Aker Kvaerner powers ahead with steam

Jul 24 2007 by Evening Gazette

AS the expansion of the bio technology market continues, alongside an increased confidence in the petrochemical industry, there has been a need to secure the production of additional steam and power within a petrochemical complex.

SembCorp Utilities UK has signed an agreement with Aker Kvaerner Engineering Services (Aker Kvaerner) to provide the engineering design, construction and commissioning work for a new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project, which will enhance its supply of utilities at the Wilton International site.

The project will embrace a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator. SembCorp Utilities UK is to invest £36m in the project, of which Aker Kvaerner's contract value is £26m.

The unit will be capable of generating 40 MW of electricity - enough to power 40,000 homes - which will be used by a range of on-site customers. It will also supply up to 162 tonnes per hour of steam to the site distribution system at Wilton International, one of the UK's most important manufacturing locations.

Dave Ley, president of Aker Kvaerner Engineering Services, added: "Aker Kvaerner is very pleased to have the opportunity to build upon its long-standing relationship with SembCorp Utilities UK.

We have core capabilities within the energy sector and specific project experience with SembCorp to draw upon. Our project team look forward to using our local presence, combined with our worldwide engineering expertise, to deliver an optimised technical solution to SembCorp Utilities UK."

Work will start immediately and the CHP plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2008.

The project is likely to sustain around 85 jobs during the construction period. The success, and knowledge of the original CHP plant, built for SembCorp at Wilton in 2004 and an excellent relationship were key factors in this new contract award to Aker Kvaerner.