|
|
Decentralised generation is becoming more popular among bigger power users says Martin Smith, sales manager for Clarke Energy.
At the end of last year, Clarke Energy supplied and installed a 1063kW cogeneration module at Taranaki Byproducts in Hawera, powered by one of its containerised, gas-fired, 20-cylinder GE Jenbacher engines. “The client was faced with constant blackouts as it could not draw enough power from the local grid. The 1MW containerised generator installed last year has reduced the blackout instances considerably, and the company could be looking at taking another generator that would make it almost entirely independent of the grid,” says Smith. And it’s not the only GE Jenbacher in operation in Taranaki – there’s another 9MW being generated at Todd Energy’s Mangahewa plant in New Plymouth – a gas-condensate field adjacent to the McKee oil field – which is feed into the grid and qualifies for carbon credits. Another 9MW is generated from Jenbachers at the Redvale Landfill north of Auckland, powered by methane rich landfill gas. From a decentralised energy perspective this is an interesting project. “Our most recent installation was a 230kWe cogeneration system in the new, six-level psychology building at Otago University which is run on LPG fired generator and which supply’s both cheaper power than the institution can buy from the grid and heating. “Interesting projects,” comments Smith, “people are starting to see the value of decentralised generation.”
Energy NZ Vol.4 No.2 March-April 2010 |
Based in Adelaide, Smith (pictured) was over for the recent Power and Electricity Conference in Auckland and says the company’s GE Jenbacher containerised generator has been a popular choice for large Kiwi operations.