Current and future trends in gas-fired power generations – An investigation from a service perspective

Abstract

The energy market is changing and renewable power is more and more integrated into electricity production. However, the supply of renewable power cannot be controlled, which means that the power system needs support of traditional power generations in order to meet the demand. This study focuses on gas-fired power generations based on gas turbines and gas engines. Moreover, how they are affected in a power system with renewable power integrations.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the current and future trends within gas turbine market from a service perspective. The gas turbine market is investigated from a case company point of view that offers service agreements for its reciprocating gas engines. By investigating the current and future gas turbine market and its requirements for operation and maintenance, the case company can enhance knowledge of their own competitiveness against gas turbine manufacturers. Therefore, a SWOT analysis for the case company will be made. The results of the study can help to improve service agreements for gas engines and to make them more competitive.

The main results of the thesis origins from a tripartite market investigation. The results indicate that the situation in gas turbine market today and within the next five years will not have any significant changes but will have certain impact on some factors for gas turbines. The SWOT analysis shows that gas turbines will have more challenges and impacts on operation and maintenance when supporting renewables compared with a reciprocating gas engine offered by the case company. With the results of this study, the case company has a better understanding of gas turbine’s operation and maintenance and can therefore focus on improvements on their service agreements to better meet the market.