatment of organics and Alcoa technical experts developed the removal of nitrogen and metals; and (3) system to mimic the physical, chemical and a cell housing bauxite-based technology biological processes of natural wetlands. that disinfects and polishes the water.

In addition to saving water and money, (See Illustration) The result is water the innovative design was constructed six treated to the same or better quality as months faster than a conventional tankthat of a conventional system.

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INDUSTRY NOTES

Pooling utilities

Sembcorp’s Centralised Utilities Model offers a sustainable framework for the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) energyintensive industrialisation agenda.

By Anoop K Menon

Sembcorp’s Centralised Utilities Facilities on Jurong Island, Singapore

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he energy intensive industrialisation agenda adopted by the majority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members as part of a broader economic diversification strategy requires them to manage its impact on critical resources - water, energy and environment.

The concept of centralised utilities, where bundled water and energy services are offered for energy intensive industrial clusters, can achieve sustainable operations through the use of optimised resources

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and cutting-edge technologies.

In May, Sembcorp, the Singapore headquartered global energy, water and marine conglomerate, announced that its newly-incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary, Sembcorp Utilities (Oman), has signed a joint venture agreement with Takamul Investment Company (Takamul), a subsidiary of Oman Oil Company, to develop Centralised Utilities for the Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Under the agreement, Takamul and Sembcorp’s 65-35 joint venture entity, Centralised Utilities Company (CUC), will serve as a one-stop provider of a range of centralised utilities such as power, steam, water, sewerage treatment and on-site logistics on a captive basis to multiple industrial customers in the Duqm SEZ in southern Oman. CUC’s customers will include anchor customer Oman Oil Company, which is developing a 230,000 barrels per day refinery targeted to begin operations in 2018 as well as a petrochemical complex on the site. CUC will have an initial share capital of OMR1 million (approximately SD3.2 million), of which Sembcorp’s 35% stake will be funded through internal resources.

Sembcorp will be once again pioneering its centralised utility model, this time in the Middle East, through the Duqm SEZ project. Under this unique model, multiple customers are offered an integrated supply of energy, water and on-site logistics produced by centralised facilities.

By outsourcing critical utilities to Sembcorp, companies can focus on their core business and save on investment and operating costs.

They can also be assured of reliable solutions which meet stringent environmental standards.

From its beginnings in Singapore’s petrochemical hub, Jurong Island, this model has been successfully replicated in 10 sites across Singapore, the UK, China and now, the Middle East.

Typical services offered by Sembcorp under the Centralised Utility Model include.

Energy: • Power generation and retail • Process steam production and distribution • Natural gas supply and retail Water: • Industrial wastewater treatment • Reclaimed water • Desalinated water • Potable Water • Water for industrial use, including demineralised water, industrial water, raw water, chilled water, cooling water, seawater cooling, Fire water On-site Logistics & Services: • Service corridor • Chemical storage and terminalling • Asset protection • Industrial gases The bundling of utilities for energy intensive clusters helps pool resources to remove duplication of services and optimises systems and resources to achieve high system efficiencies, minimise energy wastage, and provide cost-competitive utility services to customers. Customers also benefit from lower emissions that translate to a smaller carbon footprint.

In Jurong Island, Sembcorp provides energy, water and on-site logistics and services to over 40 multinationals.

Investors have found that convenient because a utility plant can take up 30-50% of the cost depending on the size of the plant. The availability of centralised wastewater treatment, one of the services offered under the bundled model, means companies don’t have to worry about effluent discharge norms.

Sembcorp will manage their wastewater and shoulder responsibility for meeting the effluent discharge norms.

Sembcorp’s presence in Duqm will mark its second project in Oman after the Salalah Independent Water and Power Plant. Sembcorp also owns, operates and maintains the Fujairah 1 Independent Water and Power Plant – one of the world’s largest operating hybrid desalination plants – in the UAE since 2006.

ON THE RECORD

Connected Solutions Ventyx, an ABB company, specialises in industrial enterprise software for asset-intensive industries like utilities, oil & gas and mining, positioning itself as the primary solution provider bridging the gap between information technologies (IT) and operational technologies (OT). At the sidelines of the company’s first global customer and partner conference, Ventyx World 2013, held in San Francisco last month, Jeff Ray, CEO, Ventyx spoke to Anoop K Menon on how his company is partnering its asset-intensive customers to address their biggest challenges, and how the collaboration with parent company ABB gives Ventyx an unbeatable edge over competition.

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What are the factors driving IT-OT integration? Could you also highlight the risks for utilities that look the other way?

I have no doubt that utilities in the Middle East will surely recognise the significance of IT-OT integration because the benefits are so obvious and transparent. You will see this recognition at the CXO level because it is all about Return on Investment (RoI). For a nominal investment in manpower and software, you can sweat your assets in ways impossible to do any other way. As for the key benefits, first, you can get more life out of your assets; second, you start managing your business by conditions rather than by process or protocol. For instance, you can drive much greater efficiencies in your maintenance force. They are not going out and inspecting devices that have sensors and are reporting themselves on how they are doing at digital speeds; third, you are not going to have outages because a piece of equipment failed or the conditions were right for it to fail but you didn’t know about it. A typical outage costs the industry one million dollars a day – that’s what our customers tell us - so the payback is pretty quick. You must also consider the impact of outages on the energy company’s relationships within the community. Outages don’t build trust and confidence but our products help utilities to inspire trust and confidence among their customers. So I am not concerned about whether or not people will see value because the benefits are obvious.

The fact that ABB is an established name is half the battle won, isn’t it?

ABB is going to help us with infrastructure and give us precision on where the opportunities and the needs are. But at the end of the day, it is our responsibility to build great products and deliver them, and we are responsible for exceeding our customer’s expectations. In the market we operate, we have to compete against software companies. But I strongly believe that we have an ‘unfair’ advantage over competition – we are so closely connected to ABB that a lot of the solutions we launched at VentyxWorld like Outage Lifecycle Management and Enterprise Asset Health Management couldn’t be done without having ABB expertise and ABB customers

ON THE RECORD

partnering with us. At the same time, we are expected to stand on our own two feet as a business, battle competition, win the customer’s trust and ultimately their business.

Many of the leading utilities in the Middle East have only recently started getting their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations in place. How does this scenario play out for Ventyx, in terms of both challenges and opportunities?

Traditional enterprise software companies don’t have the infrastructure company awareness, expertise and discipline that we do; they don’t have the algorithms that we have for how transformers, circuit breakers, batteries perform; they don’t have the ability to engage their R&D teams the way we do. In fact, we are sitting down with ABB’s R&D and solving problems that our customers haven’t even seen yet.

As we bring those products to market, I have no doubt that we will be years ahead of our competitors from the enterprise software space.

In a head-to-head contest, when we are aware of the opportunity early enough, when we can get our sales teams engaged early enough in the cycle, we win. In fact, we only lose when we are not there.

Of course, there are also some niche players we must contend with; but again, they come from a pure software domain. Most of them are general purpose software companies who have reverse-engineered their ERP systems to their industry or utilities practice. When a customer compares our deep domain expertise to a general software company which happens to have some point tools, we usually win.

Within the utilities sector, the trend is to go seamless. In fact, we have done something that no one has been able to do in this industry with our Outage Lifecycle Management solution - not mere outage management but the entire lifecycle from prediction, planning and modelling all the way through recovery in a seamless way with a learning element. The solution has been built as one complete entity on a common data

layer with a common user interface so that operators don’t have to jump from one tool to another or move data; in fact, they don’t have to become integrators of the last resort as was the case before.

One of our customers watching the demo couldn’t help himself from jumping up, hugging the demonstrator and admit that he had been waiting for such a solution for 30 years.

Worldwide, the utilities sector is perceived as conservative and slow to change. Do you see that as a hindrance?

I love the fact that this industry is conservative. On a personal note, I have spent most of my life working or dealing in asset intensive and engineering intensive industries. I chose to be here because I love it. Though one of our keynote speakers did remark that this is where innovation goes to die, the beauty of this industry is that it waits and learns from others. The battles are fought, won and lost in other industries; by the time we are ready to take a stand and invest in a standard or platform or architecture, we know it will work. We walk in as a vendor or a provider knowing that we are not going to introduce failing components because they haven’t been proven. When a customer makes a commitment to us, it is a multi-decade commitment. Having that kind of faith means we can make very precise investments that are important to them for the long term. We don’t have to do any tactical or superficial things.

We have a lot of things in the pipeline apart from the announcements at Ventyx World. We can do a lot more things than before and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Now that we are having different dialogues with our customers, it is fantastic to see the dialogues alone inspiring them to come back and tell us ‘wow, I know you have solved this but I have also got these other things that no one has been able to solve.’

This is creating a whole new wave of opportunities for us.

At the same time, I don’t believe in putting the cart before the horse. Like ABB, we believe in doing the job first and then talk about what we have done.

We don’t believe in making a lot of false promises and putting ourselves or our customers’ operations at risk.

I couldn’t help but notice how you collaborated with American Electrical Power (AEP) and ABB to develop the new Asset Health Centre solution.

Do you have plans to extend this innovation partnership approach to utilities in the Middle East as well?

We are eager to partner with companies in the Middle East because your region has its unique demands and needs. The advantage is that you can learn from the 50-100 years of experience of your counterparts in North America and Europe because we bring that experience with us.

You don’t have to make the same mistakes or have the inefficiencies they had. You don’t have a legacy infrastructure that is not effective enough and optimised. I am personally very excited about our growth opportunities in the Middle East. Today, we rely heavily on ABB and they have a very good presence in the region. We do have a few people stationed in the region, but that is clearly not enough. We are eager to invest and hire but I am also clear that I want local leadership running our companies in the Middle East.

The keyword here is precision. There must be precision in understanding the opportunities and mapping the requirements over the skills that are needed while making the investments.

Again, the advantage we have over a traditional software company is ABB, which has the infrastructure and the relationships. We previewed these initiatives five to six months ago with the ABB regional leadership, so they are well on their way to identifying the opportunities. We can move much more quickly leveraging their deep and local understanding of opportunities. We don’t have the risks associated with bad or incomplete data.

ABB has been operating in the region for many years which makes it a lot easier for us to make those investments and do it quickly. Our Middle East team has my full support and confidence when it comes to making the right strategic investments.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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Centre Spread

CLIMATE EXTREMES, REGIONAL IMPACTS and the CASE FOR RESILIENCE

Our planet is increasingly experiencing dramatic climate and weather extreams. That is why the World Bank Commissioned a second report in the “Turn Down the Heat” series to gauge how rising global temperatures could affect three regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, and South Asia. Urgent action is needed now to mitigate carbon emissions and to build resilience in the face of growing threats to food security, water resources, coastal ecosystems and cities.

POWER AND WATER

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Climate Extreme A warmer world will keep millions of people trapped in poverty, says new World Bank report

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egular food shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa….shifting rain patterns in South Asia leaving some parts under water and others without enough water for power generation, irrigation, or drinking….degradation and loss of reefs in South East Asia resulting in reduced fish stocks and coastal communities and cities more vulnerable to increasingly violent storms….these are but a few of the likely impacts of a possible global temperature rise of 2°C in the next few decades that threatens to trap millions of people in poverty, according to a new scientific report by the World Bank Group.

Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience builds on a World Bank report released late last year, which concluded the world would warm by 4 degrees Celsius (4°C or 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century if we did not take concerted action now. This new report looks at the likely impacts of present day, 2°C and 4°C warming on agricultural production, water resources, coastal ecosystems and cities across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and

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South East Asia.

“This new report outlines an alarming scenario for the days and years ahead – what we could face in our lifetime,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “The scientists tell us that if the world warms by 2°C - warming which may be reached in 20 to 30 years - that will cause widespread food shortages, unprecedented heat-waves, and more intense cyclones. In the near-term, climate change, which is already unfolding, could batter the slums even more and greatly harm the lives and the hopes of individuals and families who have had little hand in raising the Earth’s temperature.”

“These changes forecast for the tropics illustrate the level of hardships that will be inflicted on all regions eventually, it we fail to keep warming under control,” said Kim. “Urgent action is needed to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to help countries prepare for a world of dramatic climate and weather extremes.”The report, prepared for the World Bank by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analytics, reveals how rising global tem-

peratures are increasingly threatening the health and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, crucially magnifying problems each region is struggling with today.

Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience is an analysis of the latest climate science, as a means to better understand the risks of climate change to development. Key findings include: • In Sub-Saharan Africa, by the 2030s droughts and heat will leave 40% of the land now growing maize unable to support that crop, while rising temperatures could cause major loss of savannah grasslands threatening pastoral livelihoods. By the 2050s, depending on the sub-region, the proportion of the population undernourished is projected to increase by 25-90% compared to the present.

• In South Asia, the potential change in the regularity and impact of the all-important monsoon could precipitate a major crisis in the region. Events like the devastating Pakistan floods of 2010, which affected more than 20 million people, could become common place. More extreme droughts in large parts of India could lead to widespread food shortages and hardship.

• Across South East Asia, rural livelihoods are faced with mounting pressures as sea levels rise, tropical cyclones increase in intensity,

SPECIAL REPORT

Water cooperation becomes vital

and important marine ecosystem services are lost as warming approaches 4°C. • And across all the regions, the likely movement of impacted communities into urban areas could lead to ever higher numbers of people in informal settlements being exposed to heat waves, flooding, and diseases.

The report says impacts across its study regions are potentially devastating. And, if warming goes from 2°C to 4°C, multiple threats of increasing extreme heat waves, sea–level rise, more severe storms, droughts and floods would have severe negative implications for the poorest and most vulnerable. It notes, however, that many of the worst consequences could still be avoided by holding warming below 2°C. “I do not believe the poor are condemned to the future scientists envision in this report. In fact, I am convinced we can reduce poverty even in a world severely challenged by climate change,” continued President Kim. “We can help cities grow clean and climate resilient, develop climate smart agriculture practices, and find innovative ways to improve both energy efficiency and the performance of renewable energies. We can work with countries to roll back harmful fossil fuel subsidies and help put the policies in place that will eventually lead to a stable price on carbon.”

“We are determined to work with countries to find solutions,” said Kim. “But, the science is clear. There can be no substitute for aggressive national mitigation targets, and the burden of emissions reductions lies with a few large economies.”

The report says sea level rise has been occurring more rapidly than previously projected and a rise of as much as 50-cm by the 2050s may already be unavoidable

There can be no substitute for aggressive national mitigation targets, and the burden of emissions reductions lies with a few large economies. as a result of past emissions. In some cases, impacts could be felt much earlier. For example, without adaptation measures, sea level rise of 15-cm, coupled with more intense cyclones, threatens to inundate much of Bangkok by the 2030s.

The burgeoning cities of the developing world are identified as some of the places on the planet most at risk from climate change. Describing urban areas as “new clusters of vulnerability,” the report says

• Eighty-five percent of the world’s population lives on the driest half of the land, 783 million people do not have access to clean water, and 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation.

• The economic and health effects already being felt will be exacerbated by climate change and its effect on water ecosystems.

• According to the report ‘Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C World Must Be Avoided,’ between 43% and 50% of the global population will be living in water-scarce countries by the end of this century. As a consequence, there likely will be increasing aridity and drought in many developing countries. Looking forward, it is clear that water management practices of the past are no longer adequate. Transformations in behaviour, institutions, and policies will be at the centre of governments’, companies’, and our attention,” said Rachel Kyte, the World Bank’s vice president for sustainable development.

urban dwellers, particularly the urban poor, face significant vulnerability to climate change.

Informal settlements in places like Metro Manila in the Philippines and Kolkata in India concentrate large populations and often lack basic services, such as electricity, sanitation, health, infrastructure, and durable housing. In such areas, people are highly exposed to extreme weather events, such as storms and flooding. Extreme heat is also felt more acutely in cities.

Partly in response to the findings of the two Turn Down the Heat reports, the World Bank Group is stepping up its mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk management work, and will increasingly look at all its business through a “climate lens.”

Today, the Bank is helping 130 countries take action on climate change. Last year, it doubled its financial lending that contributes to adaptation. Increasingly, the Bank is supporting action on the ground to finance the kind of projects that help the poor grow their way out of poverty, increase their resilience to climate change, and achieve emission reductions.

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COVER STORY

Water industry will outperform The water industry has a history of disappointing investors. What makes it different this time? GWI explains why growth in the global water market can outstrip the rest of the global economy.

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that the global economy will grow by 3.3% in 2013, compared to 3.2% in 2012 (BBC News). But if the newly published Global Water Market 2014 report is to be believed, capital expenditure on water infrastructure will grow by 4.9% in 2013, up from 3.7% in 2012. In other words, water will outperform the economy this year, and over the years included in the report’s forecast period up to 2018.

The report carries detailed forecasts of the outlook for water in 100 different countries, looking at different aspects of expenditure, including resource development, water and wastewater networks, treatment, and industrial water.

The publisher of Global Water Intelligence (GWI) Christopher Gasson explains that “different markets are moving in very different ways.” The report forecasts that China’s expenditure on water resource development (excluding desalination) will fall by 75% over the years to 2018, as the first phase of the South-North Water Transfer reaches completion, but predicts that its expenditure on wastewater treatment

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plants will rise by 81% as it pursues plans to improve wastewater treatment in smaller towns and cities. Stepping back and looking at the market as a whole, GWI pinpoints five distinct themes which are driving expenditure in the water market at a rate quicker than the economy as a whole.

Global water capital expenditure forecast to 2018 The rising marginal cost of water GWI estimates that industrial and municipal water users withdrew around 1,182km3 of water from the environment in 2011. By 2030, they estimate that total demand will rise to 1,562km3,

COVER STORY

but not all of this water can come from cheap and convenient resources. So, the share coming from long-distance transfer, desalination and water reuse will rise from 1.8% in 2011 to 5.7% in 2030.

Although low-cost water resources will remain the overwhelmingly dominant source of supply, GWI believes that the high cost of developing non-traditional resources will cause expenditure on developing new water resources to grow by 8.2% over the period 2013-2018.

wastewater infrastructure to outstrip capital spending on drinking water systems over the next five years. In the developed world, much of the spending will focus on combined sewer overflow correction, and sludge management. In the developing world, sewer networks and treatment plants will be the most significant expenditure items. Overall, capital expenditure on wastewater infrastructure is growing by five per cent per year, but certain niches such as anaerobic digestion (9.7%) and aeration (6.2%) are growing more rapidly.

shale gas, oil sands, coal bed methane, and tertiary oil recovery.

Typically, these involve significant wastewater treatment challenges, although many of these resources lie in areas of the world where meeting process water requirements require significant expenditure as well. In other sectors, brand management and corporate social responsibility are driving greater investment in water-efficient technologies, while tighter regulations on discharges are also a significant catalyst for expenditure.

Water is a late-cycle business Around 92% of capital expenditure on water infrastructure comes from the public purse. Gasson says: “Public sector spending tends to peak late in the economic cycle, because that is when public finances are strongest.

They may continue a little into an economic downturn in the form of stimulus spending, but during the early stages of recovery, public finances are at their weakest, and that is where we are today. Levels of capital expenditure on water are well below what they were at the peak�.The report predicts that there will be a significant increase in wastewater spending over the next five years in a return to previous trends. The US because they are nearing recovery, Southern and Eastern Europe because many countries still have outstanding commitments to EU directives, and the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) will experience strong growth as a result of this late cycle business –infrastructure spending will accelerate as GDP growth is starting to slow.

Urbanisation drives wastewater spending

The top eight municipal water capex markets (2011-18)

Total forecast spending on industrial water systems (2013-2018) Forecasts are fallible

Global water equipment capex forecast (2013-2018) Industry needs to spend on water

Wastewater collection, treatment and sludge management are the forgotten necessities of urban life. Rapidly industrialising countries cannot avoid spending money on wastewater collection and treatment for very long.

GWI expects capital expenditure on

GWI predicts that water spending by industrial users will grow more quickly than the municipal water sector. This reflects a number of additional pressures affecting industrial water users. The natural resources industries are increasingly pursuing more marginal resources such as low-grade ores,

The moment to tear up these forecasts is when growth in the Chinese economy slows below six per cent, Brent Crude falls below USD80, or US growth grinds to a halt. The report anticipates that China will become the largest single water market by 2016, and through the commodities market, it is also a major driver of the industrial sector. The oil price is significant for the GCC municipal water market, as well as industrial water spending in oil producing countries. The US recovery is important for obvious reasons.

(To get the complete report, e-mail cmarchesi@globalwaterintel.com)

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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COVER STORY

More water The top 10 most promising water technologies of this decade

T

he world’s freshwater resources are limited, but both population and per capita consumption of water is growing. By 2025 one in three people around the world will experience either water scarcity or water stress. New water technologies are expected to play key roles in addressing these issues. We profile 10 new/emerging technologies expected to transform water production, treatment, distribution and reuse.

SMART WATER NETWORKS A smart water network is an integrated set of products, solutions and systems that enables utilities to remotely and continuously monitor and diagnose problems, prioritise and manage maintenance issues, and use data to optimise all aspects of water distribution network performance. Smart water networks can save utilities across the globe up to USD12.5 billion a year according to research commissioned by Sensus, a North America-based provider of intelligent solutions for electric, gas and water utilities. System performance improvements in areas such as leakage and pressure management, network operations, and water quality monitoring, coupled with informed decision making about the allocation of capital expenditures, can stimulate dramatic savings when driven by the real-time data that a smart water network provides “The water industry is finally coming together under the right environmental, social, technological and economic conditions to support broad changes in how water utilities are run,” says Frost & Sullivan Energy and Environment Industry Analyst Seth Cutler. “Data and ICT opportunities are converging in

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COVER STORY

the market to provide reliability and depth of insight previously unattainable. Growth in new data-centric technologies applied across the water network will realise more than USD22 billion worth of investment by 2020. This represents large growth from a 2010 market worth less than USD6 billion.�

NUTRIENT RECOVERY AND RECYCLING Phosphorus is a vital element not only for plants but also for all living organisms - as a component of DNA and RNA and its role in cellular metabolism. However, it is a scarce natural resource and current estimates suggest that reserves of phosphate rock may only last for the next 45-100 years. In recent times, however, farmers have been faced with a growing shortage of this essential mineral, and the price of phosphate-based fertilisers has been steadily increasing. Looking for alternatives is not an easy task, because phosphorus cannot be replaced by any other substance. Sewage sludge, wastewater and liquid manure are valuable sources of fertiliser for food production.

