Floating power plants are taking shape all over the world, allowing innovations for mobile power generation. Companies such as Siemens, Karpower in Turkey, and ROSATOM in Russia have already launched or are launching floating powerplants. The concept involves generating power offshore (on a ship or a platform) and later transmitting in onshore to an already existing grid.
Karpower, the first company to build the first floating power ship in 2010, has so far installed capacity of 4,100MW of power. Additionally, it has so far completed 25 power ships already generating power all over the world. The vessel can generate 36 to 470MW depending on the need of the site of utilization. Karpower ships are designed to generate electricity through fuel or LNG gas and use the supplies to power the vessel. Countries such as The Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique, and Indonesia are currently working with Karpower to generate and supply electricity.
Just last week, Russia flagged off the world’s first floating Nuclear power plant. The NPP assembled and built by ROSATOM electric division Rosenenergoatom. This addition makes it Russia’s 11th Nuclear powerplant generating 70MW to the Northeast region of Russia. The project did not come without opposition from Environment movements who contradicted the launching of the NPP citing risks in case there is distress on the vessel.
Siemens is working on a floating power plant scheduled for commissioning in the Dominican Republic in 2021.
In conclusion, floating power plants have brought a new perception of a rethinking to power generation and supply to many developing countries. Especially countries with areas that are inaccessible and near water seas and oceans and will need many resources in setting up structures on the ground and grin networking for power supply. Besides, it skips hurdles involved getting land to set up the powerplant.
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