Usman Azhar
For the last few years, the energy crisis became an increasingly crucial issue discussed throughout the world; whether it’s Iraq or Pakistan. The demand for electricity exceeds the power supply which cause rolling blackouts or loadshedding for several hours. Rolling blackouts generally result from insufficient generation capacity or inadequate transmission infrastructure to deliver sufficient power to the area where it is needed. The energy is so fused with the human life, that this crisis has been paralysed our daily routine.
Currently, we are depending on hydrological energy which is the main source of our energy. The dependence on energy, particularly fossil-based is very high. Looking at the fossil energy, reserves are so expensive that the common man cannot bear the tariff of fuel energy. Government has launched various mega hydro power projects to cope with this energy crisis but these are the time taking projects and 8 to 10 years time are needed for the completion of these hydro power projects.
So the only way to overcome this energy crisis in the short run is to hire independent power producers who will generate electricity in a short span of time but this is difficult because they also need time to setup their plants.
Therefore, it becomes irrefutable that rental power plants options could be an alternative for the energy crisis. Not only the US, an array of other countries are also using rental power plants to meet their energy needs such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Romania, South Africa and
Vietnam.
We present below a bird’s eye view of the role of RPPs in energy crisis around the world.
MEXICO
A 170 MW rental power system was installed and commissioned in a very short period of time to meet the demand of electricity in Zacatecas which was growing at a rate of about 5 percent. Power producers expected programmed outages for industrial customers due to insufficient transmission capacity and two consecutive years of low rainfall that reduced hydroelectric production.
The basic purpose of hiring RPPs in Mexico was to gain rapid availability of multiple Rental Power units with high fuel efficiency.
SAUDI ARABIA
Riyadh is the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is situated in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau. In this rapidly growing city surrounded by desert, water is a precious commodity and the demand is always increasing.
The country has undertaken a programme to build desalination plants that produce both potable water and electricity. Drilling deep wells into the Al-Manjor rock layer was one way the city could gain the necessary fresh water quickly. With the Al Hunnay wells located at 155 miles (250 km) north of Riyadh, the Saudi Ministry of Water & Electricity asked RPPs to provide 62 MW of long-term rental power necessary for making the water flow to the city.
NEW YORK, USA
When soaring summertime temperatures cause people to switch on their air conditioners, it jacks up the demand for electricity and can strain a utility’s power distribution system.
For several years, the local electric utility, Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), has been increasing its summer generation capacity with rented units installed at several substations where loads have been high.
In the past, these rented generators have been costly liquid-fueled turbines, primarily because of the need to meet local air quality regulations. In the spring of 2004, LIPA awarded a contract to a rental power company, for 88 MW of clean, reciprocating-engine rental power. The rental power units have not only met stringent air quality regulations, but also have reduced installation and operating costs for LIPA as well
AUSTRALIA
Australian government hires rental power plants to deliver 20 MW of power during peak demand to meet the state’s electricity requirements. The diesel power station — the first of its type in Australia — was built in the extremely short time of less than four months which must be close to a record for a project of this complexity.
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh has installed seven rental power plants to check its acute power crisis with the power ministry recommendation three foreign and local companies to add 250-mw electricity to the national power grid. The sole objective of hiring rental power plants is to augment 300MW power supply. Bangladesh faces shortfall of nearly 500 megawatt against the officially estimated demand of 4250 megawatt.
INDIA
Indian Oil Corporation’s Guwahati Refinery in the northeastern state of Assam had a capacity of 0.75 MMTPA, which was subsequently increased to 1.0 MMTPA. Power for the refinery’s operations was provided by steam turbines that had become old and unreliable. The refinery hired a rental power system which produced 5 MW of continuous power on a 24/7, 365 bases.
KENYA
Kenya's requirement for additional power was a result of low rainfall in parts of the country. This drought has resulted in reduced output from the country's hydro electric power stations leading to power shortages which were having a damaging effect on the country's economy. A critical consideration in the tender evaluation process was speed of delivery and a rental power supplier undertaken to supply the first tranche of 40 MW within five weeks of the contract becoming effective and the balance a few weeks later.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa urgently needs additional power generation capacities to meet the rising and suppressed demand of power for FIFA world cup 2010. African government hired rental power supply companies to meet the power demands.
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