| Date | News/Announcement |
NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER VISITS
GREENLANE BIOGAS PLANT IN JAPAN
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key recently travelled to Japan and met with Greenlane Biogas Sales Director Steve Rowntree for a guided tour of the Greenlane biogas plant installed at the Higashinada Sewage Treatment Plant in Kobe City.
The visit was scheduled as part of Key's trip to Japan to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for trade talks. These were aimed at breaking down trade barriers and encouraging closer working relationships between New Zealand and Japanese businesses. Both the Vice Mayor of Kobe City and Prime Minister Key spoke at the Kobe plant in front of a large business and press delegation, presenting the Greenlane plant and using it as a showcase example of a successful venture between Japanese and New Zealand companies.
The Greenlane biogas upgrading plant provides clean burning renewable vehicle fuel for the city's bus fleet and rubbish trucks, coupled with a public refuelling facility. Following the formal welcoming ceremony and plant tour, Prime Minister Key & Rowntree enjoyed a ride around the neighbouring suburbs in one of the biogas buses, fuelled at the plant.
The plant was commissioned in 2006 by Flotech/Greenlane Biogas for Kobelco Eco-Solutions. This positive working relationship between the two companies has continued with Kobelco Eco-Solutions, who were the first licensee of Greenlane Biogas, recently renewing their licence for an additional five year term in late 2009.
FLOTECH CONTINUES TO WIN AND IMPRESS
NEW CLIENTS IN THE FPSO BUSINESS
Flotech has recently delivered and installed yet another compression system onboard a floating production storage and off-loading vessel (FPSO) on time, on budget and with a very happy customer.
Ordered in August 2008 and delivered April 2009, these booster compressor package are now installed on board the Ruby II FPSO for oil and gas extraction and processing on the Ruby Field, located about 155km east of Vung Tau in south-eastern Vietnam. Flotech delivered 2 x 100% units, as part of the larger offshore oilfield development project totalling around USD$350-400 million.
The horizontally opposed and balanced two cylinder GE A352 reciprocating compressors run very smoothly with an inlet pressure of 4.9 bar (g) and discharge pressure of 7.1 bar (g), and have a capacity of 11,229 kg/hr. The 220kW units are not the biggest delivered by Flotech by any means, but are an important win nonetheless. A new client is pleased and the company continues to gain experience and recognition in the off-shore platform and FSPO business.
The customer is a new one for the Flotech Group - DPS Bristol - and the contract was won on Flotech's ability to fast track delivery and fabricate in Singapore. This close proximity to the client and the FPSO process top side integration yard in Malaysia was very important to DPS Bristol, as equally it has been advantageous to Flotech in several past projects. An example is a contract to deliver four compression modules for the FPSO Knock Allan for the Olowi field off-shore Gabon, West Africa – where Flotech's advantage of being so close to the "load out" facilities in Singapore was noted. This not only meant they gained close partnerships with industry suppliers – bringing more efficiency and reduced build time – but more importantly, this close proximity allowed them to have in-house responses to any concerns. This helps Flotech to deliver tailor-made packages to their customers' satisfaction.
Although 80% New Zealand owned, Flotech has offices in Sweden, Singapore, North America, New Zealand and Australia. These strategically positioned businesses enjoy close economic and intellectual bonds while the grouping of resources provides fiscal and technological benefits to Flotech's clients. Two ongoing draw cards for Flotech solutions are their international presence and ability to design and manufacture customised solutions to meet a customer's specifications.
For this particular project however, it was imperative that the job was fast tracked and this was one of the key capabilities winning Flotech the contract. Flotech came through on this promise – designing, manufacturing and delivering the package all within the 30 week deadline whilst maintaining the high standard of quality that customers in the oil & gas industry routinely expect.
The Engineering Manager for the end user, MISC, was delighted with the results, writing to "inform that MISC is very happy with the quality of workmanship on the Ruby compressors" commenting specifically on the "cleanliness of the inspected KO drums [and] the external quality of finish". This comes as a testament to Flotech's ability to meet customers' expectations – even under the tightest of deadlines.
FLOTECH HELPS BRING KUPE TO LIFE
Globally successful South Auckland based engineered solutions company Flotech has turned their attention closer to home to help bring the Kupe project to life.
New Zealand's own Flotech has followed a string of successful global multi-million dollar deals by securing two separate deals with Origin Energy to build six huge customized gas compressors as part of the onshore development for the Kupe project in Taranaki.
Flotech, has delivered on over $12M of work with Origin Energy Ltd, developing and engineering three different types of customized gas compressors that are critical to the Kupe gas processing operation. Flotech proved to be the only compressor packager in Australasia capable of delivering such specialized equipment – putting them well ahead of the competition, by being able to offer locally based support.
Director of Compression Technology Steve Rowntree said, "One of the exciting aspects of Kupe for Flotech is that it is a large scale project in our own backyard. While Flotech is known globally for its engineering solutions, and the majority of our work is offshore, we jumped at this opportunity to get involved in the Kupe project here in New Zealand. It also demonstrates that the New Zealand oil and gas industry no longer has to look exclusively overseas for world-class compression expertise, because world-leading expertise is already here."
