Training is essential
Martin Giehl
The energy industry serves as the backbone of the transition to renewable sources, ensuring the vitality of a region’s lifelines. At the same time, it faces a multitude of challenges and is in a state of flux. The switch to renewable energies, advancing digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence are not only changing business models and customer needs. They also change the qualification requirements for employees in the energy industry, particularly in generation – and therefore also for training. Future specialists need the appropriate know-how to deal with the new technologies.
In addition, we are already feeling the effects of demographic change. For example, more than 25 per cent of our workforce will retire by 2035. We are therefore asking ourselves how we can compensate for this. Training also plays an essential role here. Mainova has had its own training center for young talent since 2018 and currently offers vocational training in 13 professions and eight dual study programs. We distinguish between three categories: industrial-technical professions and engineering degree programs, IT training professions and degree programs, and commercial professions and degree programs. The industrial-technical sector accounts for around 70 percent of junior staff. For us, having training in-house is equivalent to investing in the future. An investment that will help to secure and increase our competitiveness.
Developing a culture of prevention, realising Vision Zero. How does that work?
Moritz Nommsen
Safety culture, trust culture, error culture, prevention culture, feedback culture, corporate culture, etc. – hyphenated cultures are fashionable. However, what is understood by the term ‘culture’ is rather vague. If the term ‘culture’ is used, it facilitates understanding if its meaning is channelled. Safety and health culture is often mentioned in the same breath as prevention culture. In terms of semantics, a distinction helps to clarify the meaning. One way of developing an idea is to use a picture from set theory. Every company has a corporate culture simply by virtue of its existence. The corporate culture is shaped by the constraints that act on the company from outside, by the company management and the employees. A preventive way of thinking, deciding and acting is in a sense always already present in this (preventive culture). In this image, the prevention culture is a subset of the corporate culture. The safety culture is in turn a subset of the prevention culture.
Studies to reduce water withdrawals and consumption from the EDF Martigues CCGT power plant
Chandarith Luy
The Martigues Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) site is located in the south of France. In summer, the maximum air temperature observed in the day hottest hours varies between 38-40 °C. In addition, this region is regularly subject to climatic hazards due to drought. In response to the risk of water shortage in this area, the administration has encouraged manufacturers to limit and/or reduce the raw water withdrawal and consumption. To anticipate the future regulation of the raw water withdrawal and consumption limitation, the Martigues CCGT power plant is committed to reduce its consumption of raw water by partially recycling its effluent. The study objective is to reduce raw water consumption on the site by approximately 10 %. This article presents the configuration of the installation on the site’s water withdrawals and consumption, the methodology deployed by EDF, the work carried out on the Project and the results obtained for the boiler purge water recycling of raw water reducing withdrawal and consumption.
Operation of the sequential GT36 combustion chamber with hydrogen
G. Früchtel, C. Fleing, A. Ciani, D. Pennell and M. Düsing
If no appropriate measures are taken, the expansion of renewable energies to reduce CO2 will destabilise the power grid. One suitable option for stabilisation is the use of gas turbines that are operated entirely or partially with hydrogen. The Ansaldo Energia GT36 gas turbine enables the required fuel flexibility through sequential combustion. This article explains the advantages of the GT36 combustion chamber, which can be flexibly adapted to the hydrogen content during operation. Ansaldo Energia is further developing the potential of this type of burner chamber as part of the EU-funded Flex4H2 project. The special features of hydrogen combustion are explained in the introduction.
In-situ fuel diagnosis
Marie Kaiser, Joos Brell, Mauritius Hiller and Wolfgang Spiegel
Certain fuels, particularly those used in waste, RDF and biomass furnaces are characterized by heterogeneity and complex chemical compositions. This causes stress to the boiler, its components, and its materials. The firing system that controls the incineration process in the furnace is fed by a large amount of sensory data. Yet, the characteristics of the fuel remain unknown in the firing system. The concept of the in-situ fuel diagnosis addresses this by utilizing the boiler as a permanent combustion laboratory, making the hidden properties and processes visible. Methods include the generation of metadata through balancing and modelling as well as specific sensor and probe applications. The basic idea of the in-situ fuel diagnosis is linking thermal utilization of the fuel with the collection of fuel properties. This approach is advantageous and useful, as the necessary sensor applications are commonly available and well established. Plants that are particularly affected include those firing waste, RDF, biomass, lignite, and coal.
Navigating Net Zero: Success factors for nuclear energy fission and fusion technologies
Ruediger Koenig and John Warden, with a panel of experts – “Nuclear Pathfinders”
Nuclear fission and fusion hold great promise for contributions to global decarbonization goals, but pose difficult investment cases. Decision makers need to make strategic commitments for technology choices while considering considerable programme risk. In this article, the authors present a method to assess and monitor each technology’s progress in relation to meeting global Net Zero Emissions (“NZE”) goals1 using a set of metrics to compare the suitability and commercial viability of each technology over time. The model can be customized to address specific programmatic needs other than global NZE goals.
A review of cost estimates for carbon capture and storage in the power sector
Qian Zhu
As countries aim to transition to net zero emissions (NZE), demand grows for low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuels. There may be a role for ammonia as fuel in helping to decarbonise various sectors including power and heat generation, transport by land and sea, and processing industries. Ammonia has several advantages as a clean fuel over alternatives such as hydrogen. It has a higher energy density in liquid form than hydrogen and can be easily liquefied, transported, and stored using existing and new infrastructure. Ammonia can be burnt in boilers, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, and furnaces to partially or totally displace fossil fuels without needing major modifications to the process or system. It emits no CO2 when burnt. Emissions of nitrous oxide and NOx from ammonia combustion can be controlled to the levels required using existing technologies, making ammonia a viable clean fuel for decarbonisation.
