194
Success stories
Siemens Energy Supporting the world’s largest renewable-powered LNG facility become one of the largest and greenest energy projects the world has seen to date. Patrice LaPorte, VP Sales Compression Americas
How is Siemens Energy thriving? After years of stop-start progress which delayed the Woodfibre LNG facility, this highly anticipated project is finally becoming a reality. Selected as the key compressor, auxiliaries, electrical equipment and expertise partner, Siemens Energy stands ready to support the project and make it the greenest of its kind in the world. The challenge Getting a new greenfield LNG project off the ground has not been a straightforward task in recent years. The current energy crisis, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has once again thrown the dynamics of the sector off balance after the Covid-19 pandemic brought global economies and industries to a near standstill through the course of 2020 and 2021.
The solution Located between Squamish and Vancouver, Woodfibre LNG is based on a former pulp mill site and, once operational, will be the world’s greenest LNG export facility. The demand for low-emission Canadian natural gas is high, especially in countries looking to make a transition to cleaner energy systems from their current base of coal as a primary fuel source. In order to export Canadian natural gas to overseas markets it must be cooled to -162 degrees, and by using renewable hydro-electric power to fuel this process, the site will become the lowest-emission LNG export facility globally. Compared to conventional LNG facilities, Woodfibre will be able to reduce carbon emissions per tonne of LNG by approximately 86%. In addition, the project will create more than 100 jobs and contribute around US$80m in taxation to the Canadian government every year.
For Siemens Energy, identifying which green energy projects to focus on, as well as how to shape their approach to them, has been a highly complex process during this period that has tested the company’s agility and ability to respond to rapidly changing circumstances.
Siemens Energy will be playing its part as the project enters the construction phase. Siemens Energy’s scope includes providing all the major rotating equipment (including large compressors and synchronous motors), connections to the grid and electrical systems (including variable speed drives and complete power houses).
However, the company’s involvement with Woodfibre LNG in British Columbia, Canada, is a tremendous piece of business that places it at the heart what promises to
The task is complex. Because the site will be powered by hydroelectric, Siemens Energy had to carry out several analyses with the client to ensure it correctly specified
194
EIC Survive and Thrive
2023