For example, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart have developed a chemical-free, eco-friendly process that precipitates out the nutrients in a form that enables them to be directly applied as fertiliser. Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) have focused on microorganisms that capture and store phosphate from wastewater. Such technologies can enable wastewater plants to generate additional revenue from the production of fertiliser as a sideline to the treatment of wastewater.

ENERGY FROM WASTEWATER Experts estimate that about three per cent of the electrical energy consumed in the United States and other developed countries is used to treat wastewater, and a majority of that electricity is produced by fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. But the biodegradable characteristics of wastewater, if tapped to their full potential, could theoretically provide many times the energy that is now being used to process them, with no additional greenhouse emissions.

For example, engineers at Oregon State University have made a breakthrough in the performance of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which wastewater treatment plants not only will power themselves, but will sell excess electricity. MFCs can also be used to capture energy from the difference between salt and fresh water.

In the Middle East, researchers at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi are working on MFCs to clean wastewater. An indirect source of energy could be cultivation of algae in

municipal wastewater for extracting biofuel. Biogas generation from wastewater treatment too is an area that is still underdeveloped. The controlled, continuous production of valuable biogas that occurs during anaerobic wastewater treatment is a advantage that should be harnessed.

Historically, the main incentive for using digesters to treat wastewater sludge was to reduce the volume of sludge, thereby reducing the cost of transporting and treating the sludge. The recognition that the methane produced by the digesters could be a significant source of useful energy is more recent.

DESALINATION BY RENEWABLE ENERGY Desalination of seawater and brackish water can be used to augment the increasing demand for fresh water supplies but being energy intensive means it is not an easy option for countries importing bull of their energy needs. Until now, the majority of desalination plants have been located in regions with high availability and low costs of energy. Current information on desalination shows that only one per cent of total desalinated water is based on energy from renewable sources. Renewables are becoming increasingly main stream and technology prices continue to decline, thus making renewable energy a viable option. In Saudi Arabia, the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is currently working on buildingup a solar-energy operated desalination plant at Al khafji city in the Eastern Province. The 30,000 m3/day plant will be powered by a ultra-high concentrator photovoltaic (UHCPV) technology that is being jointly developed by IBM and KACST.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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COVER STORY

In the UAE, Masdar launched a pilot programme in January this year accelerate the development of sustainable desalination technologies.

The long-term goal of the program is to implement renewable energy-powered desalination plants in the UAE and to have a facility at commercial scale by 2020. By pairing state-of-the-art energy efficient desalination technologies with renewable energy, the programme aims to significantly reduce energy consumption. The programme will bridge the gap between promising desalination technologies, which are being developed in universities and research centers worldwide, and large-scale industrial applications powered by renewable energy.

EMBRACING NANOTECHNOLOGY Promising nanotechnology applications in water treatment include improved membrane technologies, removal of bacteria and other pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and trace contaminants, water quality monitoring, remediation of polluted water systems, greater wastewater reuse, desalination, as well as less-water intensive agriculture. For example, one of the most efficient means of desalination is reverse osmosis. But there are obstacles to unlocking this reserve - principally bio-fouling, degradation by chlorine and low flux challenges. A KACST / IBM joint research focuses on improving polymeric membranes through nanoscale modification of polymer properties to make desalination much more efficient and much less costly. In South Africa, researchers at Stellenbosch University have developed a Nano ‘tea bag’ that purifies water. The sachets are made from the same material used to produce the rooibos tea bags that

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are popular in South Africa. But inside are ultra-thin nanoscale fibres, which filter out contaminants, plus active carbon granules, which kill bacteria. Demand for nanotechnology for water treatment currently appears to be largely driven by reduced costs; improved ability to selectively remove contaminants; durability and the size of the device.

Future generations of nanotechnology-based water treatment devices will likely capitalise on the new properties of nanoscale materials.

CHEMICAL FREE DISINFECTION The need for disinfection in water and wastewater treatment processes is gathering further steam as rapid industrialisation and urbanisation call for more extensive water reuse. Rising costs for treatment, energy usage and growing concerns with the environmental impact of using chlorine for disinfection is attracting operators towards chemical-free disinfection systems. Since its introduction over 40 years’ ago, Ultraviolet (UV) technology it is now applied globally for disinfection, TOC (total organic carbon) reduction, deozonation and de-chlorination of water in many different industries, including food and beverage industries, pharmaceutical manufacturing, aquaculture, pools and leisure, shipping and oil drilling. Unlike chemical treatment, UV does not introduce toxins or residues into process water and does not alter the chemical composition, taste, odour or pH of the fluid being disinfected. UV treatment can be used for primary water disinfection or as a back-up

for other water purification methods such as carbon filtration, reverse osmosis or pasteurisation. “The trend of water reuse and stringent disinfection practices, especially in water intensive and water critical industries such as power, food and beverage and pharmaceuticals, is acting as a major driver for the water and wastewater disinfection systems market,” says Frost & Sullivan’s Energy & Environmental Research Analyst Vandhana Ravi.“It will have a profound impact on market prospects over the next 5-7 years.”

WATER TREATMENT GOES GREEN Companies are looking at mechanical, operation and chemical/non-chemical approaches to make their water treatment green and sustainable. For example, BWA Water Additives, a leading global provider of specialty chemicals for water treatment, offers a range of biodegradable antiscalants for desalination applications. Recently, the company launched Flocon 885, a uniquely biodegradable, phosphorus-free and nitrogen-free antiscalant polymer for RO desalination plants. Another example of sustainable water treatment is the Nimr Water Treatment Plant (NWTP), which treats produced water generated by PDO’s oil fields in Southern Oman, is one of the world’s biggest commercial natural water treatment systems covering more than 700 hectares of constructed wetlands. The produced water in NWTP runs through a series of reed beds which break down the hydrocarbons before the purified water is collected in evaporation ponds. All of this is done without the need for pumps or any electricity. Another benefit of the NWTP is that it recovers a significant amount of crude oil from the produced water.

Another area going green is odour control with operators beginning to deploy biology-based, green solution that remove odorous compounds from wastewater treatment plant and pumping stations airstreams without the use of hazardous chemicals or activated carbon.

CLIMATE CHANGE Water is where many of the impacts of climate change will be felt first and most

COVER STORY

acutely. This puts the water industry at the forefront in adapting to a changing climate. The water sector will need to adapt to be able to respond to extreme weather events, sea level rise, shifting precipitation and runoff patterns, temperature changes, and resulting changes in water quality and availability. Resilient and adaptable water utilities will help ensure clean and safe water to protect public health and sustain the communities that the utilities serve.

Growing awareness and understanding of the impact of climate change on water resources and infrastructure is expected to spur investment in advanced technologies from water recycling to energy efficiency to smart water networks to protect and secure them. The future of the private sector will increasingly hinge on the ability of businesses to adapt to the world’s rapidly changing environment and to develop goods and services that can reduce the impacts of climate change, water scarcity, emissions of harmful chemicals, and other environmental concerns

WATER REUSE The growing trend is to consider water reuse as an essential component of integrated water resources management and sustainable development, not only in dry and water deficient areas, but in water abundant regions as well. More than 40 million cubic meters of municipal wastewater are now recycled daily worldwide.

As water re-use becomes more widely practiced, this will increase the market for a range of treatment technologies, including advanced biological treatment, macro filtration, ultraviolet disinfection, membrane filtration, and potentially advanced oxidation. In the Middle East, the trend for industrial and commercial water reuse

applications, and decentralised wastewater treatment/reuse has been driven by membrane bioreactor (MBR) coupled with Reverse Osmosis (RO) to treat water for polishing to potable standards. A technology that is making its presence felt as a competitive alternative to MBR is Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) which scores high in terms of compactness, high effluent quality and low energy requirements. in terms of compactness and effluent quality while scoring high on energy front due to low energy requirements. The system is self regulating so that a high level of operator intervention is not required to maintain the process balance.

inland brackish desalination.

Membrane distillation or MD, a thermallydriven separation process, is a promising technology for desalting highly saline waters and offers several advantages over other techniques. According to a paper coauthored by Masdar Institute faculty, oil producers and petroleum refineries especially in the GCC countries could save up to USD50 billion if membrane distillation techniques are applied to treatment of produced water.

Membrane distillation (MD) requires significantly lower operating temperatures and therefore lower energy requirements. Since non-volatile solutes cannot be transported across the membrane barrier in an MD

BEYOND MEMBRANES The demand for water is driving a new set of water treatment technologies beyond traditional membrane technologies. Last month, Desalitech which provides water production and treatment solutions, announced that it secured additional private equity funding to accelerate its growth and strengthen its position as the leading supplier of high-recovery low-cost industrial water treatment solutions.

Desalitech claims that its Closed Circuit Desalination (CCD) solutions are the first major improvement in RO water treatment in decades, lowering costs by 20 to 60% by increasing water-use efficiency, reducing energy consumption, increasing flexibility and reliability and greatly reducing the emission of brine waste.

With their unique capability of extracting purified water from challenging sources at high recovery rates, CCD products are ideal for industrial water and effluent treatment, agricultural water supply and

system, it is capable of achieving near 100% rejection of dissolved salts and minerals.

Watersolutions AG has launched a Low Temperature Distillation (LTD) system for seawater desalination. The Watersolutions LTD system condenses water at low temperature and pressure, using waste heat (50-110°C) from thermal processes including renewable energy sources such as solar energy or geothermal energy.

Unlike conventional desalination technologies, where the main cost is related to energy usage, the LTD process uses free, low grade waste heat (6 - 30MW), which can be derived from any source including thermal power plants, district cooling systems, general industry, mining and waste incineration.

The company claims that a LTD system with one cascade can produce pure water at less than 1.0 kWh/m3. In contrast, SWRO typically uses 3.5 – 4.5 kWh/m3 of water production.

Because the process is very tolerant to the salinity of the feedwater, it can even handle brine concentrate from RO. POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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MaRKET PLACE

Fluke

435 Series II Power Quality and Energy Analyser Fluke has launched the new Fluke 435 Series II Power Quality and Energy Analyser, which the company claims not only analyses power quality but also calculates energy loss caused by poor power quality.

435 Series II Power Quality and Energy Analyzer features: • • • • • •

Basic PQ V/A/Hz, Power, Dips, Swells, Harmonics, Unbalance Immediate readings and short-term logging Isolated USB port for PC connectivity Li-ion battery for extended operating time span SD card storage (up to 32GB); new 153 mm full color LCD PowerLog 3.0 Software

According to the press release issued by the company, the Fluke 435 Series II is also equipped with a PowerWave Waveform Capture, which captures RMS values to see every waveform and determine how voltage, current and frequency values interact. Other important features highlighted in the release include: • Power Scope Record: Troubleshoot non-standard, 3-phase power issues • Power Inverter Efficiency: Measure efficiency of inverters in solar, wind and UPS apps • Energy loss calculator— monetizes cost of poor power quality • Advanced PQ, Flicker, Transients, Class A Apart from fast capture of RMS values, other applications emphasised in the press release are as follows: • Power inverter efficiency • Energy monetisation to calculate the fiscal cost of energy waste due to poor power quality • Energy assessment which quantifies the before and after installation improvements in energy consumption to justify energy saving devices • Frontline troubleshooting to quickly diagnose problems on-screen to get operation back online • Predictive maintenance to detect and prevent power quality issues before they cause downtime • Long-term analysis to uncover hard-to-find or intermittent issues • Load studies to verify electrical system capacity before adding loads

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Syrinix

TransientMinder monitoring system

F

ollowing the commercial launch and implementation of TrunkMinder, a real-time monitoring device for trunk mains and other large pipes, Syrinix has launched a new monitoring system TransientMinder for advanced analysis of pressure transients. TransientMinder provides real-time pressure monitoring and transient detection to pipes of all sizes and materials, at a highly competitive price.

