Senegal faces key know-how decisions in its search for the optimum gas-to-power technique

Senegal’s home fuel reserves shall be primarily used to provide electrical energy. Authorities expect that home gasoline infrastructure projects will come on-line between 2025 and 2026, offered there isn’t any delay. The monetization of these significant energy assets is at the basis of the government’s new gas-to-power ambitions.
In this context, the worldwide know-how group Wärtsilä performed in-depth studies that analyse the economic impact of the varied gas-to-power strategies obtainable to Senegal. Two very different technologies are competing to fulfill the country’s gas-to-power ambitions: Combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT) and Gas engines (ICE).
These studies have revealed very significant system cost variations between the two main gas-to-power technologies the nation is presently contemplating. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, fuel engines are in fact much better suited than combined cycle fuel generators to harness power from Senegal’s new fuel assets cost-effectively, the research reveals. Total cost variations between the two applied sciences could attain as a lot as 480 million USD till 2035 depending on situations.
เกจวัดแรงดัน250bar competing and really different technologies
The state-of-the-art energy mix models developed by Wärtsilä, which builds customised energy eventualities to identify the fee optimal approach to deliver new era capacity for a selected nation, shows that ICE and CCGT applied sciences present significant price differences for the gas-to-power newbuild program working to 2035.
Although these two applied sciences are equally proven and dependable, they are very completely different by means of the profiles in which they can function. CCGT is a technology that has been developed for the interconnected European electricity markets, the place it can perform at 90% load issue at all times. On the opposite hand, flexible ICE expertise can operate effectively in all working profiles, and seamlessly adapt itself to another technology applied sciences that may make up the country’s energy combine.
In explicit our examine reveals that when operating in an electrical energy network of limited size corresponding to Senegal’s 1GW national grid, relying on CCGTs to considerably increase the community capability can be extraordinarily expensive in all potential scenarios.
Cost differences between the technologies are defined by numerous components. First of all, hot climates negatively impact the output of gasoline generators greater than it does that of gas engines.
Secondly, because of Senegal’s anticipated access to low-cost home gasoline, the operating prices become less impactful than the investment costs. In other phrases, because low fuel prices lower operating prices, it is financially sound for the nation to depend on ICE energy vegetation, that are cheaper to build.
Technology modularity also performs a key role. Senegal is anticipated to require an extra 60-80 MW of generation capacity each year to have the ability to meet the increasing demand. This is way lower than the capacity of typical CCGTs crops which averages 300-400 MW that have to be built in one go, leading to pointless expenditure. Engine energy plants, then again, are modular, which means they are often constructed exactly as and when the country wants them, and additional extended when required.
The numbers at play are important. The model exhibits that If Senegal chooses to favour CCGT vegetation on the expense of ICE-gas, it will lead to as much as 240 million dollars of extra value for the system by 2035. The price distinction between the applied sciences can even increase to 350 million USD in favor of ICE technology if Senegal additionally chooses to construct new renewable energy capacity throughout the subsequent decade.
Risk-managing potential gasoline infrastructure delays
The growth of gasoline infrastructure is a complex and prolonged endeavour. Program delays are not uncommon, inflicting gasoline provide disruptions that will have an enormous monetary impression on the operation of CCGT crops.
Nigeria knows something about that. Only last 12 months, important fuel provide points have brought on shutdowns at some of the country’s largest fuel turbine power crops. Because Gas turbines function on a continuous combustion course of, they require a relentless supply of gas and a stable dispatched load to generate constant power output. If the provision is disrupted, shutdowns occur, putting a fantastic pressure on the overall system. ICE-Gas vegetation however, are designed to adjust their operational profile over time and enhance system flexibility. Because of their flexible operating profile, they had been in a position to keep a much greater degree of availability
The study took a deep dive to analyse the financial impression of two years delay in the gasoline infrastructure program. It demonstrates that if the nation decides to take a position into gas engines, the price of fuel delay would be 550 million dollars, whereas a system dominated by CCGTs would result in a staggering 770 million dollars in extra value.
Whichever method you have a glance at it, new ICE-Gas technology capability will reduce the entire cost of electrical energy in Senegal in all potential situations. If Senegal is to satisfy electrical energy demand progress in a cost-optimal way, a minimum of 300 MW of latest ICE-Gas capability might be required by 2026.
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