Building on an already-successful, seven-year relationship with RWE npower, a leading integrated energy company, and part of the RWE Group, GE Water & Process Technologies recently inked a new deal with the customer—this time, a five-year, $5M Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contract, extending the initial 2001 seven-year agreement through 2013. As part of this extension, GE made a significant effort to support RWE in their emission reduction program.
Re-established in the final quarter of 2008, the BOO contract extension will ensure quality and quantity of treated water to RWE’s Tilbury Power Station, one of the oldest coal-fired plants in all of Europe. More than 40 years old, the Tilbury Power Station began full operation in 1968. Owned and operated by RWE npower, Tilbury can generate 1,063 MW of electricity – enough power to meet the needs of approximately 1.4 million people or 80 percent of the total population of England’s Essex County
“When GE came on board in 2001, the original Tilbury water treatment plant was nearing the end of its serviceable life and a flexible solution was required. Understanding RWE’s need for water quantity and quality assurance, combined with a flexible duration, we offered the customer a BOO, which they preferred over capital,” said Graeme Young, European BOO Leader, GE Water. “Now the customer has the security and service continuity of our mobile water fleet without the costs and complexities typically associated with managing daily operations of a water treatment plant of this size, scope and age.”
Since improving the efficiency of the Tilbury Power Station was RWE npower’s number one goal, GE offered a solution that would maximize the BOO extension. GE installed a brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) system with variable speed drives—or electrical energy recovery devices—reducing the customer’s power consumption by 50 percent and saving an estimated 850 tons per annum of CO2. The customer is also on track to realize more than $300,000 in power savings over the course of the 5-year contract term.
The BWRO system configuration combines several proven technologies for maximum results, including activated carbon water filtration to remove particles; BWRO for greater than 99 percent dissolved solids reduction, Gas Transfer Membrane (GTM®) contactors to remove carbon dioxide; and a pair of GE MobileFlow® demineralizer portable water treatment systems for final polishing to less than 0,06µS/cm°C and 10ppb SiO2.
“This really was the very best solution for the customer. Not only have we maintained the BOO contract since 2001, but we could also guarantee them reduced operating costs and a flexible duration,” Young explained.
Young is hopeful that the success of the Tilbury Power Station project will position GE for yet another BOO extension or future projects. GE has already piloted their ZeeWeed* ultrafiltration system for a planned state-of-the-art station to replace the existing facility as early as 2014.
GE’s BOO projects provide customers with no capital expenditure, reduced operating costs and improved technical performance. If you would like more information about how a BOO contract can provide you with the same, please contact us at http://www.gewater.com/who_we_are/contactus.jsp.