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Both installations were conceived as so-called
power barges. The power plants are not installed
on vessels with their own drive, but on floating
platforms or “barges” and are towed to their destinations.
“The power barge configuration offers the
option of higher generating capacities, because
we don‘t have to take existing superstructures
into account,” explains Hans-Jürgen Wio, who is
heading the Power Plants business unit.
“The concept of the Karadeniz power ships can
make an important contribution to improving the
electricity supply of regions with poor infrastructure
and thus also their economic development
in the medium term. The mobile power plants
provide power quickly and reliably to places where
it is urgently required and thus contribute directly
to improving the living conditions locally,”
says Wio.
The gas engine growth market
Interview with Hans-Jürgen Wio, Senior Vice President and Head of the Power Plants
business unit at MAN Diesel & Turbo
For efficient
generation of power
and heat, natural gas
is ideally suited.
Mr. Wio, gas seems to have been the all-dominant
topic in the power plant sector for some time.
Why is that so?
The whole world is experiencing a natural gas
boom that is fuelled to a significant extent by
growing global reserves and new exploration and
production techniques. The “Golden Age of Gas”
has dawned, according to the International Energy
Agency. This trend does not exclude decentralized
power generation using medium-speed engines;
natural gas has now become one of the main energy
sources in this market segment too. In 2012,
the global market for gas and dual fuel engines
was bigger than that for diesel/HFO engines for
the first time. The market for gas engines is also a
key growth market for us.
What are the main drivers for this market growth?
The fuel must be available. In the case of natural
gas, this means that a suitable pipeline network
must exist. As the worldwide production volume
increases and LNG (liquefied natural gas), which is
transported by sea, becomes more important
and available, these networks are being expanded
increasingly even in emerging countries. The
market for gas engine power plants is growing
with the infrastructure. On the other hand, the
advances made in exploration and production
technology mean that even smaller gas deposits
can be opened up profitably. These can then be
exploited for power and heat production directly
at the gas source, as in many parts of Russia,
for example.
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