The Business Case for Flexibility: Power Generation & Industrial Applications
(Room Garuda 12, 1st Floor)
18 Sep 18
4:00 PM
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5:30 PM
Tracks:
TRACK D - Power Plant Technologies
Grid operators all over the world are challenged by the need for cost effective planning to meet future electricity demand. Nowhere is this greater than in Southeast Asia, where the economy and desire for clean energy resources are growing quickly. More challenges arise when system operators integrate a substantial amount of renewable power to meet the dual goals of increased demand and desire for low- carbon electricity. Although low-carbon, these resources are intermittent. Grid operators need a reliable source of power that won’t disappear if a cloud blocks the sun, or a typhoon forces a wind farm to temporarily shut down. This presentation will discuss a case study of optimizing Indonesia’s grid reliability and stability by upgrading existing combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants to flexibly operate and compensate for fluctuations in renewable generation. Imagine a cloudy day where the sun might be blocked by clouds for a few minutes at a time. These upgraded CCGT plants can be counted on to quickly boost their power output when renewable generation is down, and cycle down when renewable power is back up, assuring capacity needs will be met. CCGT plant operators gain operational flexibility by installing Turbophase, a novel air injection system, which responds within seconds to system operator’s capacity signals. There are additional benefits beyond reducing grid impacts from renewable power fluctuation. First, the investment does not require a new interconnection because it is integrated into an existing plant. Second, system operators can rely on Turbophase to boost baseload CCGT capacity and reduce the need to dispatch less efficient peaking plants. Third, Turbophase enables CCGTs to increase output during the most challenging periods for electricity market operators – hot Asian summers. Turbophase can boost CCGT performance no matter how hot or humid it gets, so that Asian grid operators can meet peak demand requirements with combined cycle efficiency.