Energy Distribution News

On December 8, 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed the 470th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The speech he delivered is often recognized as his effort to introduce “Atoms for Peace”, a program to move nuclear fission and technology away from weapons development and into clean energy.As a result of that effort and program, the NS Savannah was built and delivered as the first nuclear-powered merchant ship. She was built in the late 1950s at a cost of $46.9 million and launched on July 21, 1959.

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Eidesvik and Finland-based marine equipment manufacturer Wartsila are going to convert an offshore supply vessel (OSV) to operate with an ammonia-fuelled combustion engine with the required fuel supply and safety system. "This project will be the first of its kind ever in the world and has a provisional completion target by the end of 2023," Wärtsilä said.The offshore vessel considered for a retrofit currently has Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines operating primarily with LNG fuel. The conversion will allow the vessel to operate with a 70 percent ammonia blend.

Finnish maritime technology firm Wärtsilä and Grieg Edge, the innovation hub of Norwegian shipping group Grieg Star, are working on a joint project to launch an ammonia-fuelled tanker producing no greenhouse gas emissions by 2024. With Norwegian government support worth 46.3 million NOK (4.4 million EUR), the partnership aims to build what will be the world's first green ammonia fuelled tanker."The MS Green Ammonia project is the result of a Nordic industrial collaboration group founded from the Zeeds (Zero Emissions Energy Distribution at Sea) initiative…

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU's financing department, will bar funding for most fossil fuel projects to become the world’s first ‘“climate bank”.The bank will end its financing of oil, gas, and coal projects after 2021, and will accelerate clean energy innovation, energy efficiency and renewables. EIB Group financing will unlock EUR 1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainable investment in the decade to 2030, it said.Over the last five years the European Investment Bank has provided more than EUR 65 billion of financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy distribution.“Climate is the top issue on the political agenda of our time,” said EIB President Werner Hoyer.

A group of six leading Nordic industry companies has, in line with the UN sustainability goals, joined forces to solve a great societal challenge. The initiative is called Zero Emission Energy Distribution at Sea (ZEEDS).Annually, shipping is responsible for nearly one billion tonnes of CO2 gas emissions globally, and the consortium is trying to address this by developing a new infrastructure for green fuels for ships.The collaboration is spearheaded by Wärtsilä, a leader in smart technologies for the marine and energy markets. It further consists of Aker Solutions, a global engineering company,Equinor, a multinational energy company…

By combining existing technologies in a new way, it is possible to build ferries that represent a quantum leap for the environment. That is the idea behind a new R&D project involving four major players in the maritime sector: Rolls-Royce, Color Line, Norled and the Norwegian Coastal Administration. The project has now received a NOK 5.9 million grant from the Research Council of Norway’s ENERGIX program. The ‘Zero Emission Ferry’ project is intended to result in a new electrical system that not only provides more efficient power output and stable operations…

Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract to provide integrated turnkey electrical solutions for four new RoRo ferries being built at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) yard in Germany. The electrical systems to be delivered include all products and services available from Wärtsilä SAM Electronics. The vessels are contracted by SIEM RoRo Carriers Ltd., and two will be chartered to Denmark's DFDS and two to EKOL of Turkey. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in the second quarter of this year. The full Wärtsilä scope of supply covers the electrical systems engineering and project management, supply and installation of the cables and equipment…

L-3 SAM Electronics has been awarded a contract to provide the complete electrical package, including cable engineering and installation, energy distribution, propulsion, lighting and infotainment systems, as well as internal and external communications systems, for two offshore supply vessels for the Norwegian shipowner, Siem Offshore. Built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG), located in northern Germany, the 155-meter-long and 31-meter-wide ships are due to be delivered in February and July 2016.

A hydrogen tank exploded at Kosovo's second biggest power plant on Friday, killing two people and injuring 14, officials said. The 40-year-old Kosovo A plant, considered one of the worst polluters in Europe, was shut down following the blast that was heard in the capital, Pristina, some 10 km (6 miles) away. The explosion threatened electricity supplies in a country already plagued by blackouts. Power imports were increased to cover demand. "We have found two bodies," Edmond Nulleshi, a manager at the Kosovo's Energy Corporation (KEK), told Reuters. Local television footage showed soldiers rescuing a worker who had been trapped in the building for more than five hours. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

L-3 SAM Electronics announced today that it has been awarded a major contract to provide complete electrical packages, as well as integrated navigation, automation, communications, energy distribution and propulsion systems for Ceona Amazon, the 199-meter offshore construction and pipelaying vessel to be delivered this coming October to Ceona, a London-based subsea contracting organization. The turnkey supply work, which also includes all cabling installation, is to be carried out under contract to the vessel’s principal outfitter…

