Twenty20 Energy will roll out its proprietary power island floating storage regasification and power solution at 12 locations across Papua New Guinea (PNG) on behalf of PAWA PNG. The solution will serve as a model for future nearshore power generation plants in coastal regions worldwide, reckons the Singapore-based firm.
“The adoption of the technology in Papua New Guinea demonstrates that the Power Island FSRP should be an attractive solution to similar coastal and island communities across the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” the company said in a statement.
“The PAWA PNG project, a joint venture with Dirio Gas & Power and the PNG government, will provide 283MW of less expensive and more reliable electricity supply with significantly lower emissions, as it primarily replaces ageing, inefficient diesel-based generation with modern, high efficiency liquid natural gas (LNG) and heat recovery-based generation. The project will also provide additional generation capacity where it is needed most to support economic and social development objectives,” added Twenty20 Energy.
Twenty20 Energy’s proprietary power island FSRP consists of three components, all supported by a comprehensive LNG fuel logistics solution.
FSRP power barges, which include power generators and regasification equipment, where power generation from gas turbines and waste energy takes place. Fuel barges, which includes LNG storage tanks that supply fuel to the gas turbines with 30 days of LNG supply and form the remote fuel bunkering solution. Floating piers, which moor the barges in each of the 12 locations with minimal site impact.
The power island project will deliver a solution designed and tailored specifically to PNG’s energy requirements. The project represents what Twenty20 Energy and PNG officials called the most efficient and cost-effective solution to harness the country’s domestic LNG supply for powering the country and supporting the goal of 70% electrification by 2030. It is estimated that only 13% of Papua New Guinea’s population have access to power, predominantly in the major cities, with electricity in remote locations typically provided by high-polluting, costly, stand-alone diesel generators.
The Twenty20 Energy design calls for floating piers to be built and transported to each of the 12 sites. The power barges and fuel barges will be built and transported to the floating piers, where they will be moored. When in need of additional fuel, the fuel barges will travel to one of the three LNG bulk storage hubs, where they will be filled up and transported back to the floating pier.
The 12 power islands will be located just offshore outside 12 cities, with three of the more strategic locations – Daru, Lae and Lihir – to also host LNG bulk storage facilities. The nine other locations are Manus Island, Buka Town, Kimbe, Alotau, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak, Kiunga and Kikori. Small-scale efficiency sets apart Twenty20’s FSRP; two specific unit sizes with differing outputs – ranging from 8.6 MW to 21.9 MW – will be used in each location. Each power island can be modified according to its growth, so as a location grows, a larger unit can be brought in and the smaller unit would be moved to a new location.
Twenty20 Energy commenced design of the Power Island FSRP in 2018 and have since conducted both a full engineering and commercial study, as well as an independent engineering assessment to confirm the design’s validity. Twenty20’s intellectual property includes its plant and auxiliary configuration, combining power generation, fuel storage and bunkering, and transportation. The design requires minimal land use and is ultimately mobile to accommodate near-term and future expansion needs. In the future, the power island FSRP solution can be converted from LNG to hydrogen fuel, which is completely renewable and delivers power generation with zero carbon emissions.
“Our Power Island FSRP design leverages the abundance of domestically produced LNG in Papua New Guinea, delivering a cost-effective, environmentally friendly solution to power generation for coastal communities,” said Geoff Lawrence, CEO of Twenty20 Energy.
The power island approach meets the needs of developing countries, which face increased demands for energy to support urbanisation and industrialisation. The solution also balances the need for affordable, scalable power generation with a desire for reduced environmental impact and greater sustainability. Twenty20 Energy anticipates that in many instances, its Power Island solution, which uses LNG, will replace high-polluting fossil fuels such as coal and diesel, while delivering reliable, cost-effective power where it is needed most.
“This PAWA PNG Power Island Project provides for decades of clean, reliable electricity to many PNG citizens utilising domestically sourced and produced energy,” said Augustine Mano, Managing Director at the Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC). MRDC is a wholly state-owned enterprise established to hold and manage provincial government and landowner equity interests in mineral and petroleum development projects. “This will assist the PNG government in achieving national energy security and independence while enhancing the lives of the people of PNG via the provision of reliable, cost-effective electricity supply.”