According to Syrinix, TransientMinder detects a transient at the pressure measurement point immediately, and notifies the customer that this transient has been detected in real time through a web-based graphical display. TransientMinder can be used to track transients through a network using a swarm of devices, and indicate the likely source of the transient using event data and knowledge of the network.

TransientMinder samples data at a high rate allowing it to plot the actual transient excursion far more accurately, whilst weeding out irrelevant data. The technology used to monitor the pipes is based on Syrinix’s work with TrunkMinder.

James Dunning, Chief Executive of Syrinix, said: “As part of Syrinix’s ambition to be a market leader in automated pipeline monitoring solutions, we are delighted to be bringing TransientMinder to market.

Pressure transients are a major issue for many utilities causing discolouration and bursts that often go unexplained. With TransientMinder utilities will have the knowledge to identify those causes and mitigate them, saving money and improving services as a result.”

MARKET PLACE

BWA Water Additives Biodegradable antiscalant for RO systems

B

WA Water Additives has developed Flocon 885 which is a neutarlised aqueous solution of a specialised polycarboxylic acid that is effective in controlling the deposition of inorganic scale forming salts on membrane surfaces. Dr Ian Hague, BWA Regional Director-Middle East, said: “While there are many other membrane antiscalants on the market, Flocon 885 is the only product that is readily biodegradable in both sea and fresh water conditions.” The release issued by the company claims that the product is both phosphorous and nitrogen free. It can be monitored in the feed water and concentrate using a fluorimeter due to its inherent fluorescence properties. BWA claims that Flocon 885 has excellent antiscalant properties for calcium carbonate and barium sulphate as well as offering good calcium and strontium sulphate and calcium fluoride inhibitions.

Flocon 885 is not affected by chlorine or other oxidising biocides under normal conditions of use and may be used in membrane systems using chlorine and sodium metabisulphite. The recommended injection point is into feedwater downstream of any filtration equipment and cartridge filters. The additive is miscible with water in all proportions and may be applied as the neat product or as a solution in the permeate.

Flocon 885 is dosed continuously and proportionately to the feedwater flow to maintain the recommended dose level. The dose level required is dependent on the quality of the feedwater and the saturation indices of the various scale forming species present in the concentrated brine. Computer software is used to calculate the scaling indices and optimum system recovery.

Lanxess

Pentair

S

P

New low energy RO elements pecialty chemicals company LANXESS has expanded its range of membrane separation elements for reverse osmosis (RO)-based water treatment to include new low energy (LE) elements. “The operating pressures of the LE membrane elements are around 20 to 40% below those of the standard pressure elements in our product portfolio,” said Alan Sharpe, head of the RO Membrane Project in the Liquid Purification Technologies business unit of LANXESS. “The pumps in RO plants that use these elements also exhibit corresponding reductions in energy consumption in relation to the volumes of purified water produced and the rate of flow. These elements can be used to treat both surface water and groundwater in industrial and municipal sectors, including the treatment of wastewater.”

X-Flow Colour Removal Package entair has launched its latest innovation in hollow fibre nanofiltration technology - X-Flow Colour Removal Package (CRP) – for the removal of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in fresh water. Organic compounds in fresh water adversely affect the water treatment process as well as the colour, taste and odour of drinking water.

The company claims that X-Flow CRP removes NOM in fresh water while significantly simplifying the treatment operation system by eliminating three process steps. The core component of the Pentair X-Flow CRP is the HFW 1000 membrane. Based on the X-Flow nanofiltration platform, the membrane fiber combines the chemical resistance of X-Flow’s membranes with the organic retention of spiral wound nanofiltration.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

37

TEST & MEASUREMENT

Power problems Power quality problems can be costly from safety, operational and economic standpoints. Power & Water Middle East takes a look at common power quality issues, their causes and impacts and the tools available to resolve these issues.

U

ntil recently, most electrical equipment could operate satisfactorily during expected deviations from the nominal voltage and frequency supplied by the utility. However, modern electrical equipment incorporating microprocessor-based controllers and power electronic devices are not as forgiving of their electrical environment as their electrical predecessors. Power quality difficulties can produce significant problems in situations that include: • Important business applications (inventory control, process control) • Critical industrial processes (programmable process controls, safety systems, monitoring devices) • Essential public services (hospitals, police) Poor power quality takes a toll on equipment, increasing the cost of maintenance and repairs. Premature equipment failures or damage caused by power problems

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result not only in the expense of replacing the equipment itself, but also in associated labour costs for diagnosis and repair.

Power quality problems in an electrical system are indicative of safety issues that require quick and corrective action.

IEEE Standard 1159-1995 IEEE Recommended Practice for Monitoring Electric Power Quality classifies power quality disturbances into the following seven categories: • Transients • Short-duration voltage variations • Long-duration voltage variations • Voltage unbalance • Waveform distortion • Voltage fluctuations • Frequency variations Transients are extremely short-duration voltage surges (in the millisecond to microsecond range) that can shoot up many times higher than normal. They are caused by lightning and switching of large

loads or sections of the power system network. The voltage levels achieved during a transient can cause equipment problems ranging from malfunction to destruction.

Voltage variations are the most common power disturbance. Voltage sags occur when very large loads start up, or when there is a serious momentary overload or fault in the power system. Voltage swells are less common than voltage sags.

However, when disconnecting heavy loads from a circuit, equipment may experience overvoltage alarms or nuisance trips due to voltage swells.

Waveform distortion or Harmonics are caused by ‘non-linear’ loads. The three major categories of loads that may be of concern are arcing loads (arc lighting, arc furnaces, etc.), ferromagnetic loads (transformers), and power electronic loads (inverters, rectifiers, etc.). Power electronic loads are the most prevalent source of waveform distortion. Some effects that

TEST & MEASUREMENT

can be attributed to harmonic voltage distortion include excessive equipment heating and damage, metering inaccuracies, overloaded capacitors, neutral conductor heating, and even telephone interference.

High levels of harmonics increase line losses and decrease equipment lifetime.

Voltage unbalance occurs when the RMS line voltages on a poly-phase system are unequal. Voltages are seldom perfectly balanced between phases, but when this unbalance becomes excessive, it can create problems for poly-phase motors. Many of the newer induction motors are now more sensitive to unbalance than the older designs, and furthermore, adjustable speed drives can be even more vulnerable than standard motors. The main effect of voltage unbalance is motor damage from excessive heat.

Frequency variation is the deviation of the supply voltage frequency from its nominal value. Frequency variation is extremely rare in stable utility power systems, especially systems interconnected via a power grid. Where sites have dedicated standby generators or poor power infrastructure, frequency variation is more common, especially if the generator is heavily loaded. What would be affected would be any motor device or sensitive

Why use one?

When?

Who?

device that relies on steady regular cycling of power over time.

The costs associated with power quality prevention need to be included with the acquisition cost of sensitive equipment so that the equipment can be protected from disturbances. Installation costs must also be factored into the purchase of a major electrical product. The design and commissioning of data centres is a specific example. The costs that should be considered include: • Site preparation (space requirements, air conditioning, etc.)

• Installation • Maintenance • Operating costs, considering efficiency for actual operating conditions • Parts replacement • Availability of service on equipment • Consulting advice (if applicable) • Mitigating equipment requirements The cost of purchasing any mitigating equipment must be weighed with the degree of protection required. In a noncritical application, for instance, it would not be necessary to install a UPS system to protect against power interruptions.

Measurement Tools Troubleshooting power quality problems requires accurate measurements and

analysis of power quality with monitoring instruments that can effectively locate issues and identify solutions. According to Frost & Sullivan, the five basic categories of power quality monitoring equipment are hand held devices, portable instruments, permanently installed monitors and instrumentation, power quality software and revenue/demand meter with power quality feature. Handheld power quality analysers measure a variety of parameters, the most typical being voltage, amperage, frequency, dips (sags) and swells in voltage values, power factor, harmonic currents, and the resulting distortion and crest factor, power and energy, voltage and current unbalance, inrush current values, and light flicker. Apart from power quality analysis, some of these instruments also quantify the actual fiscal cost of wasted energy due to poor power quality, ultimately saving money in terms of energy bill and the effects of unplanned downtime.

Portable data loggers typically monitor many of the same parameters as the power quality analyser; however, they are meant for long-term recording (days to several weeks). In addition, the data logger does not typically provide the real-time values on-screen that an analyser can provide. Additional test equipment, such as scopemeters and recording digital multimeters, also find specific use applications.

Trouble Shooters

Loggers

Recorders

These instruments include a live display when immediate access to the diagnostic information is needed.

Loggers are the basic tools for creating energy usage profiles used in monitoring and targeting.

You can also use a power quality logger to validate voltage quality and look for general trends in the power quality.

Many problems can’t be found immediately, especially those caused by different loads interacting.

Use these instruments to record indepth voltage and current information over time, so you can better diagnose and resolve problems.

Whenever a recurring problem exists (such as overheating transformers and motors, and nuisance tripping of breakers).

When you need to know the loading on a system, or to understand the general quality of service.

When intermittent voltage disturbances or high-speed transients cause problems.

On-site electrician or electrical technician

Power quality specialist, on-site electrician or electrical technician, engineer facilities technicians and high-end electrical contractors, com- missioners

R&D engineer, facility manager, plant manager, electrician

Source: Fluke POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

39

TEST & MEASUREMENT

The first

line of defence

On-line partial discharge testing is an effective solution for regular testing of MV substations without taking them out of service, argues Hein Putter

M

V substations play a crucial role in the power distribution network, which means that substation failures are almost always costly and disruptive. There is a good case, therefore, for regular testing to find problems before they develop into failures, but taking substation equipment out of service for testing is often difficult. Fortunately, on-line partial discharge testing offers an effective solution to this dilemma.

Partial discharge (PD) is an electrical discharge that occurs across a section of insulation between two conducting electrodes, but does not completely bridge the gap between the electrodes. PD can, for example, occur in voids in solid paper or polymer insulation, in gas bubbles in liquid insulation and, as corona, around an electrode in a gas. PD sources radiate both electromagnetic energy and acoustic energy, with the peak intensity of the

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acoustic radiation usually falling in the ultrasonic region.

Research and experience have shown that many types of PD are extremely damaging to the health of insulation systems. In MV substations this is an issue of considerable importance, particularly as IEEE statistics indicate that up to 90% of failures in some types of high voltage equipment are the result of the deterioration of electrical insulation because of age or stressing.

Various techniques have been developed for detecting and measuring PD, many of which require the equipment under test to be de-energised during testing. In appropriate applications, such as pre-commissioning testing of new cables, these offline techniques are invaluable, as they can provide accurate and detailed information about PD magnitude and location.

Offline PD testing is, however, neither the most suitable nor the most convenient choice for routine “first-line� testing in MV substations. For this application, on-line PD field measurement is a much better option as it does not require equipment to be taken out of service for testing and it provides a true indication of the PD performance of the equipment with its normal operating voltage and load.

