A hydro-powered LNG plant in Canada: what could go wrong?
Tom KirkmanIndependent Project Manager
Hydro powered LNG plant may be coming soon to Canada.
What could possibly go wrong?
For starters, hydro electricity will cost *significantly* more than using natural gas to power the turbines.
Remember, LNG is super-chilled natural gas, so abundant natural gas is already available at the LNG plant.
The hydro electricity from hundreds of kilometers away, not so much.
Rube Goldberg would be proud.
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“Shell PLC’s LNG Canada export project in British Columbia plans to start building its proposed second phase with natural gas-powered turbines and
● switch to electricity as more renewable power becomes available,
a top executive said, a decision that means the expansion project will initially generate high greenhouse gas emissions.
LNG Canada, in which Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp owns a 15% stake, is set to be Canada’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal. The first phase is expected begin shipments around 2025.
● LNG Canada now plans to initially build Phase 2 with natural gas-powered turbines and switch to electric motors as more power becomes available, pending a final investment decision, CEO Jason Klein told Reuters on Friday.
… Running the turbines using B.C.’s hydro electricity to cool the gas to liquid for shipping would limit emissions, but requires hundreds of kilometers of new transmission lines to reach the province’s remote northwest coast.
“We can’t do an immediate and wholesale electrification of the plant and the pipeline. It’s not possible today because the transmission infrastructure just isn’t there,” Klein said, adding that LNG Canada is discussing with both governments and utility BC Hydro when lines may be in place.
● … Electrifying Phase 2 is expected to be more expensive than using natural gas. But buyers may pay more for LNG produced with lower emissions, Klein said, noting that some buyers already purchase carbon offsets for LNG cargoes. …”