Imtech Marine, specialized in system integration, successfully completed three innovative new-build vessel projects in Singapore; Seven Borealis for Subsea 7, Rockpiper for a subsidiary of Royal Boskalis Westminster NV and Flintstone for Tideway, part of the DEME Group. The ships will all operate in the oil and gas market. Imtech Marine has combined specific capabilities of its offices in Rotterdam, Shanghai and Singapore. The supply package for two of the three ships includes advanced dynamic positioning (DP), diesel electric propulsion, vessel management (VMS), automation, navigation and communication. The design and engineering was done in Rotterdam, production in Shanghai and installation & commissioning by the Imtech Marine team in Singapore.

District energy specialists Mittel launches new version of its advanced leak detecting system Stateview. Swedish district energy infrastructure specialists Mittel Group announced the launch of a new version of Stateview, the group’s advanced system for detecting leaks in district energy systems. Among improvements in the new Stateview System II is a ten-fold increase of the wireless reach to 1,000 metres, giving field workers a much improved work environment. Stateview is a portable diagnostic tool for district energy pipe networks.

Imtech N.V. (technical services provider in Europe) is acting as technology partner of PlanetSolar, a solar energy powered ship. In 2011, PlanetSolar will set sail on a world cruise of approximately 50,000 km, with the aim of promoting solar energy and the use of environmentally-conscious alternative fuel for sailing. PlanetSolar is a high-tech 85 ton, 31 meters (101.7 ft) long and 15 meters (49.2 ft) wide catamaran, covered by 537 m2 of solar panels. The futuristic-looking ship is powered by two 10 kW electric motors.

Imtech Marine Group (global technical services provider) has been commissioned to supply the entire “green” technical infrastructure on board Greenpeace’s new flagship Rainbow Warrior III. Together with a large number of other initiatives, this project serves as proof of the present development in “green” ships. The Rainbow Warrior III (almost 190-ft in length) is the successor of the present Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior II. Greenpeace wants its new flagship to be the ultimate example of sustainability.

L-3 Marine & Power Systems Group, whose members include SAM Electronics, has appointed Klaus Lorenz as Vice-President of its European Operations. Reporting to Steve Kantor, President of the $1.3b Group, he will be responsible for all its activities throughout Europe, including business development as well as customer and inter-divisional relationships. Formerly President of SAM Electronics, which was acquired by L-3 in 2006, Mr Lorenz has been associated with the marine industry for over 35 years, having also held senior management posts with ABB.

Imtech received an order from the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore to provide the environmentally friendly (diesel) electric propulsion, automation and high and low voltage systems on board the ‘Borealis’, a crane vessel measuring 183 x 46 m. This vessel will operate in the international oil and gas market for Nordic Heavy Lift. The Borealis, with a 5,000-tonne lifting capacity, will be able to install or remove entire topsides at oil and gas platforms. It will also be able to perform work at 3,000 m below sea level. The hull will be built in China, after which Imtech, via its branches Imtech Marine & Offshore (Rotterdam) and Radio Holland (Singapore), will implement and commission the technology.

New Orleans-based Tidewater Inc. elected James C. Day to its Board of Directors and reported it has hired Bruce Lundstrom as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. Day joins Tidewater’s Board with more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He is the retired chairman and former CEO of Noble Corp., one of the world’s largest offshore drilling companies. Day serves on the Board of Directors of ONEOK Inc., and as a trustee of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. He also served on the Board of the Offshore Energy Center and the American Petroleum Institute. Lundstrom most recently served as senior vice president and general counsel for Prisma Energy International Inc.…

In the aftermath of hurricane’s Katrina and Rita, and in an effort to help alleviate energy supply disruptions, the President announced the following measures would be taken or continued. · The Federal Government Is Prepared To Again Tap The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). To alleviate any gasoline supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Rita, the President announced that the Federal government is willing to use supplies from the SPR. This will help mitigate any shortfall in crude oil that could impact American consumers. · The Impact Of The Hurricanes On Energy Production In The Gulf Is Still Being Assessed. The Federal government is working closely with state and local authorities as well as the private sector to monitor the situation…

Dominion agreed to sell its offshore natural gas and oil exploration and production operations to Eni Petroleum Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Italian energy company Eni, for approximately $4.76 billion. These operations include approximately 967 billion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas and oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico shelf and deep water as of Dec. 31, 2006, with 2006 average daily production of approximately 503 million cubic feet equivalent. "Today’s announcement is a significant step in Dominion’s previously announced strategic plan to refocus on the power generation and energy distribution, transmission, storage and retail businesses," said Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II.