On-line PD field measurements are non-destructive and, as no over-voltages are used, the equipment under test is not exposed to stresses greater than those it experiences under normal operating conditions, which means that existing problems will not be worsened. In addition, results from tests performed at different times are directly comparable, so it is possible to trend them as a further aid to detecting insulation deterioration and to help gain an understanding of the

TEST & MEASUREMENT

effects of changes in environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) and service conditions.

In short, PD field measurements are ideal as a first line of defence against insulation deterioration in MV substations.

The measurements can be performed easily and quickly – often in a matter of seconds – without disruption or interruption of service, and they provide results that clearly reveal where more detailed investigations are needed to guard against potential failures.

Having established the value of on-line PD field measurements, now let’s turn to the very practical aspect of how such measurements are made. Unlike a lot of test equipment for power installations, on-line PD surveying tools are typically small, light handheld instruments but in spite of their small size they offer multiple methods for detecting PD. One of today’s most useful and popular instruments, for example, offers four options – a transient earth voltage (TEV) sensor, and airborne acoustic (AA) sensor, an AA sensor with parabolic reflector and locator, and a high frequency current transformer (HFCT) sensor.

Each of the sensors covers a specific range of applications and each is used in a slightly different way. TEV sensors detect electromagnetic radiation from PD sites, which is induced into the metal enclosure of the equipment under test. The sensor is attached to the metal enclosure close

to vents, seams and gaskets, and to cable terminations. This arrangement, in effect, makes it possible for the PD survey instrument to see PD sources “through” the metal enclosure.

AA sensors detect ultrasonic sound that is transmitted through the air from corona and surface discharges in air-insulated plant such as switchgear. AA sensors are placed over vents, gaps or seams in the housings of MV plant, and should be positioned so that there is a “line of sight” in air to the PD source.

AA sensors with parabolic reflectors are essentially the same as AA sensors but the addition of a parabolic reflector increases their sensing range, typically to 15 m or more. This type of sensor is particularly useful for testing outdoor overhead plant, including power transmission lines and insulators.

The last type of sensor – the HFCT – is the most suitable for detecting current impulses from PD in cables, cable terminations and the plant or switchgear in which the cables terminate. HFCT sensors are attached to the MV cable earth strap/ drain wire or to the power cable with the earth strap/drain wire routed back through the sensor.

It can be seen that, with the range of sensors mentioned, first-line testing can be carried out quickly and easily on almost any type of substation equipment.

The best on-line PD surveying instruments also deliver results that are easy

to interpret. The SebaKMT PDS Air from Megger, for example, has a display that incorporates seven LEDs, colour coded green, yellow, orange and red, as well as a digital PD intensity readout for use with TEV sensors.

The LED display works with all types of sensor and can be interpreted at a glance.

Essentially, if only the green LED is lit, the plant is healthy and in most cases will not need retesting for twelve months. If either or both of the yellow LEDs are lit, a moderate level of PD is present and more frequent retesting is recommended.

When one or both of the orange LEDs are lit, a moderate to high level of PD has been detected, and further investigations should be carried out as soon as possible to determine its source. Finally, if one or both of the red LEDs are lit, a high level of PD is present and further tests should be carried out immediately to determine and locate the cause, and to decide whether plant should be taken out of service or have access restricted.

These recommended actions are, of course, guidelines only and, in specific instances, there may be special factors that have to be taken into account when determining the meaning and implications of the on-line PD measurements.

Nevertheless, the recommendations are based on long experience of testing MV plant, and are relevant in almost all cases.

On-line PD testing is, of course, not the complete solution for fault finding in MV substations, but used carefully and regularly it can provide invaluable warnings of developing problems at an early enough stage to allow remedial action to be taken before the problem progresses to become a major failure. In short, it’s an excellent, convenient and cost-effective first line of defence.

There can be no doubt, therefore, that investing in on-line PD test equipment and in regular on-line PD surveys is a very good use of money, as the potential for making savings by reducing the incidence of costly disruptive faults is enormous.

(The author is Product Manager - Testing and Diagnostics, SebaKMT)

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CRITICAL POWER

Beating outages with rental power PowerPac of Sikder Group supplied a 100MW quick rental power plant in Keraniganj to increase the local power grid’s capacity

T

he energy infrastructure in Bangladesh cannot support the country’s electricity demand. According to 2012 figures, a little over 5,500 MW of power are generated every day on average against a demand of 7,500 MW. Natural and non-commercial energy sources, such as wood, animal waste and crop residue, account for more than half of the energy consumption in the country.

As the government continues to push forward with economic development efforts, commercial energy consumption, mostly natural gas, followed by oil, hydropower and coal, is rising.

The PowerPac Keraniganj Power Plant is powered by eight Cat 16CM43 heavy fuel oil-fired generator sets.

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In particular, the Keraniganj region is a growing business district where a number of garment manufacturers operate. The owners of these operations, along with local traders and shop owners have voiced concerns about the future of their businesses, as frequent power outages are negatively affecting them.

To alleviate the power shortages, the country’s Power Development Board (PDB) issued a series of quick rental power plant contracts to increase the local power grid’s capacity while more permanent solutions are explored. According to the government’s terms, these quick rental plants, to be set up on a priority basis, are to be operational within six to nine months after contracts are signed.

Solution Among these quick rental power plant contracts is a deal between the PDB and private company, PowerPac of Sikder Group, for a 100 MW power plant in Keraniganj. The new plant, PowerPac Motiara Keraniganj Power Plant Ltd, will increase the local power grid’s capacity by as much as 1,220 MW in future phases of the project.

The PowerPac Keraniganj Power Plant

is powered by eight Cat 16CM43 heavy fuel oil-fired generator sets. Capable of generating up to 14.4 MW of power each, the Cat 16CM43 generator sets feature an advanced design that results in a long operating life, simplified maintenance, high efficiency and low emissions. The generator sets are rated at 13.2 eMW and are driven by four-stroke cycle engines that run at lower speeds.

As a result, component life is increased, while maintenance costs are decreased.

With the installation of eight Cat 16CM43 generator sets, Dhaka’s local power generation capacity increased by more than 100 MW. The plant is helping to meet the energy demands of the Keraniganj business district and the adjacent area. The quick rental plant has also enhanced the grid’s stability and reduced the local power deficiency significantly.

“This project was crucial in supporting the local power grid for economic growth, and it was equally important to consider the most reliable equipment possible,” said Ron Sikder, managing director of PowerPac of Sikder Group. “The power plant runs on Caterpillar generator sets and makes a huge difference in improving the quality of living in the Keraniganj region.”

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POWER & WATER ME 5th ANNIVERSARY AWARDS

December 2013 Dubai, UAE

O

ur 5th Anniversary of the Power and Water ME Awards recognises the names leading companies and organisations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the region’s Power and Water industry.

Celebrating five successful years of scintillating ceremonies in Dubai the 2013 Awards will be a pinnacle occasion for all.

The selection of winners from amongst the nominations received will be made by our independent judging panel which is a comprised expertise from both the power and water arenas. The winners will be announced in December with a total of 9 awards being presented to the most proficient projects and programmes at our exquisite Awards Gala Dinner.

FOR SPONSORSHP ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:

LIAM WILLIAMS Associate Publisher liam.williams@cpimediagroup.com +971 (0) 4 375 1511

GINA O’HARA Commercial Director Email: gina.ohara@cpimediagroup.com +971 (0) 4 375 1513

JASMINE KYRIAKOU Project Manager & Marketing Email: jasmine.kyriakou@cpimediagroup.com +971 (0) 4 375 1506

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

To submit your nominations online, please visit:

www.powerandwater-me.com/awards

Celebrating the outstanding achievements of the Power & Water Industry The fifth edition of the Power & Water ME Awards will be presented to outstanding nominations in the following categories: • • • • • • • • •

Energy Efficiency Leader Innovative Project of the Year - Water Innovative Project of the Year - Power Water Efficiency Leader Environmental Commitment Award Corporate Champion – Power & Water Stewardship School Champion - Power & Water Stewardship Water Company of the Year Power Company of the Year

HARRY NORMAN Director Email: harry.norman@cpimediagroup.com +971 (0) 4 375 1502

ANNIE ARIF Business Development Manager Email: annie.arif@cpimediagroup.com +971 (0) 4 375 1509

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

Facets of efficiency

In the US, the industrial sector consumes 52% of energy. With the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries focussing on energy-intensive sectors like steel, aluminium and petrochemicals to build their industrial base, the industry’s share of energy consumption is on an upward trajectory. But this growth in domestic use of energy together with demographic pressures and fuel subsidies has its drawbacks. Neil Enright, Regional Sales Director, Rockwell Automation Middle East spoke to Anoop K Menon on how industrial automation can be an enabler of energy efficiency in the region’s manufacturing and process industries.

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Is energy efficiency a terribly important topic in the industrial automation universe?

Industrial automation products and solutions focus on improving efficiency in manufacturing and process industries, and an element of efficiency, for sure, is energy efficiency. Rockwell Automation’s technology platforms enable energy efficiency in different ways – our power management and control platform manages your power system in the most appropriate way in line with the production; our Variable Speed Drive (VSD) technology ensures that electrical energy is utilised in the most efficient fashion by pumps, for example; we have different elements in our control technology platforms where customers can work with us to gain those efficiencies; we also have the service side where our people work with clients to look into how their production is running and optimise that. In fact, we have a software group called Information Software & Process Business that has a suite of products that look at Advanced Process Control (APC) and optimisation of processes to get better product throughput in specific applications. There are a lot of different areas where we can help our customers achieve a more efficient operation, whether it is in energy efficiency, process control, power management or VSDs. We don’t generally pitch customers on energy efficiency. Instead, we look at the problems they may have in their production and manufacturing processes and see where we can help to optimise them in terms of production flow; a part of that will be energy efficiency. For us, it is really about trying to understand what the business drivers are for the industries, whether it is petrochemicals, consumer goods or Food & Beverage, and see how we can help them using our manufacturing and process experiences.

In the US, energy accounts for up to 40% of the cost of production. Do you think the Gulf countries are headed for similar percentages given their energyintensive route to industrialisation?

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

It is difficult to speak specifically in terms of percentages because the ability to improve efficiency depends on the current status of the process with all its elements.

Some of our industrial customers are world-class in terms of their efficiencies and production, some not so much. This really depends on the customer and the application. We are not a company which wants to be everything to everybody. We try to be specific around the areas we have confidence in.

At the same time, the Middle East is becoming much more energy conscious than before. The push towards energy efficient lighting in all sectors is one example. Another example, specific to the region’s oil & gas sector, is the move towards electrically driven compressors and drives where historically, gas, being abundant, was used for the process to drive the compressors. Now they want to process that gas and let the compressors to be driven by electrically-powered machines and VSDs. This has a huge energy impact in terms of the efficiency of the drive machine train and more productive use for gas than simply burning it.

How can companies be successful in their efforts to drive efficiencies, including energy efficiency?

In manufacturing or process industries, you will find people responsible for electrical energy efficiency and those responsible for mechanical energy sitting in different areas. It is a matter of bringing the various components together. Our Information Software & Process Business which looks at APC takes inputs from various parts of particular manufacturing processes and feed them through software models to help drive efficiency and throughput in the production. We cannot do that of our own and probably, customers don’t have the various pieces of information gathered in the right place to do it. In the end, it takes real collaborative efforts between Rockwell Automation, as a provider of solutions and services and the various disciplines within the customer’s organisation to achieve success in this arena.

