Industrial Gas Turbines for Sustainable Energy Production in a Deregulated Electricity Market

13Apr
1999

EuMIGT was created in 1997 to represent European Manufacturers of Industrial Gas Turbines of up to 50 MW power, which are employed for power generation, oil and gas pumping and other mechanical drives, co-generation/Combined Heat & Power prime movers.(accepted term which refers to the gas turbine engine )
It aims at supporting the industry and promoting co-operation on pre-competitive research and technology among its members: ABB STAL, Sweden; Alstom Gas Turbines, UK; GHH Borsig, Germany; Nuovo Pignone, Italy; Rolls Royce, UK; Turbomeca, France and Volvo Aero, Sweden.

As an introduction to the debate Mr Lars Malmrup, Chairman of EuMIGT, gave a presentation on “Industrial Gas Turbines for sustainable electricity production in a de-regulated electricity market”.

In 1994-1995, gas turbines accounted for 34% of the world’s power plant market (steam power: 41%; diesel and gas engines: 11%; hydro power: 8% and nuclear power: 6%).

While gas turbines of above 50 MW today represent 78% of the total gas turbines market, smaller gas turbines have seen their market share increase significantly over the past few years (today, their market growth rate is above 10% a year).
This trend can be explained by the deregulation of power generation markets world-wide. Flexibility in terms of utilisation to meet the daily and seasonal cycles is a characteristic of this size of machine which enhances its attractiveness in the power auctions now used to meet electrical demand.

Thanks to their size also, industrial gas turbines can be located close to the end user, generate power at the load to be serviced, hence minimising the transmission losses and thereby increasing the energy efficiency.

Gas turbines are also used in CHP plants which meet the high efficiency goals and the low CO2 policies now demanded.
Industrial gas turbines are also applied in the field of renewable energy where they are notably used to burn gases from land-fill sites in Germany and the UK.

With regard to research, EuMIGT members have identified their common technology needs and have organised into technology clusters to respond to the 5th Framework Programme. They also co-ordinate their work with other groups, such as those of aero gas turbines, in order to avoid any overlap which would waste funding.

The long-term development opportunities will aim at further improving the energy efficiency, setting up new systems combined with fuel cells as well as using alternative fuels such as biogas and hydrogen.