November, 11-15, 2025, Eilat, Israel
Archive - Electricity 2017 Archive - Electricity
WPM seat 3
The revolution in electricity generation - Revolution in Power Generation
Wednesday | 8.11.2017 | 16:30
WPM 3.1
Gas Turbines Combined Cycle Technology with Hybrid Plant Concepts
Abstract
The modern generation portfolio requires the electric transmission system to compensate variable load transients more frequently and at much larger amplitude to ensure stable and reliable power supply.
Primary means for providing transient power with the Gas Turbines comprise of Over-Firing or fast acting Inlet Guide Vanes and secondary measures such as water spray into the inlet system.
Also for the bottoming cycle, the typical measure includes fast opening of steam turbine control valve from a slightly throttled condition.
All these measures have proven their use for occasional use, but are typically not desired for more frequent operation as they are limited in power gains, degrade cycle efficiency or can result in higher maintenance factors.
The latest high efficient Gas Turbines Combined Cycles design features increased cyclic operating capability and have implemented several measures to cope with more cyclic dispatch needs.
In addition, the plants can be integrated with hybrid concepts that allow the operation of the plant closer to base-load with added frequency response capacity.
GE's experience of highly cyclic capable CCGT combined with latest Energy Storage technologies is the context of this discussion, allowing for recommendations and assessment of specific requirements in electricity generation networks.
Marcus H. Scholz
General Electric International
USA
Marcus Scholz is working for General Electric Power as the Technical Director for the Advanced Combined Cycles. He holds this role since 2014 and provides guidance for advanced gas turbine technology and combined cycles for project developments on a global basis. This also includes the development of hybrid power plants through the application of renewables and energy storage means.
Prior to his current position, he was Commercial Director for the FlexEfficiency Combined Cycle products from 2011 to 2013, introducing the flexible combined cycle concept.
From 2007 to 2010 he developed the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle business as Sales & BD Director for Gasification and Clean Coal Technologies at GE Energy. This included a specific focus on the Synthesis Fuel Gas Turbine product line for high Hydrogen combustion. Prior to that, he was leading the Sales organization for the Conventional Steam Boiler business of GE Energy between 2004 until 2007.
Marcus has been with the General Electric Company for over 18 years and held various positions in GE's European organization, ranging from Engineering to Sales functions.
In his previous employment with European Gas Turbines (UK), he was working for over 6 years in Gas Turbine Testing, Commissioning and Gas Turbine Development, specializing in DLN Combustion Systems design.
Marcus graduated as a Dipl.-Ing and BEng (Hons) from a European Engineering Degree Course (ERASMUS) in London, and received an MSc in Energy Studies from Sheffield University. He further conducted PhD studies on combustion technology at Leeds University, UK.
WPM 3.2
Distributed production and energy storage - pilot on the IEC website
Avi Akrish
Israel Electric Company
Israel
53 years old, married and father of 3
He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Ben-Gurion University.
Master's degree in general engineering from the Technion.
Has worked for the Israel Electric Company since 1990. 15 years in the production department in the electrical inspection at Orot Rabin, 9 years as director of the protection and system department in the transmission and hate division and 3 years as deputy director of the electrical planning division at power stations.
Summary
The conventional power chain of electricity generation at major sites has moved to sub-stations and its distribution to consumers will undergo a fundamental change in the coming years with the shift to renewable energy production at decentralized production sites near consumer centers and low power. This change will result in the formation of point-by-point energy centers that are independently managed and control production sources from renewable energies and local consumption. Distributed production and energy storage system is a complete electrical energy system, which is designed to bring maximum energy efficiency / effectiveness, maximum savings and optimal management of system resources. It is a smart system - limited and modern - for energy supply, which includes: distributed production sources, load management system, measuring equipment and stock.
This system operates as an autonomous network that balances production and consumption resources in order to maintain a stable and reliable power supply within pre-defined limits with a backup connection to the national electricity grid.
Distributed production and energy storage system uses control and communication systems to collect information, improve network management efficiency and maintain its stability.
The decentralized production and storage system can operate as a closed system that functions independently as an electricity island or alternatively as a system that combines self-production and energy consumption or energy transfer to the public electricity grid.
Pros:
Stable green energy - use of renewable energies while maintaining stability by combining energy storage and a variety of production sources.
Optimal efficiency-optimization of the use of a variety of sources according to economic considerations (possibility of integrating cognition).
Reducing power losses on existing transmission lines in traditional systems.
High survival - ability to work as an electric island in the event of a power outage at the electricity supplier in the area.
Pilot description
For the purpose of studying and getting to know the subject in the Engineering Projects Division, we have established an electrical network on the "Carrot" website that includes means of production with renewable energies combined with storage on a small scale (a few kilowatts) in a container:
Solar panels with on-grid managed converter
Power line from the ethereal power grid
Storing energy using a kinetic battery
Energy production using fuel cells
Local loads (managed)
A control system that manages the network
A communication system for connecting the components to the control network, as well as a cellular communication channel that allows remote connection to the control system.