Is it possible to have energy efficiency options embedded within an automation product or device, like power saver options in a laptop, for example?

We are not looking at energy efficiency at a product level; we are looking at an overall process or manufacturing plant to understand how to improve production in order to get additional throughput for the same amount of energy input. When you get more production for the same amount of energy, by default, you are more energy efficient.

Because we understand processes in industrial environments, we have a good idea of where majority of the energy is

When you get more production for the same amount of energy, by default, you are more energy efficient.

consumed and where potential savings are possible. For example, if you look at the number of motors and machines in the world that are driven by VSDs as opposed to ones that are not, the vast majority are directly driven which is inherently inefficient because you only have zero or one. But if you can vary that, you vary the energy consumption as well.

How is data from the field being put to use to drive efficiencies?

Data from field equipment can help you to characterise or predict failures; if you can minimise unplanned failures using this information, you inherently become more efficient. One can always manage a planned shut-down with the right resources and equipment in place to do what needs to be done and bring production back up. With unplanned failures, from a global footprint perspective, suddenly you find yourself racing to get a particular part shipped in or tracing the engineer who comes with it. in fact, unplanned failures create a cascade of issues.

Sensors in the field equipment can tell you whether or not things are working as intended. If you didn’t have that information, you wouldn’t know and therefore, you wouldn’t do anything until something failed when you didn’t expect it to. But if you are in the process, looking at the information coming in and able to find out, for example, that the equipment has been running consistently in a way that is out of the normal operation, you can plan and deploy resources, spare parts and analysis in a way where you are managing the failure as opposed to reacting to it.

How can green field projects integrate efficiencies early in the project lifecycle?

Green field projects can become very efficient by using the latest of technologies. Let us again consider Variable Speed Drive (VSD), which is an easily understood technology. Production plants have a lot of rotating machinery that historically weren’t running with VSDs. But if you are able to couple them to VSDs before commencing operations, you can start on a high-efficiency note. You can also implement from the start an appropriate power management system to manage the distribution of your loads. In a green field project, you have more opportunities to deploy new technologies in the first instance itself. And even after you get the process up and running, you have optimisation opportunities because it takes time for a process plant to attain stability; when you get that, you can start to tweak the process to get increased throughput.

In the case of brown fields, it depends on the condition of the site but usually, opportunities always exist here as well.

All said and done, if you build a process today, but sit back and do nothing, the process will get outdated and competitors will pass you by. In the lifecycle of a project in a process or heavy industry, the plant has to be operational for 25 years after start-up. Smart companies are constantly looking at their plant, process and work routines to see how they can improve them.

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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OIL AND GAS

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Easier transition to offshore

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

OIL AND GAS

In SINTEF’s Multiphase Laboratory, these scientists have been gathering measurement data that show how tomorrow’s viscous oils will behave as they are brought ashore in pipelines that they share with natural gas.

From the left; Karl Gustav Gustavsen, Arne Erik Rekkebo and Christian Brekken. Photo: Gry Karin Stimo

Tomorrow’s offshore oil will be highly viscous – and it will be a heavy job to bring it ashore. But newly-won knowledge is offering hope for fields that today would have been turned down by the economists.

I

n the future it will quite literally be a heavier task to bring offshore oil ashore than it has been until now. All over the world, many of the fields that have yet to be developed are full of heavy oils; pitchblack liquids that flow more slowly than the oil that we produce today.

Much of this unexploited oil lies beneath great water depths. Many of the fields lie in the far north, surrounded by ice from which both workers and installations will have to be protected. In such environments, the choice of production technique will often fall on subsea technology, which in turn means multiphase transport of oil, gas and water in a single pipeline on the seabed, directly from the well to the shore or to a platform with spare capacity.

Thousands of subsea pipeline systems are already transporting light oils. But

what will it cost to install pipeline systems that are sufficiently robust to ensure that heavy oils are always brought safely ashore? Rising up steep seabed slopes from great depths? At the biggest flow laboratory in the world, SINTEF is gathering measurements that will give us the answers.

Reduced financial risk According to the research group, the data provide important new knowledge about how heavy oil behaves in multiphase pipelines. This may turn out to be of great importance for the fate of a large number of hydrocarbon discoveries.

“These measurements reduce the economic uncertainty involved in estimating the cost of bringing heavy oils ashore,” says Jo Jernsletten, a senior process

engineer with Norske Shell.

Jernsletten points out that continuing uncertainty in this area would have two consequences: many heavy-oil projects would have been designated as “overrobust” at the drawing-board stage, and would therefore have been declared to be unprofitable.

“Estimates based on these new measurements will change all this. In many cases, they are likely to open up the possibility of developing fields that would otherwise have been abandoned,” says the Norske Shell expert.

Pumping needed Norske Shell is one of four oil companies that have financed the measurement technology project at SINTEF’s Multiphase Laboratory. Jernsletten explains POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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OIL AND GAS

future, we will still be using a great deal of oil and gas in 2050. The energy requirements of the growing global population cannot be met without hydrocarbons. This makes it all the more important to bring petroleum resources safely and efficiently ashore from the difficult reservoirs that are waiting to be exploited. Multiphase research can probably help to prevent both people and industry from suffering energy crises.”

With the aid of this retrofitted measurement unit, SINTEF’s Multiphase Laboratory has opened a new window on the phenomenon of multiphase flow in oil and gas pipeline transportation: Photo: SINTEF / Christian Brekken that the results of the measurements will be used to update current multiphase transport models, and that this will bring one important benefit: more reliable prognoses of the size of the pressure drop in pipelines that carry slowly flowing oil as the distance from the well increases.

Pressure drop prognoses show in their turn how much oil can be transported via a planned pipeline, before the field developer would need to install expensive subsea pumping equipment.

Prize-winning invention Scientists at SINTEF’s Multiphase Flow Laboratory have been given several reasons to smile during the past few months.

Together with the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), SINTEF has been given

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much of the honour for making this type of seabed transport possible. The technology that emerged from their pioneering efforts was recently identified by the Norwegian daily Aftenposten as Norway’s most important invention since 1980.

This was followed by the new measurement results, which have been highly praised by the offshore sector. Senior project manager Christian Brekken makes it quite clear that this has been a heartwarming response. “You are contributing to the utilisation of hydrocarbon resources that the world would otherwise have had to do without. But a lot of people who want to save our climate might have been just as happy if petroleum discoveries had to be left in the ground?”

“Even in the greenest scenarios for the

Detailed flow images Many of the flow measurements performed in SINTEF’s full-scale multiphase laboratory are being made with the help of gamma radiation.

Traditional measurements gave mean values of the volumes of gas and liquids that flowed through the 1000 metre-long pipe-loop. This was good enough as long as we were dealing with light oil and using relatively coarse mathematical models,” explains Brekken.

The measurements in the new tests are made using a type of equipment that goes under the name of “‘traversing gamma densitometer’”.

A beam of gamma rays is transmitted horizontally through the pipeline, and the change in beam density is measured on the opposite side. The source of the beam and the detector are then moved with millimetre accuracy in the vertical direction (i.e. ‘traversing’) while the measurement is made.

This technique provides a more detailed picture of the flow in selected cross-sections of the pipeline.

Brekken claims that SINTEF is the only research centre in the world that operates such an industrial-scale instrument package for pipelines.

“We are going to make many more measurements. Not least, we are planning a collaboration with IFE, since it uses a related measurement technique. Each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses,” says Brekken. “Together, we want to employ a number of different measurement techniques under a wide range of different conditions. Cooperation of this sort will enable the petroleum industry to verify the validity of the coming generation of models of multiphase transport.”

POWER AND WATER

Water

Presented by:

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POWER AND WATER

In association with MiddleEastTenders.com

POWER & WATER MIDDLE EAST / JULY 2013

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PROJECTS THAT MATTER AL-ZOUR NORTH IWPP Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a gas-fired independent water and power project (IWPP) with a capacity of 1,500 MW of power and 102 MIGD of desalinated water at Al-Zour North.

Client: PTB Kuwait Country: Kuwait Budget: 3,000,000,000 Ref Number: MPP2403-K Contractors: GDF Suez (France); Sumitomo Corporation (Kuwait); Abdullah Hamad Al Sagar & Brothers Company (Kuwait) Remarks: It is understood that the financial close on this scheme has been delayed and is now expected by the end of June 2013. Work is progressing on incorporating a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) in Kuwait to own the plant. This company will eventually be floated on the local stock market. However, signing of the project documentation and financing agreements will not occur until after a parliamentary investigation into the award of the project has been completed. This could potentially put back financial close on the project by several months. With the Holy Month of Ramadan due to commence in early July 2013, there are concerns that the project timetable could slip back significantly if it does not reach financial close before the end of this month.

Jubail Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant Project Construction of a reverse osmosis desalination plant at Jubail Client: Power & Water Utilities Company for Jubail & Yanbu (MARAFIQ) Country: Saudi Arabia Ref Number: BIP156-SA Contractors: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (Saudi Arabia); Sidem (France) Remarks: This project will be located at Eastern province in Saudi Arabia and will provide water for Sadara Chemical Company’s second chemicals complex located in Jubail. A joint venture of France’s SIDEM and local Veolia Environment has been awarded the main contract for designing, building, operating and maintaining the plant.

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PROJECTS THAT MATTER

TABUK CEMENT CLINKER LINE, POWER PLANT & WATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT Design, build and installation of a 5,000 tonne per day (t/d) cement clinker line, 30MW power plant and 1,500 cubic metre per day new water treatment plant at Tabuk.

Client: Tabuk Cement Company (Saudi Arabia) Country: Saudi Arabia Ref Number: BIP144-SA Contractors: Chengdu Design & Research Institute of Building Materials Industry Co. (CDI) – China, Caterpillar (US), Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (Saudi Arabia) Remarks: China’s Chengdu Design & Research Institute of Building Materials Industry (CDI) has been awarded an estimated USD141 million contract to design, build and install the cement clinker line. US’ Caterpillar has been appointed to supply the power plant and Veolia has been awarded an estimated USD10 million deal to supply water treatment plant for the scheme. The scheme will be financed through a combination of bank loan and company’s own resources. Trial production is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2015, while the project completion is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2015.

WATER RESERVOIRS PROJECT Construction of water reservoirs in Al Qurayyat, Dawamat Al Jandal and Tabarjal Client: Ministry of Water & Electricity (Saudi Arabia) Country: Saudi Arabia Ref Number: ZPR1124-SA Remarks: The purpose of the project is to meet increasing demand in the region. Bids have been submitted for the main construction contract and evaluation is currently underway. An award is expected in July 2013.

AL-GHUBRAH IWP PROJECT Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contract for the construction of an Independent Water Project (IWP) in Al Ghubrah with capacity of 42 MIGD, equivalent to 191,000 cubic metres per day.

Client: Oman Power & Water Procurement Company Country: Oman Budget: 350,000,000 Ref Number: 31/2012-O/1 Contractors: Sumitomo Corporation (Oman), Malakoff Corporation Berhad (Malaysia), Cadagua (Dubai) Remarks: The IWP is located on the same site as an existing 450MW state-owned facility, the oldest in the Sultanate. The existing facility’s turbines, some of which are up to 30 years old, will be demolished to make room for the new plant. The IWPP will comprise a 25 MIGD reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant. Project completion is anticipated in October 2014.

