Siemens expansion in the Middle East

The Siemens-Masdar project assessed the CO2 purification requirements for CO2 pipeline transportation.

Siemens recently announced programs for a massive expansion of its manufacture of gas turbines and compressors in the Middle East. With its local partner E.A. Juffail & Brothers, Siemens has planned a multi-million-dollar gas turbine and compressor manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia.

Planned for completion in late 2013, the center will be constructed on a 220,000 square meter site in Dammam, in the Kingdom’s Eastern Region. Power equipment made at the plant will be supplied to the local Saudi market. With the aid of water-saving fittings and efficient air conditioning systems, energy consumption is scheduled to be at least 20% less than that for a comparable building.

In nearby Abu Dhabi, Siemens and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology have concluded a carbon capture and storage (CCS) research collaboration project. The project evaluated the CO2 purification requirements for the CO2 pipeline transportation, EOR and CO2 geological storage. Furthermore, it assessed the CO2 streams specifications and impurities combined with the selection and evaluation of the processes for CO2 stream purification.

Masdar Institute, an independent research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, started the first project on "Evaluation of CO2 Purification Requirements and Evaluation of Processes for Impurities Removal from the CO2 Product Stream" in May 2011. The R&D projects are focused on the improvement and adaptation of the proprietary Siemens Post-Combustion technology to the requirements of the local markets, i.e. CO2 capture at gas fired power stations and utilization of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).  

Second project focuses on UAE

The collaboration between Masdar Institute and Siemens continues with a second project that started in December 2011 which is focused on the evaluation of CO2 capture process waste reuse and recycling in UAE. The Siemens Post Combustion technology offers a substantial advantage; a sellable sulphur product will be separated with the new solvent reclaimer technology.

Nicolas Vortmeyer, Head of New Technologies in the Siemens Energy Fossil Division said, "Siemens has developed a new post-combustion carbon capture technology based on Amino Acid Salt formulations. This technology is environmentally very friendly and has the lowest investment and operation costs.  The research projects will support the adaptation of the Siemens Post Combustion Technology to the requirements of the local market, i.e. retrofit of gas fired power stations and utilization of the CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery.”