The project in collaboration with POWERCOM, a company CHAKRATEC, GENCELL and INBAR.
Steps:
Establishment of the pilot site by all the companies on the Carrot Power Plant site, an initial calibration of the system was carried out from the beginning of 2016 to October 2016.
Start of run - November 2016.
Running and conducting simulations and experiments November 2016 to December 2017.
WPM 3.3
SIESTART Instant Performance at the Push of a Button
Abstract
The energy landscape has been changing dramatically over the past several years. Renewable generation plays a larger role in today's market and that role continues to expand. The dependency on the weather and time of day is now a more influential factor in power generation than it was in the past.
In an ideal situation, renewable generation would produce exactly the amount of power demanded at exactly the time it was needed, but that turns out to be the exception rather than the rule.
Sudden periods of calm winds as well as continuous overcast days can very quickly cause wind turbines and solar plants to produce far less energy or even none at all.
Grid operators subsequently must intervene faster and more often to maintain grid stability and ensure a secure supply These requirements require conventional power generation units to respond more and more quickly and flexibly.
Conventional turbine power generation units can start very fast - some of them can reach base load in less than 30 minutes, simple cycle plants even under 10 minutes - but they all can not achieve an instantaneous start to full power within milliseconds.
However, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can be used perfectly for such high ‐ dynamic purposes, and this technology has developed substantially over the last few years
technically - since it is a fast growing market - and
commercially - since the costs for the battery cells have significantly decreased
SIESTART - the combination of conventional power generation units with BESS combines the benefits from all systems and provides new opportunities by a couple of additional use ‐ cases:
When load fluctuations in the grid suddenly occur, the battery storage system can feed additional power into the grid in just milliseconds. The gas turbines can then be adapted to the higher load more slowly and thus with less stress on the material, while the infeed from the battery can be automatically reduced.
Similarly, this also applies to overcapacities in the grid. The excess power is used to charge the battery storage unit and reduces stress on the turbine material which would otherwise occur with rapid load adjustments.
This enables SIESTART to react according to market requirements, even extreme challenging grid services can be served, eg Enhanced Frequency Regulation (EFR, UK Grid ‐ code). This is just to mention one of the additional use ‐ cases beside to the fact that SIESTART states as well an answer to the raising demand on Black ‐ start ability.
Summarizing the above SIESTART is the right answer to the rapidly changing energy market environment.
SIESTART optimizes the profitability of power generation assets with short amortization periods whether they already exist (retrofits) or just get developed as new built projects.
Stefan Alwers
Siemens
Germany
Dipl. ‐ Ing. (TH) Stefan Alwers
Current position:
Since 01/2017 Head of Operational Quality Management, SIEMENS AG, Energy Solutions
Since 07/2014 Head of Strategic Quality Management, SIEMENS AG, Energy Solutions
Professional Background:
05/2013 - 06/2014 Head of Program Management Office (PMO), SIEMENS AG, Energy Solutions
2008 - 04/2013 Head of Quality Assurance, EHS, Permits, Administration, SIEMENS AG, Steam Power Plant Solutions
Tasks
Sales and proposals of steam power plant projects
Analysis of customer specifications
Cost calculation for quality assurance, EHS, permits, administration
Technical tender documentation
Contract negotiations with consortium partners and customers
EHS related issues with consortium partners and customers
Project related risk management
Expert for the application of european directives
2007 - 2008 Head of Engineering Coordination, Quality Assurance, Tools, ALSTOM Power Systems GmbH
Projects
Rheinhafen steam engine Unit 8, RDK 8, EnBW
KW Emsland (Lingen), RWE Power
2005 - 2006 Head of Process engineering, mechanical components, piping systems
ALSTOM Power Generation AG
Projects
Neurath F / G, 2 x 1100 MW, RWE Power, Technical Project Manager
Conceptual studies for EnBW and GKM
2003 - 2005 Head of Quality Assurance and Documentation of fossil fired power plants
ALSTOM Power Generation AG
Projects
Neurath F / G, 2 x 1100 MW, RWE Power, Technical Project Manager,
Coordination of Authority Engineering according to Federal Immission
Control Act (BImSchG)
SHOAIBA Stage I, 5 x 385 MW, Saudi Arabia, Consortium QA Manager
ESHKOL & ALON TABOR, Israel, Consortium QA Manager
ST ‐ CMS NEYVELI, 250 MW LFPP, India, Consortium QA Manager
1999 ‐2000 Quality Assurance and Documentation of fossil fired power plants. Projectand
Welding Engineer, ABB Kraftwerke AG
Projects
Steam Power Plant HEFEI 2, 2 x 350 MW, Anhui, VR China: QA ‐ Manager
for piping erection
SHOAIBA Stage I, 5 x 385 MW, Saudi Arabia: HP piping supervision
prefabrication at EHR (BHR) in Dortmund
1996 - 1999 Process Engineering of fossil fired power plants, Project Engineer
ABB Kraftwerke AG
Projects
Thermopipe 160 MW, Colombia
HKW Cottbus, Germany
SHOAIBA Stage I, 5 x 385 MW, Saudi Arabia
Abroad Activities:
1/2000 - 8/2000 QA ‐ Manager for Piping erection Power Plant HEFEI 2, Anhui, China
4/2000 - today Frequent worldwide travels within Europe, India, Asia and Middle East:
negotiations, project management meetings, audits, workshop / site inspections
etc.
