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May, 2012:

Japan’s Tepco facing uncertain future with surging fuel costs

Japan’s largest power utility Tokyo Electric Power Company, or Tepco, has fallen into sharp deficit for two consecutive years after suffering from nuclear accidents caused by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Not only does Tepco have to pay a huge amount of compensation for damages caused by the accidents, but rising fuel costs have also harmed the company.

The company, which sells about one third of the electricity generated in the 120 million population country, carries out a vital role in supplying power to people.

But to ensure its survival — and eventual return to profitability — requires a huge injection of government funds and a drastic change in its structure of ownership. And in addition, in a move that is already meeting resistance, a significant increase in its electricity prices.

On May 14 this year, Tepco reported a net loss of Yen 781.6 billion ($9.8 billion) for fiscal 2011-12 (April-March), its second net loss in a row, though narrowing from the record Yen 1.247 trillion loss recorded the previous year. Revenues declined 0.4% year on year to Yen 5.349 trillion because of lower electricity sales. 

Read the full story…

Bangladesh introduces nuclear bill, plans to start plant construction by 2013

Bangladesh introduced its nuclear energy bill for discussion in the national parliament Sunday, as the country prepares to build its first nuclear power plant in 2013, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chairman ASMFiroz said Monday. Read the full story…

Award for Plasma Gasification Project on Remote Canadian Islands

http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/0610365733/articles/waste-management-world/waste-to-energy/2012/05/Award_for_Plasma_Gasification_Project_on_Remote_Canadian_Islands_.html?cmpid=EnlWMW_WeeklyJune12012

30 May 2012

Montreal based plasma gasification technology developer, PyroGenesis Canada (TSXV: PYR) has received the Association pour ledeveloppement de la recherche et de l’innovation du Quebec’s (ADRIQ) 2012 Coup de C?ur award for Partnership and Innovation, for its integrated waste management plan for the of Iles-de-la-Madeleine group of islands.

Each year the ADRIQ honours technological collaborations between Quebec researchers, entrepreneurs and their partners with the intent of encouraging the creation of new partnerships which will lead to innovative commercial achievements.

The company said that the project was geared towards finding a solution to waste management challenges facing the municipality.

According to Joel Arseneau, mayor of the municipality of Iles-de-la-Madeleine, waste management is a major challenge in the archipelago.

The goal of the award winning project was to evaluate the potential for developing and implementing two coupled state of the art waste management technologies, namely PyroGenesis’ Plasma Resource Recovery System (PRRS) and a bio-methanization process.

Pyrogenesis said that the technology that it is providing combines the plasma gasification and vitrification which is able to convert unsorted waste into energy and usable by-products.

The main objective of process is to convert nearly all of the processed waste into heat, electricity and a slag that can be used as a construction material.

“This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of pairing these technologies for remote communities such as Iles-de-la-Madeleine,” explained Pierre Carabin, PyroGenesis’ chief engineer.

According to Arezki Tagnit-Amou a Civil engineering professor at Universite de Sherbrooke, the project is also exploring the use of slag as acimentious substitute in the production of concrete or granular material for road construction.”

The company added that the project has benefited from the system that it commissioned at the Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Florida by carrying out additional certified emissions testing and to procure its partners with vitrified rock for advanced material testing at Universite deSherbrooke. (See WMW Story)

“PyroGenesis intends to demonstrate the advantages of this integrated waste management solution, which will enable isolated communities to manage their waste in a responsible, economic, and sustainable manner,” concluded Gillian Holcroft, PyroGenesis’ chief operating officer.

$45 Million Funding Railway Waste Gasification Developer
Alberta Canada based based Green Energy Solution Industries is now finalising the provision of up to $45 million dollars to fund its waste to energy project in Alberta.

Proposed Plasma Gasification & Waste Incineration Facility in Perth
Phoenix Energy Australia, is to work with Australian engineering contractor, John Holland to develop a AU$400 million plasma gasification and mass burn waste to energy facility near Perth.

Proposed plasma gasification & waste incineration facility in Perth | Eco-Business.com

http://www.eco-business.com/news/proposed-plasma-gasification-waste-incineration-facility-in-perth/

Proposed plasma gasification & waste incineration facility in Perth

Published : Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 
By :
Waste Management World

Category : EnergyWaste Management
Region :
Australia
Tags :
industrial wastelandfillwastewaste-to-energy

Waste to energy specialist, Phoenix Energy Australia, is to work with Australian engineering contractor, John Holland – a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited – to develop a AU$400 million ($389 million) waste to energyfacility near Perth.

