Why LPG plants are idea for electrifying rural and remote locations

It is a cold, sunny spring morning in Erlangen, Germany. I’m due to talk with the Siemens Energy manager in charge of Heat ReCycle, a flexible and efficient gas-powered plant solution, about its suitability for meeting the energy requirements of remote communities and others who require robust, affordable distributed electricity supply. But what’s unusual about today’s meeting is the dress code.

It’s a rare occasion when the interview partner requests outdoor clothing and sturdy boots. However, Wolfgang Klink has decided we’ll do things differently today. Instead of a conversation in his office, we are going for a short hike. He’s come prepared, with a backpack and camping equipment, the purpose of which will soon become clear.

“Sometimes, you have to leave the comfort zone of your familiar environment to find inspiration and rethink the most pressing challenges,” explains the wiry, energetic engineer as we head for the forest. “And when the challenge involves providing energy for remote sites, it’s especially fitting to get away for a bit.” 

En route, Klink gives a rundown of global issues that require solutions: “By 2050, the global population is set to increase by 25 percent – that’s 2 billion people! At the same time, average life expectancy will reach 82 years, and 70 percent of humankind will be living in cities.” These trends are compounded by climate change and the growing global demand for power.

“Already today, more than one billion people lack access to electricity, especially in remote locations that have no links to energy infrastructure, such as islands,” Klink notes. “That’s a major obstacle to development in terms of education, healthcare, or access to global markets.”

In response to these challenges, Klink and his team have developed a solution based on a simple, but ingenious and proven technology. “Two years ago, we elaborated a concept for a small, decentralized power plant with a performance range of 20–100 megawatts that is efficient, economical, and resource-friendly. After evaluating a number of concepts, we decided on a combination of industrial and aeroderivative gas turbines with an Organic Rankine Cycle,” he explains. 

More than 2 billion people live in water-scarce areas. Water scarcity is a global challenge high on the UN’s agenda. “We need to use water as delicately as possible,” Klink points out. “This is why water-free operation is a significant benefit in many remote locations or developing countries: Unlike a water-steam cycle, the ORC element completely eliminates the need for water.”

This, together with its fuel flexibility, makes Heat ReCycle ideally suited for less-developed and off-grid areas where importing fuel is expensive and where cost and efficiency are crucial factors to consumers who would otherwise have to rely on inefficient delivery and generation solutions with high emissions.

The flexibility of Heat ReCycle also makes it a good choice for industrial assets that are remotely located or especially energy-intensive – a case in point being cement factories. These are often located far from densely populated areas, and – in addition to the reliability of the power supply – energy costs are a major factor. “Another business case exists in cold regions with subzero temperatures,” Klink adds. The heat-transfer medium or ORC medium freezes at a much lower temperature than water in a steam cycle, and remains liquid down to minus 80 degrees Celsius, while the sealed, self-contained design of the ORC element makes for low maintenance and can even be designed for unmanned operations.

“Heat ReCycle offers attractive investment and operational costs compared to other technologies in the 20- to 100-megawatt range and allows operators to take advantage of low levelized cost of energy,” says Klink. Looking ahead, he is confident that its fuel flexibility makes Heat ReCycle a future-ready solution: “We are committed to retrofitting existing turbines to use zero-carbon or carbon-neutral gas generated with renewables, such as green hydrogen. This means our solution is future-proof.”

We pack up our camping stove and head back to the car, not forgetting the little blue propane canister that embodies the main advantages of Klink’s ingenious solution – its simple, compact design; its cleanness and efficiency; and above all its versatility in using various types of fuel that are readily available and transportable.

It is said that sometimes, you can’t see the forest for the trees; but sometimes, there’s a simple solution staring you right in the face.

Apr 7, 2020

Christopher Findlay is an independent journalist specializing on technology and business reporting. He lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland.

Combined picture credits: Uwe Mühlhäußer