Gas Turbines in a Flexible Market: Ansaldo Energia Experience Towards Grid Stability and Renewable Integration
(Room Lehar 2)
20 Jun 18
11:00 AM
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12:30 PM
Tracks:
Track 2: Repositioning Conventional Power Generation
The generation of electrical power from renewable sources is rapidly increasing in many European Countries; wind and solar production are now largely present in most grids across Europe and their installed capacity are expected to grow in the coming years. Network operators give dispatch priority to the renewables; however their unavailability or intermittency, when wind and solar power is non-dispatchable, must be kept into consideration for the stable operation of a grid. Gas turbines are the best fossil fuel answer to properly support the renewable market, since their capability to quick starts and fast load variations will be a key factor for the reliability of the grids. Furthermore, in the new landscape of the energy supply shaped by the renewables, most of the current power plants must be switched from base load service to provide power for peak demand or grid support. In this context, in recent years Ansaldo Energia installed many units of its E and F-class gas turbines fueled with gaseous and liquid fuels, giving relevant contribution to grid stabilization in the electrical market. In some cases gas turbines are used as peakers, a valid alternative solution to the use of diesel generators. In this article, Ansaldo Energia experience in the use of gas turbines as peak power plants, the results from field grid code tests and the easy integration with the renewable sources will be shown.