The project is set to combine both mass burn waste incineration technology and plasma arc waste gasification.

According to a report by Perthnow the facility will have a total output of some 80 MW.

Earlier reports have suggested that the plant will use Westinghouse Plasma technology to gasify around 100,000 tonnes of industrial waste, with the syngas being utilised to co-fire municipal solid waste and construction and industrial waste in a conventional mass burn incinerator.

The proposed plant would use Martin grate technology, for which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHVYF) holds the license for the Asia Pacific region.

Phoenix Energy said that the facility, to be located in the Kwinana Industrial Area in Western Australia, will be used to recover energy from municipal waste.

According to Peter Dyson Phoenix Energy Australia’s managing director the project is now moving into the detailed engineering and formal approvals stage.

“Therefore the inclusion of a credible engineering, procurement and construction partner was a logical next step as early integration of the technology providers, designers and construction team will enable a smoother delivery of the project,” explained Dyson.

The company claimed that the proposed facility could reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by 90 per cent.

John Holland is also currently working in a joint venture to deliver the Hong Kong Sludge Treatment Facility, a 2000 wet tonnes per day waste treatment plant generating its own energy and to be completed in 2013

News

Hatch to deliver concept level study for alternative energy solutions in Western Australia

March 21, 2011

Hatch has been engaged by Moltoni Energy to perform a FEL1 study for a Waste to Energy Facility in Kwinana, Western Australia. Kwinana is located south of Perth on the Indian Ocean.

The client requires a concept level study to complete the engineering of the facility in a structured, low risk method. The goal is to convert a variety of waste streams into saleable energy. The project will involve the unique combination of a ‘Martin Grate’ mass combustion furnace and in parallel a plasma gasification unit both of which create useable energy from renewable feedstocks like waste and biomass.

MartinGMBH is based in Germany and has the major market share of the mass combustion, waste to energy plants globally through its proprietary grate technology. In the Australian region, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environment and Chemical Ltd, based out of Japan, hold the license for the Martin Grate technology. Hatch has already worked with MHI on a number of projects and this was seen as an added advantage.

Alter NRG is a public alternative energy company, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They provide clean energy solutions that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable through two methods; plasma gasification and geo-exchange.

Hatch offices in Brisbane and Perth are participating in the project, scheduled to begin facility construction in 2012.

Huge coal project clears important green hurdle

Queensland gives environmental approval for controversial 30m-tonnes-a-year thermal coal mine
Reuters in Melbourne
May 30, 2012

India’s GVK Power & Infrastructure has cleared an important hurdle toward developing its A$6.4 billion (HK$49 billion) Alpha coal project, winning state environmental approval for what would be one of Australia’s biggest coal mines.

GVK’s Alpha project has made the most progress towards development approval among several in the untapped Galilee Basin in Queensland, where the rival Indian group Adani Enterprises is planning a A$10.9 billion coal and rail project.

The Alpha project is being run by Hancock Coal, which is 79 per cent owned by GVK and 21 per cent owned by Asia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart, who sparked a political storm last week when she won the right to hire foreign workers to build an iron ore mine.

The Queensland coal project still needs approval from the federal government in Canberra and a mining lease from the state to go ahead.

The Galilee Basin projects have been slow to win approvals, with opposition from environmentalists concerned about coal burning, port dredging and ship traffic along the fragile Great Barrier Reef, as well as from landowners

Greenpeace senior campaigner John Hepburn, promising to continue fighting against the mine, said: “We don’t think GVK knew what they were getting into when they bought a majority stake in this mine.”

The approval from Queensland’s co-ordinator-general sets out 128 conditions for managing environmental impacts from building the 30 million-tonnes-a-year thermal coal mine and a 495-kilometre rail line from the mine to the port of Abbot Point.

Hancock Coal’s spokesman, Chris Bombolas, said: “It’s another step towards getting a mining lease and final approvals.” Hancock Coal is looking to sell down its stakes in the Alpha coal project and related port and rail assets to help fund the A$10 billion cost of the projects, with interest seen from Asian coal buyers, the company’s chief executive, Paul Mulder, said in March.

