Market for Water used in Power Plants is Large and Fast Growing
Power plants extract and discharge more water than municipalities and industry
combined. Water shortages and environmental regulations are opening a large
market for many different technologies. The opportunities can be divided into
three segments:
Water delivery
Water discharge
Water avoidance
Water Delivery: The need to utilize alternative water sources presents a several
billion dollar per year opportunity for:
Desalination: A number of Chinese and Indian power plants have already
incorporated desalinated water for cooling and boiler feedwater. Combined power
and desalination plants already provide both municipal drinking water and power
for many areas in the Middle East.
Use of treated municipal wastewater: Most power plants are within 100 miles of
municipal wastewater plants. With additional treatment this source is ideal for
power plant needs.
Water discharge: Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) is mandated for new power plants in
China and is being evaluated for all new plants in water stressed regions. In
some areas, with plentiful water supply, ZLD has been chosen as a way to avoid
delays in obtaining water discharge permits.
Regulations are tightening for plants which are discharging wastewater. U.S.
power plants have to meet new Emission Limit Guidelines (ELG). The retrofit of
scrubbers in the U.S., China and elsewhere has created new wastewater treatment
challenges.
Water avoidance: The steam plumes emanating from the stacks and cooling towers
of plants are not only testimony to water loss but to inefficiency. District
heating is an alternative which can nearly double power plant efficiency. More
modest efforts such as placement of the Blue Flint ethanol plant at one of the
Great Rivers Energy power plants need to be explored.
Recirculated water for cooling towers results in a big reduction in water
consumption versus once- through water. The problem is the net water loss
through evaporation. Dry cooling eliminates the water loss but requires
considerable energy. It is not practical in warm climates.
Initiatives to improve power plant efficiency have a direct effect on water
consumption per unit of energy produced. McIlvaine is conducting webinars on
greater heat recovery from flue gas with more efficient air preheaters and the
use of high temperature particulate removal to allow for the use of more
efficient heat exchangers.
These opportunities need to be addressed on a plant by plant basis. A number of
Indian power plants have immediate needs. Adani Power has shut down five units
of 660 MW capacity at the Tiroda plant in Maharashtra due to an acute water
shortage. The 2100 MW coal-fired Farakka power station in West Bengal shut down
its six turbines due to lack of water. The 1720 MW Raichur Thermal Power Station
in Karnataka state has been hit by lack of water also. Since March 15, it has
had to shut down several of its units indefinitely. The 1130 MW Parli power
station in Maharashtra state has been shut down since July 2015 due to lack of
water. NTPC's Solapur power plant is facing commissioning delays due in part to
uncertainty over water supplies. In Karnataka's Krishna Basin, NTPC's Kudgi
power plant and KPCL's Raichur power plant were affected by lack of water this
summer.
Individual coal-fired power plant opportunities are tracked in two services:
42EI Utility Tracking System tracks all projects worldwide except China where
projects are tracked in 42EIC Chinese Utility Plans. Gas turbine projects are
tracked in 59EI Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Supplier Program. Biomass, hydro
and geothermal projects are tracked in N042 Renewable Energy World Markets. The
market opportunity is also addressed in a number of multi client market research
reports Markets. End users are aided by the following services 44I Power Plant
Air Quality Decisions, Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Decisions, Decision
Guides.
Utility E-Alert Tracks Billions of Dollars of New Coal-fired Power Plants on a
Weekly Basis
Here are some headlines from the Utility E-Alert.
UTILITY E-ALERT
#1285 August 12, 2016
Table of Contents
COAL US
EPA is disapproving Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP)
EPA proposes More Time to comply with CCR
Coal-to-Gas Power Plant Proposal for B. L. England in New Jersey
COAL WORLD
Sahiwal, Pakistan Coal-fired Power Project Sixty Percent complete
Lamu County, Kenya puts Coal-fired Power Plant on Hold
MHPS receives Order for Steam Turbine and Generator Set for Cogeneration
Facility expansion at Miaoli Plant in Taiwan
The 41F Utility E-Alert is issued weekly and covers the coal-fired projects,
regulations and other information important to the suppliers. It is $950/yr. but
is included in the $3020 42EI Utility Tracking System which has data on every
plant and project plus networking directories and many other features.
Improving the Right-to-Win Ability for High Performance Flow Control and
Treatment Products
The right-to-win for high performance flow control and treatment products can be
enhanced by leveling the playing field and changing the scoring method.
Right-to-win is the ability to engage in any competitive market with a
better-than-even chance of success. Four strategies have been used to improve
the right-to-win ability. They are position, execution, adaptation and
concentration.
In flow control and treatment there are two types of products and services: high
performance and general performance. The right-to-win strategies for them differ
significantly.
The challenge of large U.S. and European based suppliers of high performance
flow control and treatment products is to not only improve the right-to-win
ability in the existing market, but to be pro-active in changing the rules of
the game to level the playing field and even the scoring method in developing
countries. Most of these large companies have not achieved the sales and profits
in the fast growing developing market. McIlvaine, therefore, proposes that
creation be considered a fifth right-to-win strategy. The importance of each
strategy has been ranked from very important to irrelevant.
Right-to-Win Strategies for High Performance
and General Performance Products
(5 is very important and 1 is irrelevant)
Right-to-Win Strategy High Performance General Performance
Position 3 5
Execution 3 5
Adaptation 5 3
Concentration 3 4
Creation 5 2
The creation strategy changes the playing field by making it easier for
purchasers to buy the best rather than the lowest cost product. This entails
finding an easier way to determine the lowest total cost of ownership (LTCO).
Arcelor Mittal is doing this by global sourcing and then providing LTCO analyses
for its 200 plants around the world. McIlvaine is accomplishing this in certain
industries with free Decision Guides for end users.
Changing the scoring method is another game changer. Most flow control and
treatment products contribute to increased life quality today at some penalty to
future generations (e.g. greenhouse gases or resource depletion). The
perspective is quite different for a wealthy individual who wants to set up
annuities for his grandchildren and the starving parent who cannot even ensure
the survival of his children. McIlvaine has created a metric to help developing
countries make the best choice for their citizens.
For more information on right-to-win strategies in flow control and treatment
contact Bob McIlvaine 847-784-0012 ext. 112 rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com.
For more information on the markets see N064 Air/Gas/Water/Fluid Treatment and
Control: World Market.
For more information on the reports and databases contact Bob McIlvaine at
847-784-0012 ext. 112 rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
Bob McIlvaine
President
847-784-0012 ext. 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
www.mcilvainecompany.com