China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has announced the delivery of a groundbreaking flue gas waste heat power generation unit in Tianjin Municipality, marking a significant milestone in clean energy innovation.
The unit, the world’s first 5MW offshore high-temperature flue gas waste heat power generation unit, is set to be demonstrated in the Wenchang 9-7 oilfield development project, according to CNOOC.
Traditionally, high-temperature waste heat generated offshore has been a challenge to harness due to the lack of established methods both globally and domestically. This new device represents a significant technological breakthrough in offshore oil and gas operations.
The power stations on offshore platforms generate electricity by burning oil and gas produced on-site. This process releases large amounts of high-temperature flue gas, which has been a major source of carbon emissions in offshore oil and gas development.
The new flue gas waste heat power generation unit utilizes this high-temperature flue gas as a heat source, converting waste heat into clean power. Compared to traditional flue gas combustion and emissions, the installation of this unit can increase the waste heat utilization potential of the power station to 60-70%, significantly improving energy efficiency.
“The overall energy efficiency of the main power stations is expected to increase by 7% when put into use, thereby reducing the consumption of crude oil and natural gas in offshore oil and gas fields,” said An Weizheng, chief engineer of mechanical and electrical instruments at the Engineering Research and Design Department of CNOOC Research Institute.
Once operational, the unit’s annual waste heat power generation could reach 40 million kWh, enough to meet the annual electricity demand of 30,000 households. Over a 20-year period, it is expected to save approximately 300 million cubic meters of natural gas consumption and offset carbon dioxide emissions by around 800,000 tonnes, equivalent to planting 7.5 million trees, according to CNOOC.
This innovative development not only demonstrates China’s commitment to advancing clean energy technologies but also sets a new standard for energy efficiency in offshore operations worldwide.
Reference(s):
China unveils world-leading flue gas waste heat power generation unit
cgtn.com