Best practices and technologies for coal-fired power plants in India
Sanjeev K. Kanchan and Lesley Sloss
Pollutant emissions from coal combustion in utility plants will be reduced when the plant is operated efficiently and effectively. The operation of a coal plant requires complex engineering. However, there are basic guidelines which can be followed which identify where and how best practices can be applied. This report provides high-level stakeholders with a clear overview of the technologies and techniques which should be considered at every coal-fired plant to ensure that it is operating at peak performance.
Review vgbe Conference “Steam Turbines and Operation of Steam Turbines 2024”
vgbe energy
Around 260 participants and 37 exhibitors from Germany and abroad accepted the invitation of the vgbe Technical Committee “Steam Turbines” to this year’s steam turbine conference in Würzburg, Germany. Under the motto “The future of the steam turbine against the backdrop of energy policy”, the conference was intended to make a contribution to mastering the challenges of the upcoming tasks for steam turbine operation.
Event Report | vgbe Info Day Municipal and Industrial Electricity and Heat Generation
vgbe energy
The municipal utility Stadtwerke Münster and vgbe energy welcomed experts from the municipal and industrial heat and power generation sectors to the second vgbe information day in Münster. The focus of this event was on the transformation of electricity and heat generation towards renewable energies and the exchange of ideas on power plant technology. A broad-based team of vgbe experts provided the participants in Münster with comprehensive insights into these topics and general information about the association’s work, activities and networking within the vgbe community.
Statistics: Global coal demand is set to remain broadly flat through 2025
International Energy Agency
Coal markets are stabilising following recent years of uncertainty unleashed by the global energy crisis. Coal remains the primary global energy source for electricity generation, and increased demand for electricity continues to fuel global coal demand. The Coal Market Update, which provides the latest analysis of coal demand, production, trade and prices, finds that coal demand, supply and trade volumes reached an all-time high in 2023, confirming previous forecasts. Coal continues to be the largest source of CO2 emissions and, while carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies can help reduce coal-related CO2 emissions, the ongoing use of coal has major implications for efforts to reach international energy and climate goals.
Editorial
Martin Giehl
GermanyMember of the Board Mainova AG
Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland
Chairman of the Supervisory Board KWS Energy Knowledge eG
Essen, Germany
Training is essential
Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal,
The energy industry serves as the backbone of the transition to renewable sources, ensuring the vitality of a region’s lifelines. At the same time, it faces a multitude of challenges and is in a state of flux. The switch to renewable energies, advancing digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence are not only changing business models and customer needs. They also change the qualification requirements for employees in the energy industry, particularly in generation – and therefore also for training. Future specialists need the appropriate know-how to deal with the new technologies.
In addition, we are already feeling the effects of demographic change. For example, more than 25 per cent of our workforce will retire by 2035. We are therefore asking ourselves how we can compensate for this. Training also plays an essential role here. Mainova has had its own training center for young talent since 2018 and currently offers vocational training in 13 professions and eight dual study programs. We distinguish between three categories: industrial-technical professions and engineering degree programs, IT training professions and degree programs, and commercial professions and degree programs. The industrial-technical sector accounts for around 70 percent of junior staff. For us, having training in-house is equivalent to investing in the future. An investment that will help to secure and increase our competitiveness. This is why we have decided to increase the number of apprenticeships to a total of 100 apprentices and dual students per year by 2027. It also creates opportunities for young people who want to learn an exciting and meaningful profession.
Today, trainees have more opportunities than ever to find out about different careers. Modern, practice-orientated training is no longer just a wish, but an expectation. At the same time, companies today have to offer more than they did 20 years ago to attract young talent. They need to position themselves as attractive employers that not only impart knowledge, but also uphold values such as recognition, feedback and individual support. After all, Generation Z is looking for apprenticeships that offer them personal development and enjoyment at work in addition to specialized knowledge. With our modern trainee center and our experienced trainers, we offer an inspiring and appreciative learning environment. We are convinced that this is the only way to attract and retain highly qualified young people in the long term. We offer students a variety of opportunities to find out about their careers, such as the “MainOrientierungstag”, where they can experience technical and IT training careers up close.
Digitalization and globalization have opened new ways for young people to plan their careers and design their apprenticeships. Globalization has also opened the doors to international cooperation and exchange programs, enriching vocational education and training and making it more diverse.
Another approach is to promote teamwork and problem-solving skills, which are becoming increasingly important in today’s workplace. In addition, attractive career prospects and further training opportunities after completion of training attract young talent and bind them in the long term. A positive and supportive training environment that encourages personal and professional development makes training programs in the energy industry more attractive. In addition, it contributes to the formation of qualified and committed young talent and thus makes a positive contribution to society.
Cooperation with other stakeholders is therefore of great importance. This is achieved by networking with schools, chambers, associations and politics to jointly shape the framework conditions for successful training. The energy industry has a great responsibility and a great opportunity when it comes to professional training.
Only in this way the energy industry can live up to its special responsibility and actively shape the training of its employees and their future.