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Press Release12 February 2021Siemens EnergyHouston
Siemens Energy signs agreement to build first-of-its-kind waste heat-to-power facility in Canada
As
part of the agreement with TC Energy, Siemens Energy will build, own, and
operate the facility, with the option for ownership to be transferred back to
TC Energy at a later date.
At
the heart of the facility will be an innovative heat recovery process designed
by Siemens Energy. The patented technology, licensed under Echogen®
Intellectual Property, is based on an advanced Rankine Cycle and uses
supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO
2) as the working fluid to convert
waste heat into power. Because of its properties, sCO
2 can
interact more directly with the heat source than water/steam, eliminating the
need for a secondary thermal loop, typically required in traditional waste heat
recovery systems.
By deploying
sCO
2-based waste heat recovery solutions, midstream operators can
realize greater value than traditional alternatives based on Organic Rankine or
steam cycles. Benefits include a 25 – 40 percent smaller footprint than
steam-based systems, a 10 percent increase in compressor station efficiency,
and the capability to produce clean, emissions-free electricity. Moreover,
because the working fluid is contained within a closed-loop system, no boiler
operator is required, making the system suitable for remote operation.
“This pilot project
is a testament not only to our extensive capabilities but also to Siemens
Energy’s broader commitment to bring new technologies to market that can
support decarbonization in the oil and gas industry,” said Arja Talakar, Senior
Vice President, Industrial Applications Products for Siemens Energy. “We are
proud to partner with TC Energy to build this first-of-its-kind facility and
look forward to scaling the technology to other installations in the coming
years.”
The pilot
project is supported by $8 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) Industrial Efficiency
Challenge. For more than 10 years, ERA has been investing the revenues from the
carbon price paid by large final emitters to accelerate the development and
adoption of innovative clean technology solutions. Since ERA was established in
2009, they have committed $616 million toward 186 projects worth $4.55 billion
that are helping to reduce GHGs, create competitive industries, and are leading
to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are estimated to
deliver cumulative reductions of 35 million tonnes of CO₂e by 2030.
The
new facility is expected to be commissioned toward the end of 2022 and could generate
enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes.
"The agreement with Siemens Energy on this initiative exemplifies TC Energy's long history of embracing innovation and leading-edge technology in its operations," says Corey Hessen, Senior Vice-President, and President, Power & Storage, TC Energy. "We are committed to integrating sustainable energy solutions that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our footprint and look forward to having this operational at one of our compressor stations."
TC
Energy is currently evaluating other compressor station sites to deploy the
technology, with the potential to generate 300 megawatts of emissions-free
power.
About sCO 2
The sCO
2
is stable, non-toxic, non-flammable, and exhibits favorable thermal-physical
properties, including high latent heat and energy density, along with fluid
stability. The compact, modular system can achieve high efficiencies over a
wide temperature range. It can be easily retrofitted with a wide variety of
heat sources without disrupting existing plant operations. Additionally, the
system does not require water, making it
particularly advantageous for facilities in arid zones or regions subject to
sub-freezing temperatures.
The waste
heat-to-power pilot installation in Alberta will capture waste heat from a gas-fired turbine operating at a pipeline
compression station and convert it into emissions-free power.
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Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs more than 90,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of around €27.5 billion in fiscal year 2020.