Methanol Firing in Gas Turbine
Methanol firing in existing gas turbines can help in utilization of existing gas assets, contribute to a circular carbon economy, reduce emissions and help in facilitating integration of RE into the grid.
Rationale
Gas plants can play an important role in the integration of variable and intermittent renewable energy into the grid due to their fast ramp-up/down and start up times. Therefore, NTPC is exploring the possibility of using alternate fuels in gas turbines to eliminate the challenges of gas availability and higher price of gas for running of these gas plants in future. One such possibility of firing alternate fuel, which is being explored by NTPC, is methanol firing in its existing gas power plant at Kayamkulam.
Brief About the Works being carried out
Pilot Implementation is being planned in two phases in NTPC Kayamkulam Gas Turbine:
- Phase-I: Requiring no modifications in GT (Gas Turbine) and minimal modifications in overall plant. Demonstration/test firing using methanol shall be carried out in Phase-I. In the demonstration/test firing, running of GT at maximum possible loading with no modification in GT shall be carried out. The maximum load expected to be reached during test firing is 40-50% (as methanol has approx. 50%GCV as compared to Naphtha).
- Phase-II: Based on the test results of Phase-I, modifications for running on 100%load shall be planned in future.
Benefit of the Project
- Can help in utilization of existing gas assets
- Methanol is a clean fuel and produces no SO2 and less NOx emissions
- Methanol can be produced from carbon capture of flue gases and therefore results in circular economy
- No dynamics of import prices
- Methanol can be produced indigenously