Energy Today sat down with Aggreko’s head of sales for Asia Chandran Jayabalan to discuss the benefits of using flare gas to power offshore operations and how Aggreko is helping customers with its routes to market.
As companies navigate the energy transition and play their part in reaching the Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets, finding the right, future-proof solution can be difficult.
Energy solutions provider Aggreko is alleviating this pressure for companies, with its flare-to-power solutions.
“With the climate moving towards an energy transition, I think there’s immense pressure for companies to try and select the right technology that’s future-proof,” Head of Sales for Asia Chandran Jayabalan said.
“This is where Aggreko comes in because we have a quick solution which you can deploy right now. With a flare to power solution, you can make an immediate impact and help reduce emissions as well as improve your bottom lines.”
But what is flare-to-power? And how can companies harness these solutions to power their operations?
Flare gas, primarily made up of methane, is an excess by-product of oil and gas production that is removed by burning it off in a controlled environment.
Flare-to-power solutions capture this wasted gas and convert it into a power source, which is an economically and environmentally viable option for operators.
“Releasing methane into the environment is far more dangerous and polluting than carbon dioxide,” Jayabalan said.
“If you are utilising flaring to produce energy, you’re essentially reducing the environmental footprint of your operations, so that’s the biggest win in my opinion.”
It is also a free fuel source, as flare gas is considered as waste gas to generate power.
“You’re not just containing something that’s polluting the environment, you’re using it to substitute your regular fuel source which would typically be diesel or pipeline gas, so it’s a double win.”
Jayabalan said there are commercial benefits that include not having to purchase diesel in the market and allowing operators to use gas which is generated at their own sites.
“If you’re operating offshore, the supply chain of establishing diesel supply to the platform in itself is a polluting and costly endeavour,” he said.
“If you’re using flare gas, which is available at your site, then you’re self-sufficient on power, and independent of supply chain uncertainties which makes a lot of commercial sense.”
The routes to market
Through Aggreko, customers can utilise four distinct flare gas to power market routes to suit their operation’s needs.
The first is where Aggreko places the power plant at the site of gas generation, which allows users to generate power close to the vicinity of the flare gas source.
“That power can then be used to power your site. So, it becomes a self-sustaining operation,” Jayabalan said.
Jayabalan said the second route is tailored towards companies having a lot more gas available and the source of consumption is remote from the location of the flare gas.
“We have worked on some projects where we have converted flare gas into power and we’ve used that power to feed the grid,” he said.
“What Aggreko can do is position our generators at the source of the gas, generate the power, then install our distribution equipment to distribute to the grid.”
Route three is where Aggreko generates the power at the consumption source and then transports the gas via virtual pipelines.
“Essentially, what is needed here is generators on site,” Jayabalan said.
“Aggreko positions the generators on site, and we transport the gas by virtual pipelines.
“We collect the gas, then third-party suppliers transport the flare gas to different sources, and then they will use the gas supply at different sources to generate power.”
The final route is a hybrid combination. This process involves the gas for usage in Aggreko’s generators, with the by-products being bottled and sold into industry.
“At the same time, the gas can be fed into our generators, which can then be used for generating power,” he said.
For any company looking to make a change in their flaring operations, Jayabalan said Aggreko has a variety of options to make it happen.
“Aggreko operates on an OpEx model, which means we are providing all of these services on a monthly invoice basis,” he said.
“The flexibility that Aggreko offers and the OpEx nature of the solutions we offer, make the barrier of entry really low.”
The solutions on offer can be tailored to specific needs for a company of any size. Jayabalan emphasised that the solution appeals to small and medium enterprises, or companies of any size.
Aggreko is an energy solutions provider that can guide companies through the energy transition.
For more information, visit Aggreko’s website.
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