Queensland’s deputy premier, Jeff Seeney, said in a statement: “There’ll be an estimated A$11 billion boost to the economy during the mine’s three-year construction phase.” Construction was expected to run from 2013 to 2016, he said.

Lower power bills line as Poon lets fly at duopoly

Next year’s mid-term review of agreements regulating the power- supply sector will involve discussions on opening up the market, government officials said.

Kenneth Foo

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Next year’s mid-term review of agreements regulating the power- supply sector will involve discussions on opening up the market, government officials said.

Acting secretary for the environment Kitty Poon Kit took the line yesterday by saying both she and her colleagues are “very concerned” about CLP Power’s warning this month that tariffs may jump 40 percent over the next several years.

Also taking a harder line was lawmaker Cheung Kwok-che, who accused CLP chairman MichaelKadoorie of making threats and urged the authorities to take action over his remarks.

Poon said talks will be held next year as part of the review of the Scheme of Control Agreements with the power duopoly, with view to introducing more competition and lowering tariffs.

In line with the timetable stipulated in the agreements, the government will also discuss changes to the regulatory framework by 2016 at the latest.

Poon said officials will be taking a hard look at the two utilities’ short-term development plans to ensure their capital investment and operating costs – which can be used to back up tariff increases – are justified.

“We will be meticulous in examining the capital investment proposals submitted by them for necessity, timing and cost-effectiveness,” she said.

“This will allow us to avoid investments that are excessive, premature, unnecessary or unreasonable.”

Officials have disallowed such investments before, she said, citing a HK$10.4 billion liquefied natural gas terminal project omitted from the last CLP plan.

“We will also make public details of the discussion with the companies on their new development plans.”

Poon, who was speaking at a Legislative Council session, expects the power companies to submit their tariff proposals along with solid justification, and to fully disclose all relevant details.

Government HQ power bill has risen fivefold

Clear the Air says: this must stem from all the hot air generated within the building – the building’s only ‘green’ features are the current administration’s abilities to burn through green from the public purse.

Danny Mok
May 24, 2012

Despite officials touting the green features of the new headquarters in Admiralty, taxpayers are forking out five times as much for electricity bills than for the old premises.

The average monthly electricity expenditure from October 2011 to March this year was about HK$3.4 million, Chief Secretary Stephen Lam Sui-lung said in a written reply to Civic Party lawmaker Audrey Eu Yuet-mee. From October 2010 to May 2011, the government paid a monthly average of HK$700,000. The average monthly electricity use in the new headquarters from October 2011 to March this year was about 14.6 kilowatt hours per square metre, compared with 6.8 kWh per square metre for the old premises from October 2010 to May 2011.

Lam said it was not appropriate to directly compare consumption levels because the size, facilities and the number of bureaus in the old premises compared with the new site was different.

The complex in Admiralty was completed in August when departments began moving in, with the move completed in December.

But Eu rejected Lam’s remarks because the functions for the new premises were the same as the old one, despite differences in design and size. “It is infuriating that the electricity bills and power consumption in the new headquarters did not come down, but went up despite the installation of multiple environmental features,” Eu said.

Eu said round-the-clock air-conditioning in the new building contributed to 48 per cent of the bill in February, and called on the government to reduce consumption. Lighting accounted for 12 per cent of the bill, while lifts and escalators took up 3 per cent, the government’s figures showed.

danny.mok@scmp.com

Two Chinese Companies Tapping Into Natural Gas Demand

It seems CLP from its recent bitching and threats of increased tariffs does not know where to look to get its gas supply from – maybe someone should tell them ?

http://news.investors.com/article/611667/201205161812/enn-energy-holdings-towngas-setting-up.htm

Description: http://www.investors.com/image/WRLDmap_120517_345.png.cms

The combination of China’s voracious energy needs and a global surplus of natural gas makes a compelling story for at least two Hong Kong-listed companies.

Enn Energy Holdings and Towngas, two companies that distribute natural gas in mainland China, are potential leaders in Hong Kong, seen as a gateway for foreigners to do business in the world’s biggest emerging market.

At first glance, it’s hard to get excited about companies that hook up homes and factories to natural gas distribution pipelines.

But many analysts say natural gas has a great future in China. It’s a clean-burning fuel, which is a big plus in a country where the big cities sit under clouds of awful air pollution. Reliance on coal and oil have taken a huge toll on the environment.