Flotech's contracts with Origin have maximised New Zealand involvement on the Kupe project, with all fabrication undertaken in Flotech's Auckland workshops, along with engineering, process design and pulsation studies with input from other NZ-based engineering firms.
The Kupe packages are unique in terms of size and scale, with two being 1550 kW ‘flash-gas' compressors, made from stainless steel and utilizing medium voltage variable speed drives. This enables energy-efficient operation with large turndown capability to cope with the reducing flow requirements over the expected life of the Kupe plant. The next two compressors in the process are 1000 kW ‘de-ethaniser overhead' compressors, which operate at cryogenic temperatures meaning they are engineered from special materials able to withstand extremely low temperatures. Finally, in October 2008, Origin Energy increased their order to include two 1100 kW single stage "sales gas" compressors. These are the last stage of the gas compression, necessary to push the gas into the pipeline. There are 2 x 100% units in each application, allowing for maximum running time and productivity; all six were delivered in time to meet the overall project schedule.
Built at Flotech workshops in South Auckland, the enormous compressors & cooling systems were transported to Taranaki by road. Now assembled, the de-ethaniser and flash gas compressors cover a combined plot area of approximately 17m x 32m, with the sales gas compressors covering approximately 10m x 12m on a separate site.
Rowntree added, "We are immensely proud to be involved on the Kupe project, and excited by the opportunity to use our global experience to help meet the growing demand for energy in New Zealand over the next few decades."
The Kupe project is currently New Zealand's second largest gas field under development, after Pohokura, and once online and running is expected to meet up to 15% of New Zealand's gas energy demand.
Flotech has been steadily forging a global reputation as a provider of leading edge engineered solutions to the biogas, gas compression, and heat exchange industries. Having doubled in size over the last two years, Flotech is increasingly a highly successful New Zealand business on the global export stage, and now the New Zealand stage.
FLOTECH WINS 'DEAL OF THE YEAR'
Flotech's Greenlane division recently won Deal of the Year at the Air New Zealand 2008 export awards in Auckland, for a $13m technology supply contract for the Güstrow project in Germany. (See video below)
INNOVATIVE MICRO MAKES BIOMETHANE AFFORDABLE
Greenlane Biogas retains its leadership in the renewable energy field by developing innovative standardised "MICRO" plants to make them affordable to communities in Sweden: following two contracts signed April 1, 2008, Motala and Katrineholm will be the first to experience this latest Greenlane® upgrading concept.
The Katrineholm and Motala projects are based on the entry-level "MICRO" plants (25-80 Nm3/h), turning sludge from municipal wastewater treatment into biomethane for vehicle fuel. While the Greenlane® MICRO design is based on Flotech's long-proven CSFR technology, it contains several patent pending innovations, giving high energy efficiency from a low cost simplified process. MICRO was conceptualised in March 2007; prototype development commenced in early 2008 and the first plants will be in commercial operation during spring 2009.
Of the 35 biogas-upgrading plants currently installed in Sweden, CSFR 600 is the model most commonly used. Both of these new projects demonstrate the growing demand for smaller scale biogas plants by communities nowadays: "We are responding to strong calls for innovative technology in this area of the Swedish market. There is currently a tremendous demand for these plants. By introducing Greenlane® MICRO we are driving energy technology for a whole new market segment", says Sales Manager, Ulf Jonsson.
By taking a quantum leap in compression technology (a core competence of the Flotech Group) and with several new patents in the pipeline, Greenlane's innovative engineering solutions are not only meeting market needs, but going beyond expectations. The firm provides a unique competitive advantage for this scale of plant, decreasing investment and reducing production costs for customers.
Managing Director, Morgan Jansson explains the international reputation of Flotech Group through its Greenlane Biogas centre of expertise: "We have worked alongside Motala and Katrineholm for the last six months. The finalised concept will be locked to a standard that will meet the demands of any Swedish community. Small to mid-size cities or even larger farms could therefore easily acquire MICRO as a "plug-and-play" unit".
In Motala, Sweden (left to right): Christer Setterdahl (Svensk Biogas), Morgan Jansson (Greenlane Biogas) and Anders Ledskog (Motala Community), shaking hands to celebrate the signing of two agreements with Motala and Katrineholm cities.
FRANCE'S BIGGEST BIOGAS PLANT COMES ON-LINE
The largest biogas upgrading plant in France, built by Greenlane in the city of Lille was officially opened in September 2007. The 2 x CSFR 600 units produce four million cubic metres of biomethane annually and supply 180 buses with fuel. The raw material for gas production is biomass from household waste. "Greenlane Biogas is not only the first company in France to upgrade biogas for the transport sector; we are still the only one with commercial-scale experience", says Yann Pierre, Project Manager.
Having a biogas upgrading plant of this size makes it easier for Lille to fight air pollution and the effects of global warming. In addition it gives a substantial benefit to the local economy, by utilising local resources.
Moreover, Greenlane has initiated replacement of the first French biogas upgrading plant built in Lille Marquette as a pilot unit by the company in 1992. The new plant will begin operating in 2008, upgrading biogas from a municipal wastewater plant. Capacity of the new plant is 100 Nm3/h of raw biogas, which will be sufficient to fuel 10 buses.
