Publication Name: New Petroleum Symposium 1993
Authors: Lindsay Oates
Date Published: December 1993
Number of Pages: 13
Reference Type: Magazine Article
Abstract:
The role of gas for electricity generation has been significantly enhanced in recent years through advances in gas turbine technology. Gas turbines are larger and more efficient and this has resulted in improved economics of gas turbine generation, particularly for combined cycle plants for base load generation.Pacific Power has been evaluating the potential of gas fired generation since natural gas became available in New South Wales. Pacific Power forecasts for future generating requirements in New South Wales indicate that up to lOOOMW of peaking/reserve duty gas turbines are likely to be required from around 2000 onwards under a high load growth scenario. These gas turbines would operate infrequently and would use around 5PJ/year of
fuel which could be gas, LPG, methanol or distillate.
New baseload capacity to meet the New South Wales needs is likely to be required from around 2005 or later and gas fired combined cycle plant could be a competitor for this supply. A lOOOMW combined cycle plant would require 50PJ/year of gas.
The National Grid Protocol for sourcing new capacity will alter the traditional method of sourcing new generation capacity on a state by state basis. No longer will the new electricity requirements of a state be necessarily met from new generation plant constructed in that state. Further, new capacity requirements will be sourced on a competitive basis.
In the short to medium term the use of gas for co-generation is the most likely market opportunity for gas. In the longer term, the successful commercialisation of fuel cells could further enhance the role of gas in electricity generation.
The role of gas for electricity generation will ultimately be determined by the competitive sourcing process.