Alstom to build USC Power Plant

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Alstom to build USC Power Plant

Alstom has been chosen by the Consortium of Harbin Electricity International and ACWA Power as the lead EPC contractor, in consortium with Harbin Electricity International to build in Dubai the first ultra-supercritical (USC) coal power plant in the Middle East.

Subject to the financing closure of the project by the development consortium composed of ACWA Power and Harbin Electric, the plant will start commercial operation by March 2021 with a net output of 1.200MW, representing a 12.5 per cent boost of the Dubai current grid capacity, the statement said.

The plant will be fitted with Alstom’s leading ultra-supercritical technology (boiler and steam turbine generator), and will have full dual fuel capability, able to fire sub-bituminous coal as well as natural gas as back-up fuel, it said.

It will also include advanced environmental control systems such as electrostatic precipitators (ESP) and seawater flue gas desulphurisation (SWFGD) systems.

These will enable to achieve NOx, SOx and particulate emission levels that are twice below the European guidelines, making it one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants available.

Additionally, the plant will be CO2-capture ready and shall comply with the most stringent grid code requirements from Dubai.

Andreas Lusch, senior vice-president of Alstom’s Steam Business, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as part of the EPC Consortium for this major project which demonstrates the strength of the company’s technical capabilities and capacity to offer high plant efficiency at low flue gas emissions.

“Alstom’s competencies in engineering, procurement and construction as well as the project team’s expertise will ensure the project is managed in an exemplary manner. We are eager to continue supporting Dubai to grow and diversify its power generation infrastructure.”

Alstom’s ultra-supercritical technology will enable the power plant to run at a higher steam temperature and pressure than regular coal-fired plants in order to improve the plant efficiency and to decrease stack-emissions, particularly CO2 per unit of fuel burned, said the statement.

The power plant will produce sufficient electricity to power nearly 250’000 households in Dubai, it added.

Source: Trade Arabia

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

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Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.