Senegal faces key expertise decisions in its seek for the optimum gas-to-power technique

Senegal’s home fuel reserves might be primarily used to provide electrical energy. Authorities expect that domestic gasoline infrastructure tasks will come online between 2025 and 2026, supplied there isn’t any delay. The monetization of these important power assets is on the basis of the government’s new gas-to-power ambitions.
In this context, the global expertise group Wärtsilä conducted in-depth research that analyse the economic impact of the varied gas-to-power methods obtainable to Senegal. pressure gauge 4 นิ้ว applied sciences are competing to fulfill the country’s gas-to-power ambitions: Combined-cycle gas generators (CCGT) and Gas engines (ICE).
These studies have revealed very important system price differences between the two major gas-to-power applied sciences the nation is presently considering. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, fuel engines are actually a lot better suited than combined cycle fuel generators to harness power from Senegal’s new fuel assets cost-effectively, the research reveals. Total price variations between the 2 applied sciences might attain as a lot as 480 million USD till 2035 depending on situations.
Two competing and really completely different technologies
The state-of-the-art energy combine fashions developed by Wärtsilä, which builds customised power situations to identify the price optimal method to ship new era capacity for a selected nation, exhibits that ICE and CCGT applied sciences present significant cost differences for the gas-to-power newbuild program running to 2035.
Although these two applied sciences are equally confirmed and dependable, they are very totally different when it comes to the profiles in which they will operate. CCGT is a know-how that has been developed for the interconnected European electrical energy markets, where it might possibly function at 90% load issue at all times. On the other hand, flexible ICE technology can function efficiently in all operating profiles, and seamlessly adapt itself to any other era technologies that will make up the country’s power mix.
In particular our study reveals that when operating in an electrical energy community of limited dimension similar to Senegal’s 1GW nationwide grid, counting on CCGTs to significantly expand the network capability would be extremely expensive in all possible eventualities.
Cost variations between the applied sciences are explained by a quantity of components. First of all, sizzling climates negatively influence the output of fuel turbines more than it does that of gasoline engines.
Secondly, thanks to Senegal’s anticipated access to low-cost home gasoline, the operating costs become much less impactful than the investment costs. In different words, as a result of low gasoline costs decrease working costs, it’s financially sound for the nation to depend on ICE power vegetation, which are inexpensive to construct.
Technology modularity also plays a key role. Senegal is anticipated to require an extra 60-80 MW of era capacity every year to have the ability to meet the growing demand. This is much lower than the capacity of typical CCGTs plants which averages 300-400 MW that must be built in one go, resulting in unnecessary expenditure. Engine power plants, however, are modular, which means they can be constructed precisely as and when the country needs them, and further prolonged when required.
The numbers at play are important. The mannequin reveals that If Senegal chooses to favour CCGT crops at the expense of ICE-gas, it will lead to as much as 240 million dollars of additional cost for the system by 2035. The price distinction between the technologies may even enhance to 350 million USD in favor of ICE know-how if Senegal additionally chooses to build new renewable energy capability within the next decade.
Risk-managing potential fuel infrastructure delays
The growth of gasoline infrastructure is a complex and lengthy endeavour. Program delays are not unusual, causing gasoline supply disruptions that will have an enormous financial influence on the operation of CCGT plants.
Nigeria knows one thing about that. Only last year, vital fuel supply points have caused shutdowns at some of the country’s largest gasoline turbine power vegetation. Because Gas generators function on a steady combustion course of, they require a constant supply of gasoline and a stable dispatched load to generate constant energy output. If the supply is disrupted, shutdowns occur, placing an excellent strain on the general system. ICE-Gas crops on the opposite hand, are designed to regulate their operational profile over time and improve system flexibility. Because of their flexible working profile, they were able to keep a much larger level of availability
The examine took a deep dive to analyse the financial impression of 2 years delay within the gas infrastructure program. It demonstrates that if the country decides to invest into fuel engines, the value of gasoline delay can be 550 million dollars, whereas a system dominated by CCGTs would result in a staggering 770 million dollars in extra value.
Whichever method you take a glance at it, new ICE-Gas generation capability will minimize the total cost of electricity in Senegal in all possible situations. If Senegal is to satisfy electrical energy demand development in a cost-optimal way, no less than 300 MW of latest ICE-Gas capacity will be required by 2026.
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