Siemens Energy to build waste heat-to-power facility in Canada

• 3 years ago (2021-02-19)
• David Flin

Gas 379 North America 1004

---

Siemens Energy has signed an agreement with Canada-based TC Energy to commission a novel waste heat-to-power pilot installation in Alberta. The facility will capture waste heat from a gas-fired turbine operating as a pipeline compression station and convert it into power, with the electricity being delivered to the grid.

As part of the agreement, Siemens Energy will build, own, and operate the facility, with the option for ownership to be transferred back to TC Energy.

A new heat recovery process developed by Siemens Energy will be at the heart of the facility. The technology is based on an advanced Rankine Cycle and uses supercritical CO2 as the working fluid to convert waste heat into power. Supercritical CO2 can interact more directly with the heat source than water/steam, eliminating the need for a secondary thermal loop. Siemens Energy claimed that this system involves a 25-40 per cent smaller footprint than steam-based systems, a 10 per cent increase in compressor station efficiency, and the capability to produce clean, emissions-free electricity. In addition, because the working fluid is contained within a closed-loop system, no boiler operator is required, making the system suitable for remote operation.