Supply also plays well for natural gas. The biggest suppliers for China are found in far more stable countries than those for oil.

The top five natural gas exporters in 2010, says the CIA World Factbook, were Russia, Norway, Qatar, the EU and Canada.

The U.S. stood in seventh place, but may rise as fracking adds to supply at a breakneck pace.

Several new gas-liquefaction plants are under construction in the U.S. and Canada to supply gas abroad, especially to China.

These plants will enable China to tap into the U.S. supply glut, which has pushed prices to $2.622 per million British thermal unit. The latest Asian spot gas price, as reported by energy reporting service Platts, is $17.90 per million Btu.

Towngas China distributes piped gas in mainland China. It also builds gas pipelines and operates municipal gas pipelines.

The stock had been building a tight flat base, but Tuesday’s 3% loss pushed the stock below its 10-week average.

The stock shows a nice 1.4 up-down volume ratio, but a poor D+ Accumulation-Distribution Rating. Remember, the Hang Seng, like the Nasdaq and S&P 500, is in a correction.

The company, which reports twice yearly, showed EPS gains of 40% and 48% in the past two halves. Sales climbed 58% and 36% in those reports.

Enn Energy Holdings also operates in the mainland, running gas pipelines and distributing piped and bottled gas.

Enn Energy improved its EPS 25% and 36% in the past two halves, sales by 49% and 34%.

Enn’s Accumulation-Distribution Rating is a solid B, and its RS line is hitting new highs. Enn has built a 12%-deep flat base with a buy point of 29.40.

The oil & gas transport/pipeline group ranks 14th out of Hong Kong’s 142 industries. It’s been one of that market’s leaders the past four weeks.

National Grid, Advanced Plasma Power and Progressive Energy announce new project to transform waste into Bio Substitute Natural Gas

Project will deliver an end-to-end process for converting waste to Bio-SNG, using Gasplasma® technology
The first project that demonstrates the use of waste to produce bio-substitute natural gas (Bio-SNG) has
today been announced by National Grid, Advanced Plasma Power and Progressive Energy.
The project, which uses waste as a feedstock to produce Bio-SNG, will be based at the Advanced Plasma
Power Gasplasma® facility in Swindon, UK. It will demonstrate the technical feasibility and commercial
viability of the waste to Bio-SNG process. The three partners will work together to design, install and test the
operation of a demonstration plant.
The plant will take the waste-derived and energy rich synthesis gas from the existing Gasplasma® process,
and convert it to meet the specification for injecting it into the gas network. Bio-SNG could play a crucial role
in the decarbonisation of heating and help reach the UK’s binding carbon reduction targets. As part of its
work on future energy scenarios, National Grid has forecast that renewable gas could be a vital part of the
energy mix in the coming decades.
Marcus Stewart, Future Distribution Networks Manager, National Grid said, “This project is a great
opportunity to look at the potential of Bio-SNG from both a technical and commercial perspective. The
project underlines our commitment to seeking economic and innovative ways to decarbonise energy, while
making the best use of the existing network. ”
It is estimated that renewable gas, of which Bio-SNG may be a major source, could account for as much
as one fifth of the UK’s heat requirement by 2050.
Rolf Stein, Chief Executive, Advanced Plasma Power said, “The development and implementation of a
process to derive Bio-SNG from waste using our unique Gasplasma® process has significant global
implications for sustainable waste management and low carbon energy solutions. We look forward to
demonstrating the process on our plant in Swindon.”
Phillip Cozens, Progressive Energy said, “”This project is a significant step towards greater resource efficiency
in our economy, exploiting the capacity of the existing gas infrastructure and demonstrating the potential to
deliver renewable heat at a cost that is competitive with other renewable heat options. The partnership has
put together a strong project execution team to deliver a practical demonstration of Bio-SNG production
from residual wastes. Successful demonstration would provide a blue-print for general deployment.”

