GAS-TESS Pilot Project Update Conditions for Simpler Comparison with Mass and Energy Balance Calculations
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Project Update Week ending 20 September 2019 Dam upgrades bring Battery of the Nation closer to reality 16 September Under the Hodgman majority Liberal These upgrades will help make Hydro Government, Tasmania has the lowest Tasmania’s network more efficient and emissions in the country and is well on track reliable, meaning we can generate more to achieve our 2022 target of 100 percent power with the existing hydropower assets. renewable energy production, while delivering the country’s lowest regulated The Hodgman majority Liberal Government’s electricity prices. Battery of the Nation and second Bass Straight interconnector initiatives, will unlock We have nation-building pumped hydro multiple large scale renewable energy projects being progressed to deliver clean, projects, inject up to $5 billion into the reliable and low-cost energy to Tasmania and Tasmanian economy, create thousands of mainland states. local jobs, put downward pressure on power prices and provide our state with a reliable Today I joined Hydro Tasmania’s Chief long-term revenue source. Operations Officer Jesse Clark to inspect a major upgrade of Repulse Power Station in Source: Tasmania Government the Derwent Scheme. The upgrade replaces the turbine’s oil hub with a water filled hub to eliminate the risk of AltEnergy Industry Directory oil spills and will increase the systems As a subscriber you may have received from reliability and flexibility, making it better us last week email advice about the launch of suited to manage increased renewable energy our new product, the AltEnergy Industry generation as part of this government’s Directory (AEID). We are pleased to note that Battery of the Nation initiative. already a number of companies have registered to be in the AEID, which will be This project is one of a number of scheduled launched in November. The AEID gathers dam upgrades and improvements to Hydro together industry contacts in one convenient, Tasmania’s Derwent system, which will searchable online directory for people who increase electricity generation by more than are seeking specific suppliers, trades and 80 gigawatt hours (GWh) each year by 2021, services, and provides a platform for supporting plans to make Tasmania the businesses to connect with other industry renewable Battery of the Nation. participants. More details, including how to make a listing for your company, are provided Hydro Tasmania has invested around $105 here on our FAQ webpage million in maintenance and upgrades to altenergy.com.au/directory. power generation assets over the last 12 months, including the Repulse project. Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) GAS-TESS Pilot project update conditions for simpler comparison with mass and energy balance calculations. 16 September • GAS-TESS up and running after scheduled Under this regime, the combustion system shutdown to assess O&M requirements burning the biogas is operating at 82.7% • O&M a key factor in business case for efficiency, almost at design specification, and wastewater treatment utilities some modifications to operational procedures • Improvements to be fast-tracked to provide are expected to improve performance. As SA Water with key data for evaluating expected, in this first testing phase of business case configuration the device is delivering only • Proposed review of revenue settlement due 39.8% CHP efficiency because the turbine is to delays in export approval to NEM operating at half its potential efficiency. This is due to a number of factors but primarily Operational status caused by low heat transfer through the heat The GAS-TESS was recently shut-down to store to the energy recovery system (ERS). install additional instrumentation and inspect This results in a lower ERS gas outlet it internally. This demonstrated that the unit temperature and energy content, ultimately was in good condition. An estimate for resulting in a turbine inlet temperature well operation and maintenance (O&M) costs can below optimum. now be prepared, these being a key factor for utilities evaluating biogas burning equipment Next Steps over their lifetime. As planned, the Company will upgrade the storage to increase heat transfer once the The GAS-TESS is now back online supplying overall systems are validated. The project electricity and heat to the wastewater agreement provides for two years of treatment plant (WWTP). Our engineers will operational tests, and we intend to upgrade continue test runs to refine operating the GAS-TESS performance in several stages. characteristics and anticipate working with the Glenelg WWTP operators to evaluate the However, the business case for the GAS-TESS benefits of the TESS integrated with the plant is not driven just by return trip efficiency systems from late September. because the biogas is a by-product of a WWTP operation that must be burnt on a continuous Commercial arrangements under the basis whereas the heat and electricity loads of settlement agreement are underway but SA a plant and electricity export value are Water has advised there may be a long delay variable. This is one reason that SA Water to obtain approval to export electricity to the proposed a GAS-TESS device - to time shift the grid. The addition of solar generation at the energy supply to maximise the value of the same time as the GAS-TESS and the current, biogas, something that the engines cannot interim network restrictions have imposed provide. The second reason is to minimise operational constraints on the site and hence O&M costs. GAS-TESS, so the company proposes to review the settlement agreement with SA Water. Following the positive internal inspection, some enhancements will now be fast-tracked, Current performance status where possible, to provide SA Water with key A wide range of tests have been conducted to performance and O&M data for evaluating characterise the actual GAS-TESS performance the performance of the TESS compared to compared to original design calculations and engines. Other performance enhancements predictions. Analysis of the GAS-TESS will be rescheduled for inclusion in the design performance is most readily obtained from of the next version of the technology. simultaneous operations of the burners using biogas at the same time as energy is produced Source: 1414 Degrees by the turbine, as this provides steady state Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Delivering consistent guidance planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/solar- energy-facilities-design-and-development- for solar development guidelines 17 September New planning guidelines are now in place for Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning large scale solar development, providing Richard Wynne certainty and confidence to the sector and “We’ve listened to the community and encouraging greater investment, as part of included a best practice approach to the Andrews Labor Government’s renewable consultation, ensuring people can have their energy boom. say from an early stage, well before a planning permit is lodged.” The Minister for Planning Richard Wynne today introduced an amendment to all “The Guidelines brings a consistent approach Victorian planning schemes, implementing the to assessing the appropriateness of solar Solar Energy Facilities – Design and developments, giving the renewable energy Development Guideline. industry more confidence to invest.” The Guidelines ensure new solar energy Quote attributable to Minister for Energy, facilities, producing one megawatt or more, Environment and Climate Change Lily are built in appropriate locations which: D’Ambrosio - are easily accessible to the electricity “Victoria is the renewable energy capital of transmission network Australia and these guidelines will strengthen - avoid or minimise impacts on their local market certainty – boost jobs, reduce environments emissions and drive down energy prices.” - consider impacts on productive agricultural areas, irrigated areas and areas of Source: Victoria Government environmental importance. It also includes a range of best-practice TECHNOLOGY approaches to help developers engage with communities and ensure the least possible Infinite supply? Energy environmental and social impacts of their generation from space may be proposals. the answer 16 September The Guidelines were shaped by a nine-month It might be dark up there, but the sun always development process including extensive shines in space, and now scientists believe consultation with communities, councils and that an orbital solar power station could be an industry and a review of best-practice inexhaustible source of clean energy for Earth. standards interstate and internationally. Space has always represented infinite In addition to implementing the Guidelines, possibilities for the human race, even the amendment also brings permit centuries before the first interstellar explorers assessment for solar facilities in line with large made those epic voyages in the mid-20th scale wind farms, where the Minister for century. The final frontier has inspired us Planning is the responsible authority. scientifically and culturally – spawning endless movies, seminal television shows and classic This consolidated approach will reduce the albums. But now, some industry and scientific administrative burden on councils and provide experts are suggesting, space could hold the consistent decision making across the state. key to delivering our global energy needs. The Guidelines and the planning scheme amendment information