Clarke Energy
is expanding its Australian power station rental operations through the supply of GE’s gas engines to Horizon Power’s Short Term Power Project near the remote Pilbara town of Onslow in Western Australia.
- Power station utilises 3 of GE’s J320 gas engines with 3MW of power for local operations prior to the construction of a permanent power station
- Deal represents Clarke Energy’s growing Australian Remote Power rental business which now consists of 35 units across 6 sites
- Commissioned power plant achieved full output at temperatures approaching 50˚C, with low gas consumption and electrical efficiencies above 40%.
With the local Onslow population forecast to increase, Horizon Power requires additional power generation at the existing Onslow Power Station to meet forecast electricity demands. The additional generation is an interim solution to Onslow’s growing demand and will be required until the new power station and infrastructure is constructed by Chevron Australia and handed over to Horizon Power.
The location of the project is within Onslow Salt’s mining lease and adjacent the existing Onslow Electric Power (OEP) power station approximately 5 km from Onslow town centre.
The locality is characterised as being in a dusty remote area and harsh environmental conditions with ambient temperatures that can reach 50˚C.
Clarke Energy has supplied 3MW of gas-fuelled power generation equipment which comprises of 3 of GE’s J320 containerised gas engines. The containerised generating sets supplied by Clarke Energy underwent a critical reliability test run whereby the units maintained full output as the ambient temperatures soared above 45˚C. The containerised generators operated with low gas consumption with an electrical efficiency above 40% mark, provide a compelling case when compared to the usual scenario of generating power using diesel fuel. Furthermore the units are well suited to remote power island applications with the ability to remain on line following instantaneous full load rejection events.
Greg Columbus, Clarke Energy Managing Director stated ‘We are pleased to be securing this critical community project with Horizon Power. Clarke Energy’s remote power rental offering has demonstrated to be cost effective and efficient in remote and harsh environmental conditions. In addition to recent sales in Western Australia, this project has increased generation capacity by circa 20%.’
Notes to editor
About Clarke Energy
Clarke Energy is a leader in the engineering design, installation and long term maintenance of gas engine-based power plants. The company is authorised sales and service provider for GE’s Jenbacher gas engines in 16 countries. Clarke Energy employs over 1000 staff and has over 4,400MW of Jenbacher generation equipment operating in its operational areas.
Clarke Energy in Australia
GE’s Jenbacher gas engines have been distributed by Clarke Energy in Australia since 1999. During this time over 282 gas engines (525MW) have been installed in Australia and New Zealand for a variety of industries such as mining, water, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing and cogeneration for commercial buildings.
Clarke Energy’s Australian Head Office, located in Adelaide, employs in excess of 60 people locally with another 80+ across all states of Australia and in New Zealand servicing the installed fleet. Locally it also houses a parts warehouse which is extensively stocked to service the growing reciprocating engine.
About GE’s reciprocating engines portfolio
GE is a reciprocating engine manufacturer, producing high efficiency reciprocating gas engines ranging from 330 kWe to 9.5MWe electrical output. The fundamental design of GE’s gas engines for operation on gas provides numerous benefits. These include increased operational efficiency, greater reliability, reduced maintenance costs and enhanced capability to operate on gases with lower calorific value or unusual composition, such as coal seam and coal mine methane gas, biogas, landfill gas, flare gas, coke oven gas and syngas from gasification processes.
Scope of Clarke Energy’s Remote Power Rental Offering in Australia
The total rental package offered by Clarke Energy in Australiaincludes engine ancillary equipment such as fuel gas train, dump radiators, ventilation equipment, exhaust silencers and 415V/11kV step-up transformers. GE’s standard DIA.NE XT4 gas engines control systems were fitted with ComAp synchronising controls, enabling the containerised generators to seamlessly synchronise and successfully load share with other OEM’s gas and diesel fired generators within the existing power station.
Onslow Power Project
With construction of the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project underway near the Pilbara town of Onslow, power is one of the critical pieces of infrastructure that needs to be further developed to ensure reliable and safe power supply to the local community during this period of rapid growth.
Chevron Australia is required by the State Government to build a new power station which is to be handed over to Horizon Power to own and operate. Horizon Power is currently working closely with the Western Australian Department of State Development and Chevron on the design and scope of this proposed nine megawatt power station project.
Demand for electricity in Onslow is anticipated to increase significantly over the next two years.
The State of Western Australia is independently funding the Network Extension Project which involves extending the distribution network to facilitate the connection of the new power infrastructure and the existing town network including the new LandCorp residential subdivision currently being developed. The Project will see around 8 kilometers of 11,000 volt cables installed from a new zone substation and approximately 2.5 km of overhead network removed.
The State of Western Australia is also funding the Onslow Short Term Power Project which is required to meet the increasing demand for energy that exists before the new power station is completed and operational. Three hired gas fired generators were delivered to Onslow late 2014, and became operational in January 2015 to meet the summer peak. These units are being temporarily hired and will provide efficient generation to meet demand up until the new power station is handed over to Horizon Power.
Connect with Clarke Energy
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