Academic Degree:
1995 Mechanical engineer, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (former TH Karlsruhe)
Further Qualification:
2001 Non ‐ destructive Testing
1999 Welding Engineer
1998 Jurisprudence and BWL, FernUni Hagen
WPM 3.4
Flexibility Challenges in the Revolution of Energy Generation
Abstract
The deployment of renewable energy sources and energy storage creates flexibility challenges in the operational regime of existing conventional generation assets (eg coal and gas-fired power plants). On the one hand, these emerging energy sources decrease the role of conventional generation assets. While on the other hand, due to their intermittency or limited energy content, they still require conventional generation assets for generation adequacy purposes. DNV GL has executed several projects that analyzed the impact of this energy revolution on the operational regime of conventional generation assets. These analyzes have been performed using comprehensive scenarios for the development of the (European) electricity system, both in terms of supply and demand, that include developments in electrification of demand, such as heat and mobility, solar-photovoltaics, local energy storage, and on- and offshore wind. As a case-study, the impact on operational regime of conventional generation assets under different scenarios for The Netherlands will be presented in terms of impact on operating hours, numbers of start-stops and capacity factors
Dr. Martijn Duvoort
DNV GL
Netherlands
Dr. Martijn Duvoort works for DNV GL since January 2010 as principal consultant and Head of Section. He holds a Ph.D. in physics and combines an analytical mind with excellent communication skills. As principal consultant he works for regulators, TSO's, and power generation companies in amongst others the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and for the European Commission. His Market & Policy Development section is specialized in assessing the functioning of energy markets and the optimization of individual players in their market environment. He plays a leading role in the area of market design, dispatch of conventional generation fleets, dispatch of renewables and portfolio control. As such, Martijn recently published a new market design for remunerating flexible capacity. The design units multiple needs for flexibility (most notably balancing and congestion management) and allows parties to receive a fair price for their services offered.
WPM 3.5
Maximizing economic availability - different approaches to maintenance planning in the annual / bi-annual range
Dr. Michal Melamed ProCom
Germany
Dr. Michal Melamed holds a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree from the Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management at the Technion, specializing in performance research. Prior to that, she worked at Nir Planning Consulting in Industrial Engineering and Tower Jazz Semiconductor.
Summary
Every manufacturer wants to maximize the economic value of its production units. To this end, it adjusts the availability and / or the production plan to market demand.
The other side of the coin is the maintenance plan. It needs to conform to the production / availability plan and at the same time take into account other constraints. Moreover, the medium-term planning horizon makes maintenance planning more complex due to both uncertainty in demand and failures in manufacturing units.
Each production unit has a unique failure rate. In order to improve the availability of the units and reduce the cost of general maintenance, proactive maintenance and audits are required to prevent failures. A common strategy is preventative maintenance that involves performing maintenance on a unit within a certain time window in order to minimize the long-term cost assuming that the rate of failure increases depending on the age of the unit, its cumulative use, past maintenance operations and more. That is, each production unit must find a suitable time window for preventive maintenance during the planning horizon.
The planning, which is usually done using performance research methods, yields an annual / biennial plan that is updated throughout the year.
The deterministic method uses predefined criteria for performing maintenance according to the type of unit that produces. For example, a gas turbine needs to undergo preventative maintenance for any arbitrary number of hours of operation. Maintenance can be performed in advance to match the availability / production plan.
Compared to the deterministic method, the stochastic method assumes that the failure rate of a unit is a random variable with a known distribution and expectation. Since such a distribution is usually unknown, approximation is performed using Monte Carlo methods. On the one hand, the method is more realistic in that it takes into account unexpected failures. On the other hand, the method is more complex and is based on assumptions that are difficult to verify.
Robust optimization is a relatively new method in performance research. It assumes nothing about the distribution of the uncertain variables, other than that they are domains within a predetermined domain of uncertainty. The method provides a possible solution to any scenario in the field and ensures a top barrier on the cost of maintenance.
Compared to a deterministic plan, the robust result lowers the risk in a sort of hedging action since it is more realistic in its treatment of uncertainty. Compared to the stochastic method, the robotic maintenance program is always possible to implement.
Robust optimization is very promising, yet it is relatively new in the field of energy and needs to prove itself in field conditions. Procom, which specializes in the optimization of energy generation, availability and maintenance programs, began researching the application of the methodology a few years ago. In this lecture we will present a comparison between the different approaches on a sample system.