"The fact that our team was chosen to renew the prototype is of high symbolic value to us. This is proof that the city of Lille has confidence in Flotech Group and particularly in our technology", says Morgan Jansson, Managing Director of Greenlane Biogas in Europe.
For both projects the best available technologies are used, including 4th generation water-scrubbing solutions, which are a Greenlane proprietary technology. The company has installed its gas-purifying technology in Europe and Asia during the last decade, and remains the market leader in delivering clean biomethane fuel from waste streams.
Biogas upgrading plant, Centre for Organic Recovery in Sequedin, France
ANOTHER WORLD-LEADING BIOGAS PROJECT
Following a EUR 42 million deal signed by EnviTec Biogas AG in November 2007, Greenlane Biogas (part of the Flotech Group) has been contracted to build the world's largest biogas upgrading plant. The facility in Güstrow, Germany will transform raw biogas from biomass digesters into pipeline quality gas.
Thanks to its world-leading Greenlane® biogas treatment systems, Greenlane will deliver 3 x CSFR 2000 units with 2,000 Nm3/h each, for a total capacity of 6,000 cubic metres of gas per hour. Over 99% of the upgraded methane gas will be injected into the German national natural gas grid. The plant will be 50% larger than the Greenlane® plant Flotech has installed in Madrid City, Spain - so far considered to be the world's largest biogas plant.
Project execution began in February 2008 and the first processed biogas will be fed into natural gas network in the fall of 2008. The project is due for completion in April 2009.
The Greenlane® Biogas upgrading plants in Güstrow are the largest in the world. The latest generation of "Water Scrubbing" technology (an original Flotech design) upgrades biogas to pure methane, suitable as pipeline quality gas and/or vehicle refuelling. Greenlane has been installing its gas-purifying technology throughout the world over the
last decade. With its other recent contracts – Lille in France, Seoul in Korea, Katrineholm & Motala in Sweden, Greenlane remains the leader in delivering clean biomethane fuel from organic waste.
Demand for renewable fuels is growing strongly due to sky rocketing oil prices and environmental impact of fossil fuels. In terms of emissions reduction, biogas stands out as one of the most promising alternative. Compared to ethanol, and other technologies that compete with food supplies, biogas performs better both with regard to energy conversion efficiency and life cycle emissions.
INFO:
Biogas can be used in any CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) powered vehicle or natural gas pipeline system. It is frequently derived from waste biomass, providing opportunities for waste disposal services to be commercially beneficial.
The net environmental benefits with Greenlane® biogas are significant when compared to fossil based fuel:
• Virtually zero net atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide;
• Captures methane before it becomes harmful to the environment and converts it to usable energy
RENEWABLE FUEL AT THE FOREFRONT – SEOUL CITY
Above: Steve Broadbent (Greenlane, 4th from left) and Hyo-Soon Song (Eco Energy) shaking hands outside the Seoul Mayoral Chambers, to celebrate the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
On the 17th of December 2007 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Greenlane Biogas and their Korean partner Eco Energy Holdings Co Ltd. "This marks the beginning of what is expected to be the world's largest facility for producing biogas for vehicle fuel", says Steve Broadbent, Managing Director, Flotech Group".
The continuously soaring energy consumption in Korea has been recognized with growth of 6.9% compared to 1.6% in U.S.A, 1.6 % in Japan, 1.0 % in U.K and 0.1 % in Germany (source: IEA, 2001). This is country striving to quickly find new solutions for managing waste, some of which is currently dumped at sea.
Greenlane Biogas, the Flotech centre of expertise based in Sweden, is experiencing accelerating success with its world leading solutions. Greenlane® biogas upgrading systems take biogas from sludge digesters and turn an environmental problem into clean, reliable energy at modest cost. Thanks to this advanced technology, biomethane – a carbon neutral fuel is produced. This will allow the City of Seoul to make biogas from waste streams, providing large volumes of renewable, environmentally friendly fuel to replace gasoline and diesel. The public transport infrastructure of Seoul will thus be powered by fuel extracted from the wastewater treatment processes and municipal refuse.
The economic spin off does not end there. Carbon credits generated by this project will be traded on the London Carbon Credit market, in recognition of the contribution to reduction of greenhouse emissions released into the atmosphere. "The carbon credits are a tradable commodity on the London Carbon Credit Market. This adds a nice economic incentive to a project that is already an environmental winner", Mr Broadbent adds.
In the last 20 years, biogas utilisation has been successful in wastewater treatment plants, industrial processing applications, municipal waste plants and the agricultural sector. I
ncreased use of biogas is an important goal in most countries for many reasons: it is a renewable energy source which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and soil degradation. Compared to ethanol and other technologies that compete with food supplies, biogas represents a significant advance in renewable fuels technology that countries worldwide can adopt safely right now, and thereby assist in restoring the natural balance of carbon emissions.
From this perspective, Korea has shown itself to be a very forward thinking country in terms of both utilisation of alternative fuels and reduction of the environmental impact of vehicles.
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