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PROJECTS THAT MATTER

WATER INJECTION FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - PHASE 1 Construction of water injection facilities with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day at West Qurna - Phase 1.

Client: ExxonMobil Corporation (Iraq) Country: Iraq Budget: 300,000,000 Ref Number: ZPR1083-IQ Contractor: Saipem S.p.A (Italy) Remarks: The project will be implemented in joint venture with local Oil Exploration Company and UK’s Shell Overseas Services Company Limited. The scheme will increase the offshore production capacity to 300,000 barrels per day by 2015. US’ Fluor Mideast has been appointed as the engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) consultant. Project completion is anticipated by 2016.

YANBU POWER & DESALINATION PLANT PROJECT - PHASE 3 Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build an oil-fired power plant with capacity of 3,100 MW and 550,000 m3/day desalination plant in Yanbu - Phase 3.

Client: Saline Water Conversion Corporation - SWCC (Saudi Arabia) Country: Saudi Arabia Budget: 4,000,000,000 Ref Number: YPD-P3-SA Contractors: Samsung Engineering Saudi Arabia; Shanghai Electric Group Company (China); Al Toukhi Company for Industry Trading & Contracting (Saudi Arabia); Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Company (South Korea); Alstom Power (Saudi Arabia) Remarks: The facility will be built to the south of the existing power and desalination plants at Yanbu on the western coast. Heavy Fuel Oil will be the main fuel source for the scheme, with diesel oil used for start-up of the plant. Seawater for the desalination unit will be obtained through an intake channel and an outfall culvert will discharge seawater and brine back into the Red Sea. Construction is expected to take three years. Germany’s Fichtner has been appointed as the project manager. Recently, France’s Alstom has been awarded a contract worth USD970 million to supply equipment for this project.

AL ZOUR NORTH IWPP - PHASE 2 Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract for the construction of Al Zour North independent water and power project (IWPP) with capacity of 1,500 MW of power and 100 million gallons a day of desalination - Phase 2.

Client: Partnerships Technical Bureau (Kuwait) Country: Kuwait Ref Number: ZPR445-K Remarks: This project will be located in Al Ahmadi in Kuwait. The desalination plant will use either Reverse Osmosis (RO) or thermal technology, or both. Feedstock will consist of natural gas and gas oil as back-up fuel. Output of the plant will be purchased by Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity & Water under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement. The scheme will benefit from an off-take agreement between the incorporated project company and Ministry of Electricity & Water according to law 39/2010 and its amendments for a term contract up to (40) years on a BOT basis.

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PROJECTS THAT MATTER

COMMON SEAWATER SUPPLY PROJECT Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) including a seawater treatment plant, intended to process 5.2 million barrels a day (b/d) of treated seawater, with expansion up to 12 million b/d.

Client: Ministry of Oil (Iraq) Country: Iraq Budget: 12,000,000,000 Ref Number: Remarks: Client is set to tender a series of surveys and design tender for this scheme.

South Oil Company (SOC), a subsidiary of the client, is reviewing tender for new high-priority surveys that could be launched in early April 2013. It is currently conducting surveys to define the route and establish right of way. Routes to the Majnoon and West Qurna-2 fields are still under evaluation. High-priority surveys are expected to be awarded in June 2013.

Project manager CH2M Hill will carry out basic designs for the early works, once the route is defined. The surveys will be followed by contracts for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) service of treatment facility and pipeline to carry water to oil fields for injection.

Tender documents for the FEED work are being prepared. During FEED stage, optimum size of the treatment facilities trains will be examined. This is hoped to take advantage of economies of scale, while also staying small enough to provide operational flexibility and accommodate different-sized modules. Scheme will cater to the various requirements of (5) fields in phase 1 with another (3) fields in Phase 2. Designs are expected to be completed

by September 2014 and EPC contract awards are anticipated in early 2015 with facility expected to commence operations in mid-2017. The main consultants for the project are Fluor Corporation (USA) and Mott MacDonald (UK).

WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - BADRA OILFIELD Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of water supply facilities at Badra Oilfield.

Client: Gazprom Neft Badra B.V (Iraq) Country: Iraq Ref Number: 222/2012-IQ Remarks: This project is located at Wassit Province in Iraq. Scope of work will include construction of 65-kilometre water transmission pipeline with 14 inches diameters. A consortium comprising of the client, South Korea’s KOGAS, Malaysia’s Petronas, Turkey’s TPAO and Iraqi Oil Exploration Company has been awarded the rights to develop the Badra oil field. An award for the EPC contract for the water pipeline is expected in the third quarter of 2013. Project completion is anticipated in the second half of 2015. UK’s Mott MacDonald has been appointed as the project management consultant (PMC) for the scheme.

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PROJECTS THAT MATTER

Expansion project will make Fujairah 1 largest RO desalination plant in the Middle East

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ast month, Sembcorp carried out the groundbreaking of its USD200 million expansion project for Fujairah 1 Independent Water and Power Plant (IWPP) in the UAE. The capacity expansion, which will use reverse osmosis (RO) technology, will increase the plant’s desalination capacity by 30 MIGD. The expansion, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015, will enhance Sembcorp’s total seawater desalination capacity in the UAE from 100 MIGD to 130 MIGD, of which 67.5 MIGD will be produced using RO process. The remaining 62.5 MIGD is produced using multi-stage flash (MSF) technology. This combined RO desalination capacity will make the Fujairah 1 IWPP the largest of its kind in the Middle East. The 30 MIGD water output from the expansion will be sold to the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company (ADWEC) under a 20-year water purchase agreement, signed in January this year. This is in addition to the existing 22-year power and water purchase agreement with ADWEC for the plant’s current water and electricity output.

The Fujairah 1 IWPP, one of the world’s largest operating hybrid desalination plants, is owned and operated by Emirates Sembcorp Water & Power Company (ESC), which is a joint venture between Sembcorp Gulf Holding Co and Union Power Holding Company, subsidiaries of Sembcorp Utilities and the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) respectively. TAQA is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), while Sembcorp Utilities is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp. Sembcorp holds an effective 40% stake in ESC. Tang Kin Fei, Group President & CEO of Sembcorp, said, “The expansion of our seawater desalination capacity will play an important role in meeting the increasing water demand in the UAE. Our plant, strategically located in Fujairah, will enable us to produce desalinated water more economically for our customer. The expansion project also enables the use of un-contracted surplus power from the existing plant, hence allowing excess generation capacity to be gainfully utilised to produce the additional water at a competitive cost and enhance our income at the same time.” Nick Carter, Director General of the Regulations and Supervision Bureau (RSB) in Abu Dhabi, added: “This additional expansion is part of an integrated approach to provide high quality drinking water to the northern Emirates and to satisfy the increasing demand in Abu Dhabi.”

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Nurturing a green future The Eco-Schools programme aims to develop environmentallyresponsible children to secure a sustainable future

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n May this year, three more Eco-Schools in the UAE received the internationally recognised Green Flag Award, bringing the total up to eight Green Flag schools that have successfully adapted themselves to the task of developing an environmentally-responsible youth for generations to come. As Ida Tillisch, Director General of Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) noted: “It is crucial for us that environmental education is introduced at a young age, and involve the students as much as possible in protecting our planet. The Eco-Schools programme encourages youngsters to adopt sustainable living choices in an educational and engaging manner. The invaluable support from sponsors, volunteers and teachers from the participating schools allows us to stimulate students’ interest in the environment, preparing them how to care for the UAE’s environment.”

The Eco-Schools programme is a worldwide initiative by the Foundation of Environmental Education implemented in 51 countries. In the UAE, a total of 60 schools are taking part in the programme, which is coordinated by EWS-WWF and is supported by the Ministry of Education, with generous sponsorship from BASF and HSBC Bank Middle East. All Eco-Schools aspire to gain the prestigious and internationally recognised Green Flag, which is awarded to schools demonstrating their

excellence in environmental achievements and who have met the required criteria.

The Eco-Schools programme is designed to educate and empower students to adopt sustainable lifestyles within their school community and beyond, and positions them as eco-leaders of the next generation.

Participants in the Eco Schools programme take on the challenge of curbing their carbon emissions by working across three key themes: energy, water and waste. They tackle these themes through the EcoSchools programme’s seven-step methodology, which they also need to successfully complete to achieve the Green Flag.

“Each school is motivated to mobilise activities and incorporate the programme in the schools’ overall mission,” explained Ajita Nayar, Education Manager, EWSWWF. “The schools are encouraged to work as part of well-structured ecocommittees, with teachers, parents and members of the local community to lead the change towards becoming a greener school. Through action-oriented activities, the schools can work on including environmental elements into their school curriculum, and engage the whole school in taking practical steps to lower their electricity and water consumption, as well as waste generation.”

The Eco-Schools team in EWS-WWF aids the schools and their students in ways of establishing environmental elements into the school curriculum, leading to

increased awareness among students on sustainability issues. The schools are also provided with informative booklet that explains the programme carefully and highlights the initiative’s overall mission and vision in empowering the schools on their journey to sustainability. Workshops are also held for teachers responsible for implementing the programme within their schools. A comprehensive and dedicated website www.ecoschoolsuae.org/en/ too has been set up with a carbon calculator, basic tips on saving energy and water and reducing waste, micro-project templates and case studies.

However, adapting a global programme like Eco-Schools to the UAE environment has its own set of challenges. “While it is important to be able to integrate environmental issues in schools in a fun and educational manner that have a positive impact on younger students, it would also be helpful to implement behavioural changes to the school environment,” said Nayar. The Eco-Schools Micro-Project is presented to schools to enable them to take the first steps towards sustainability through implementing behavioural and technical changes within their schools.

Some of the projects undertaken include harnessing AC water to water plants in the school grounds, adding solar panels, and re-positioning light bulbs in classrooms in order to use energy yet light up the rooms adequately.

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Some of the tips recommended for Eco–schools in the UAE include fitting water savers into taps, collect left over water in bottles to irrigate plants, or investing in light sensors for the corridors.

The Eco - Schools Programme helps empower school children to take action by implementing small changes, which in turn can have a big and powerful effect. Consequently, it also stimulates their interest in the environment, preparing them on how to care for the UAE’s environment. Aside from learning to adopt sustainable lifestyles and progressively lower their school’s environmental impact, students also get the opportunity to acquire and develop their listening, leadership, communication and organisational skills.

“With the help and support of teachers, parents, and the local community, we are confident that Eco Schools UAE programme will inspire schools in their journey towards sustainability and nurture environmental – responsibility among their wards for generations to come,” said Nayar.

KEY MILESTONES The Eco-Schools programme now operates in 51 countries around the world and has been initiated in the UAE since 2010.

There are 8 schools in the UAE that hold the Green Flag – • Greenwood International School in Dubai • Al Hala Basic Cycle School for Boys in Fujairah • Raffles International School, West Campus, in Dubai • Adhen Basic Cycle School for Girls in Ras Al Khaimah • Dubai International Academy • Othman Bin Abi Al A’as Boys School, in Ras Al Khaimah • Al Shoula Private school for girls in Sharjah • Jebel Ali Primary School in Dubai These schools now proudly display the Green Flags in their schools, demonstrating their successful implementation of the Eco-Schools programme.

15 schools received seed funding to implement microprojects in the academic year 2011-2012 to improve their environmental performance by introducing changes related to the three themes of the programme: energy, water and waste.