Project will deliver an end-to-end process for converting waste to Bio-SNG, using Gasplasma® technologyThe first project that demonstrates the use of waste to produce bio-substitute natural gas (Bio-SNG) hastoday been announced by National Grid, Advanced Plasma Power and Progressive Energy.The project, which uses waste as a feedstock to produce Bio-SNG, will be based at the Advanced PlasmaPower Gasplasma® facility in Swindon, UK. It will demonstrate the technical feasibility and commercialviability of the waste to Bio-SNG process. The three partners will work together to design, install and test theoperation of a demonstration plant.The plant will take the waste-derived and energy rich synthesis gas from the existing Gasplasma® process,and convert it to meet the specification for injecting it into the gas network. Bio-SNG could play a crucial rolein the decarbonisation of heating and help reach the UK’s binding carbon reduction targets. As part of itswork on future energy scenarios, National Grid has forecast that renewable gas could be a vital part of theenergy mix in the coming decades.Marcus Stewart, Future Distribution Networks Manager, National Grid said, “This project is a greatopportunity to look at the potential of Bio-SNG from both a technical and commercial perspective. Theproject underlines our commitment to seeking economic and innovative ways to decarbonise energy, whilemaking the best use of the existing network. ”It is estimated that renewable gas, of which Bio-SNG may be a major source, could account for as muchas one fifth of the UK’s heat requirement by 2050.Rolf Stein, Chief Executive, Advanced Plasma Power said, “The development and implementation of aprocess to derive Bio-SNG from waste using our unique Gasplasma® process has significant globalimplications for sustainable waste management and low carbon energy solutions. We look forward todemonstrating the process on our plant in Swindon.”Phillip Cozens, Progressive Energy said, “”This project is a significant step towards greater resource efficiencyin our economy, exploiting the capacity of the existing gas infrastructure and demonstrating the potential todeliver renewable heat at a cost that is competitive with other renewable heat options. The partnership hasput together a strong project execution team to deliver a practical demonstration of Bio-SNG productionfrom residual wastes. Successful demonstration would provide a blue-print for general deployment.”

Download PDF : FINAL Waste to Gas Pilot Project press release 22 Feb 2012

Plasma Gasification Contract Extended by U.S. Air Force

http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/3332292396/articles/waste-management-world/markets-policy-finance/2012/05/Plasma_Gasification_Contract_Extended_by_U_S__Air_Force.html?cmpid=EnlWMW_WeeklyMay182012

17 May 2012

The U.S. Air Force has extended the first option period of its 18 month contract with Montreal based PyroGenesis Canada – a specialist in using plasma torches for waste gasification and energy recovery.

According to the company, under its contract with the U.S. Air Force 1st Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron (1 SOCES) it will operate, maintain and collect operations data on its Plasma Resource Recovery System (PRRS) at the Air Force’s base in Hurlburt Field, Florida.

PyroGenesis said that it designed and manufactured the PRRS, which uses plasma to convert waste into energy and other usable products.

The system began operational testing at the Florida Air Force base late last year.

The contract includes three sequential option periods. The first option period of performance began on October 1, 2011 and has now increased from 7 to 9.25 months in length. The second option period is five months; and the third option period is for six months.

The company said that the 10.5 ton (9.5 tonne) per day facility at the Air Force’s base in Florida is designed to convert solid wastes into energy and reusable by-products.

Specifically, it combines the advanced processes of plasma gasification and vitrification into one system to further break down solid waste into molecular components for use as a fuel to an internal combustion engine to produce electricity.

The company said that it believed the technology at the Hurlburt Field, Florida site to be the only commercial plasma gasification facility in North America that has successfully demonstrated the ability to convert unsorted municipal solid waste into electricity.

“This extension allows us to make additional improvements to our plasma waste to energy technology while further validating its performance in a commercial, land-based setting,” explained P. Peter Pascali, president and CEO of PyroGenesis.

The objective will be to operate the PRRS system 24 hours a day, seven days a week in a continuous, cost-effective and efficient manner, according to the plasma specialist.

The total value of the contact is approximately $2.73 million.

Read More

Canadian Plasma Arc Gasification Ready for Take Off After U.S. Navy Trial
Canadian plasma technology manufacturer, PyroGenesis, has completed the testing of its Plasma Arc Waste Destruction System (PAWDS) with the U.S. Navy and is ready to roll out the process into marine and land-based markets.

Mobile Waste Gasification Units for Military Applications
Idaho based waste to energy technology supplier, Dynamis Energy has launched its WasteStation – a mobile waste gasification unit with military, healthcare and hospitality applications.

$40 Million Waste to Energy Gasification Contract for Dallas Firm
Primoris Renewables will participate in the construction of two new waste to energy facilities under a recently signed cooperative agreement with Synergy Renewables.