RCR Tomlinson’s RCR Energy Systems wins Tropik Wood power project
Steam boiler site erection in progress
RCR Energy Systems, a division of RCR Tomlinson , has delivered its first major project in the Fiji Islands.
RCR Energy Systems’ client, project developer AJYNK, has negotiated a Power Purchase Agreement with Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) on behalf of the power plant owner, Tropik Wood, to deliver electricity supply to the national grid on Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji.
The Fiji government has set FEA, an ambitious goal of becoming a 100% renewable energy power utility by 2011. Fiji’s electricity generation is primarily hydro power from a single 80MW power station at Monosavu.
Until now, the balance (around 50%) of the national grid requirement has been produced by diesel-fired generators, costing the country dearly as electricity demand has risen, along with world oil prices.
Diesel costs to FEA have dramatically soared by over 200% over the last four years. FEA has therefore fast tracked all renewable capital projects, including the Drasa project.
Using the license from The Babcock & Wilcox Company, RCR Energy Systems has designed and shipped a renewable energy plant with the heart of the system being a Babcock & Wilcox Towerpak superheated steam boiler plant.
The plant is located at the Drasa sawmill complex of Tropik Wood and will be fired on bark, sawdust and wood residues from the mill operations.
Steam from the superheater is delivered at a flow rate of 35 tonnes per hour, 43 bar pressure and 400ºC to two turbine generator plants capable of producing 12MW of electricity.
The project was inaugurated in September 2006 with a vibrant and colourful ceremony held at Drasa, near Lautoka, attended by representatives of the project developer, land owners, government, financiers and all major plant suppliers.
The boiler plant has been designed using 3-D modelling technology by the RCR Energy Systems team based in Hastings, NZ, with project management successfully led by Project Manager, Hamish McBeth.
9-Apr-2008