Based on a set of pre-designed criteria, the report and poster entries were judged by a jury panel to identify the best three micro projects. The Jury panel had representation from the Ministry of education, Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi and EWS-WWF. The schools awarded were: 1st prize – Othman Bin Abi Al A’As Boys School, RAK and Dubai International Academy 2nd prize- Al Najah School for Girls, RAK 3rd prize – Adhen Basic Cycle School for Girls, RAK and Ibn Al Haitham Basic Cycle School for Boys, Ajman

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Eco awards for DPS Sharjah Green initiatives gain momentum at DPS Sharjah which is aspiring for the Green Flag

DPS Sharjah Principal Mrs Vandana Marwaha receiving the Sharjah Sustainability Award

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PS Sharjah has set for itself the ambitious target of becoming a sustainable school by taking part in The Eco-Schools Initiative, coordinated by EWS-WWF. Under the leadership and guidance of its Principal Mrs Vandana Marwaha, DPS Sharjah achieved a hat trick of sorts this year by winning the first Sharjah Sustainable Award and two key prizes of Sharjah Environment Awareness Award. The school continues to organise a number of activities to inculcate love and respect for the environment among its students and encourage them to make sustainable living choices. Notables ones include: • Visit to The Change Initiative (April 2013) “At DPS Sharjah, we understand that education about sustainability is a continuous, multi-dimensional and forward-looking process,” said Environment Coordinator and Biology Teacher Ms. Anjum Hasan. “We started the academic year with a visit by the Eco Committee students to ‘THE CHANGE INITIATIVE’ the world’s number one sustainable building in Dubai. After the visit, students had to make a presentation on BUILDING OUR OWN MODEL GREEN BUILDING.” • First Step towards Green Energy (April 2013) DPS Sharjah has installed a 248W off-grid solar panel in the school campus. Electricity generated by the panel powers the security room (near the Main entrance) for 12 hours. This project, implemented at a cost of AED5,000, was funded by EWS-WWF under the Eco Schools Programme.

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Sharjah Environment Awareness Award winning team with DPS Sharjah Principal Mrs Vandana Marwaha (back row standing 5th from right) and Ms Anjum Hasan, Environment Coordinator (standing 4th from right)

• Short Film - ‘Be the seed of change’ The students made a short film which highlights the impact of uncontrolled dumping of waste on the environment and proposes the redevelopment of the old landfill near the school into a ‘green area’ where flora and fauna can thrive again.

• Composting in School The Eco Committee students collect used tea bags from the staff rooms after break time and dry them for reuse as fertiliser.

• ‘Tag Fish! Save Fish! Save Marine Life!

The ‘Choose Your Fish Wisely’ campaign was launched by students to raise awareness within the community about the importance of biodiversity and protecting two endangered species of local fishes - Hammour and Sherry – whose population is diminishing rapidly due to over-fishing.

• External agencies Collaborative action plays an important role in environmental education and gives access to resources that otherwise wouldn’t have been available. DPS Sharjah has partnered with external organisations like Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC), Beeah - the Environment Company, Sharjah, EPAA (Environment Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah) and EAD (Environment Agency Abu Dhabi) to give students, faculty and the school access to the finest resources in the UAE with regard to environmental education and sustainability.

• Recycling and Reusing The school has on-going programmes for recycling cans, newspaper and old books. Green workshops are held regularly where experts come to talk to students and faculty members on topics

like energy efficient lighting, water efficiency and waste management. “This year, we collected 1,716 Kg of books that were sent to Beaah for recycling,” said Ms Hasan.

• Walkathon – Showing environmental solidarity (April) “We participated in Beeah Walkathon which aims to draw attention and raise awareness on the importance of recycling and the beautification of the city of Sharjah,” said Ms Hasan. “Parents, Students and Teachers participated under DPS Sharjah banner in the 4-km walkathon to support the green cause.”

• Earth Day Celebrations Earth Day Celebrations are held every year on 22nd April to create awareness among the students about the adverse impact of global warming on earth and human life. Ms Hasan elaborated: “To sensitise the students to the problems, this year we organised an inter-house activity ‘Best out of Waste’ under the theme ‘My Recycled City.’ Monuments of the World were also made out of waste materials.

• Three in a row The Sharjah Sustainability Award is instituted by the Sharjah government and Environment and Protected Area Authority, Sharjah. The sustainability projects that won judges over included the Choose Your Fish Wisely campaign, the short film ‘Be the Seed of Change’ and Save Nature poster. The award included a cash prize of AED3,000. In Sharjah Environment Awareness Award, DPS Sharjah won the first prize in Social Awareness Category and second prize in the Science Category. The cash prizes totalled AED45, 000. The projects for both awards were completely coordinated and led by Ms. Anjum Hasan.

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Let the GAMES BEGIN!

Online games invite players to explore the complex world of energy by testing their strategic and practical skills

By Anoop K Menon

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ompanies are turning to online gaming to connect with the masses. Last month saw two industry stalwarts, an engineering powerhouse and a shipping and energy giant, launching online video games within weeks of each other to inform and engage members of the general public about their respective energy businesses.

Siemens Energy’s browser-based game Power Matrix invites the player to take on the role of an energy manager in a rural area whose task is to contribute to the growth of a city by creating an intelligent energy mix and providing a stable power supply. Possible energy sources include both conventional technologies and renewable resources like wind and solar.

The better the energy mix you can create by combining the different energy sources, the faster your city grows.

“Today’s power generation and distribution depend on a large number of immediately interdependent variables. We wanted to create an easy-to-understand game that portrays the energy market of the future and that can get across a complex issue in a transparent and easily intelligible manner,” explains Jan-Peter Schwartz, Corporate Vice President of Communications at Siemens Energy.

Maersk’s Quest for Oil shares a similar objective – opening up the world of oil and gas exploration to anyone curious to explore the unknown universe of deep sea. The player has the opportunity to experience the challenging world of a drilling rig with its 53,000 tonnes of steel rammed into the bottom of the ocean – from the comfort of his computer.

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Siemens Jakob Thomasen, CEO of Maersk Oil says: “Most people take for granted that we have oil and natural gas and not many people understand what it takes to find and produce it. The world’s need for oil and gas is leading exploration into ever deeper waters and ventures demanding precision and cutting edge technology.

It’s a sophisticated, fascinating industry and ‘Quest for Oil’ offers everybody a glimpse of what oil and gas exploration is all about today.”

Using Maersk Oil and Maersk Drilling’s vast experience in the high-tech oil industry, Maersk opens the virtual doors to the pursuit of oil in the deep waters off Qatar and the North Sea, testing your strategic and practical skills. For example, you will be tested on how precisely you position your high-tech drilling equipment, always keeping an eye

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on temperature and pressure before you can start extracting and producing the oil found. You have to constantly make the right analysis and decisions and then use the knowledge you gain to play ‘Quest for Oil.’ Siemens Energy’s Head of Online Communication, Thorsten Uhlendorff, who was responsible for the Power Matrix Game project says: “When we were developing the game, we were especially keen to create a scenario that was true to detail and as realistic as possible. This allows players to experience the immediate influence of changes in weather conditions on the performance of renewables, for example.”

“New times calls for new measures, and we want to use the computer game to tell the story of an extremely innovative business, which the entire world depends on, in a new and engaging way,” says Claus V Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling.“

DOWNLOAD THE GAMES FOR FREE! Quest for oil can be downloaded free at www.questforoil.com Test your skills as an energy manager free of charge at www.powermatrixgame.com

Conservation

through Gamification

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owever, Gamification is not just an international phenomenon.

During the International Water Summit (IWS) 2013, Abu Dhabi’s Regulation & Supervision Bureau (RSB) exhibited two immersive, motion-controlled environmental awareness games for the promotion of the newly launched Waterwise and Powerwise initiatives. The initiatives aim to encourage behavioural change among residents of Abu Dhabi with regard to water and power consumption through increased awareness and education.

The games were designed and developed

by B.U.T, a leading digital agency known for its cutting edge multimedia. Thanks to the enthusiastic response they generated, the games are now being deployed in public.

Going by the name ‘Are you Powerwise?’ and ‘Are you Waterwise?,’ the games are being exhibited as part of the ‘Turn it off. Stay in the green.’ awareness campaign running in Abu Dhabi during the summer. They are

staged in a booth featuring three projection screens to create an immersive virtual reality. The player, positioned in the middle of the action zone, uses hand gestures to explore a living environment and find ways to reduce water and energy waste in and around the house.

Both scenarios were created in close cooperation with the Waterwise and Powerwise offices to raise public awareness on water and energy use in daily life. They target a diverse audience and broad age group. A scoring system adds a competition element and stimulates participants to learn the valuable tips offered during game. Each of the four game stages has a time limit; every second counts, adding a sense of urgency for the player to act now.

Next to being an innovative interactive installation, combining gesture navigation and an immersive environment, this is the first example of Gamification in the region to receive broad public exposure.

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EVENTS

September Power + Water Middle East 23-25, 2013 Abu Dhabi

The sixth edition of Power + Water Middle East will bring together developers, manufacturers, buyers and service providers from a range of sectors in power and water to meet, discuss and invest in current products and technologies in the related industries.

The event, which will be take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, is held in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and will play a regional role in celebrations of the International Year of Water 2013. His Excellency Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), said: “Economic diversification and demographics are driving the development of the power and water sectors in Abu Dhabi and the GCC, underlining the fact that the region is not only one of the fastest growing but also holds the most potential of global electricity markets.” The event returns with the Power + Water Leader’s Forum taking place alongside the exhibition on 23rd September, providing an opportunity for senior level professionals in the power and water industries to network with key industry players not only from the region but across the world to discuss and debate core topics affecting the power and water sectors across the GCC. Power + Water Middle East is supported by the Society of Engineers – UAE and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Contact: The organiser Tel: +971 4 336 5161 URL: www.powerandwaterme.com

September Arabian Water & Power Forum 23-25, 2013, Dubai

The Arabian Water & Power Forum, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum and in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, will take place 23-25 September 2013 at The Address Dubai Marina, UAE. The event will explore the balance between ‘Optimising Supply and Managing Demand’ with a renewed focus on innovative technologies and projects across the Middle East. It will bring together central policy makers, government figures and international investors to determine the next steps essential to matching water and power supply with demand across the Middle East. Innovations in sustainability will be at the core of discussions and companies excelling in this area will be recognised at the prestigious AWPF Awards Ceremony held on Day One of the Forum.

Desalination industry stalwarts at AWPF Contact: Kyle Wetselaar, CWC Group Limited Tel: +44 20 7978 0336 | Fax: +44 20 7978 0099 E-mail: kwetselaar@thecwcgroup.com | URL: www.cwcawpf.com

November ADIPEC 10-13, 2013 Abu Dhabi

ADIPEC TROPHY

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ADIPEC - the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference - is the largest gas and oil event in the Middle East. Supported by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the UAE’s Ministry of Energy, it hosts more than 1,600 exhibitors and attracts more than 50,000 attendees This year’s re-worked ADIPEC Awards – Excellence in Energy 2013 aims to recognise excellence in individual projects and departments of gas and oil companies in the Middle East and North Africa region; and to support development of a stronger, even more successful gas and oil business community throughout the region.

ADIPEC’s technical gas and oil conference will take place alongside the exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Contact: Mike Hughes, Marketing Manager Tel: +971 2 406 4477 E-mail: mikehughes@dmgeventsme.com | URL: www.adipec.com

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