Sample News Story
Saibu Gas Joins The Ranks Of Distributed Power Enthusiasts
28/06/2000
Saibu Gas aims to use gas-fired micro-turbines to increase gas usage and to enter the market for power supply in its distribution areas in western Japan. It will start demonstrations in its own research institute in Fukuoaka City supplying power and air cooling, generated by using the exhaust heat of the turbines, for the research institute. The tests, over two years, will examine costs, durability and operation of the systems to aid in commercialisation. Additionally the system may be introduced to some third-party facilities; a site will be selected for a co-generation site and the company is also considering locations in Kitakyushu City where Saibu Gas is already providing heat services.
While the thermal efficiency of the turbines is just 25% when operated for power generation only, this can be improved to more than 70% when the exhaust heat is utilised. The micro-turbines have considerable cost advantages over conventional generation of small amounts of distributed power using diesel engine sets. At some ¥70,000-100,000 ($660-950) per installed kW, they are about half the cost of their diesel engine competitors. Ease of maintenance and operation, not to mention reduced carbon dioxide emissions, provide further advantages.
As readers of Letter from Japan will know, Saibu Gas is not the only company to have put distributed power into its planning; Tokyo Electric and Tokyo Gas have already made their interest and intentions known. Kyushu Electric (operating mostly in the same areas as Saibu Gas) has also been running micro-turbine demonstration tests since last year.
We shall probably be seeing these turbines introduced in large numbers throughout Japan by power companies, gas companies and others. At the same time other new systems, perhaps not quite so close to commercialisation, include small capacity fuel cells and micro engines. The Japan Gas Association is promoting a high-profile fuel cell R & D project which Saibu Gas, among others, has joined.