Senegal’s home gas reserves might be primarily used to produce electrical energy. Authorities expect that home gasoline infrastructure initiatives will come online between 2025 and 2026, offered there is not a delay. The monetization of those significant energy sources is on the basis of the government’s new gas-to-power ambitions.
In this context, the worldwide expertise group Wärtsilä conducted in-depth research that analyse the economic influence of the various gas-to-power strategies out there to Senegal. Two very different technologies are competing to meet the country’s gas-to-power ambitions: Combined-cycle fuel turbines (CCGT) and Gas engines (ICE).
These studies have revealed very vital system price differences between the two primary gas-to-power applied sciences the nation is currently considering. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, gasoline engines are in fact much better suited than mixed cycle gasoline generators to harness power from Senegal’s new gasoline sources cost-effectively, the research reveals. Total value variations between the two applied sciences may attain as a lot as 480 million USD till 2035 depending on eventualities.
Two competing and really different technologies
The state-of-the-art vitality combine models developed by Wärtsilä, which builds customised power scenarios to establish the price optimal way to deliver new era capacity for a particular nation, exhibits that ICE and CCGT applied sciences present vital price differences for the gas-to-power newbuild program working to 2035.
Although these two applied sciences are equally confirmed and dependable, they’re very totally different in phrases of the profiles in which they can function. CCGT is a know-how that has been developed for the interconnected European electrical energy markets, the place it can operate at 90% load factor always. On the opposite hand, flexible ICE know-how can operate effectively in all operating profiles, and seamlessly adapt itself to any other technology technologies that may make up the country’s energy combine.
In explicit our examine reveals that when working in an electrical energy network of restricted measurement similar to Senegal’s 1GW nationwide grid, relying on CCGTs to considerably broaden the network capability could be extremely costly in all attainable situations.
Cost differences between the applied sciences are explained by numerous components. First of all, sizzling climates negatively impression the output of fuel generators greater than it does that of fuel engines.
Secondly, thanks to Senegal’s anticipated entry to low-cost domestic gasoline, the working prices turn out to be much less impactful than the funding costs. In different phrases, because low fuel prices decrease operating costs, it is financially sound for the country to depend on ICE energy plants, that are cheaper to construct.
Technology modularity also plays a key role. Senegal is anticipated to require an additional 60-80 MW of generation capability every year to have the flexibility to meet the increasing demand. This is way lower than the capacity of typical CCGTs vegetation which averages 300-400 MW that should be built in one go, leading to unnecessary expenditure. Engine energy vegetation, on the other hand, are modular, which implies they can be constructed exactly as and when the country needs them, and further extended when required.
The numbers at play are significant. The mannequin reveals that If Senegal chooses to favour CCGT plants on the expense of ICE-gas, it’s going to result in as a lot as 240 million dollars of additional value for the system by 2035. เครื่องมือวัดความดันคือ between the applied sciences may even enhance to 350 million USD in favor of ICE expertise if Senegal also chooses to build new renewable power capability throughout the subsequent decade.
Risk-managing potential gas infrastructure delays
The growth of gasoline infrastructure is a complex and lengthy endeavour. Program delays usually are not unusual, causing gasoline supply disruptions that can have a huge financial impact on the operation of CCGT plants.
Nigeria knows something about that. Only final year, important gasoline provide issues have triggered shutdowns at a few of the country’s largest gas turbine power plants. Because Gas turbines function on a continuous combustion process, they require a continuing provide of gas and a secure dispatched load to generate consistent power output. If the provision is disrupted, shutdowns happen, placing a great pressure on the general system. ICE-Gas plants however, are designed to regulate their operational profile over time and improve system flexibility. Because of their versatile working profile, they had been capable of maintain a much greater stage of availability
The study took a deep dive to analyse the monetary influence of 2 years delay in the fuel infrastructure program. It demonstrates that if the country decides to invest into gasoline engines, the price of fuel delay can be 550 million dollars, whereas a system dominated by CCGTs would lead to a staggering 770 million dollars in additional value.
Whichever means you have a look at it, new ICE-Gas era capability will decrease the entire cost of electrical energy in Senegal in all attainable eventualities. If Senegal is to satisfy electrical energy demand development in a cost-optimal way, no less than 300 MW of new ICE-Gas capacity shall be required by 2026.
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