The European Union's sanctions against Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine, have turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Iranian gas turbine manufacturers not only to share their knowhow with their Russian counterparts but also to expand their footstep in international markets.
According to data from the Energy Ministry’s news portal, Russian companies are interested in cooperating with Iran on gas turbine technology and joint production.
"There is large potential for cooperation in gas turbine technology with Iran," Shulginov told a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Mehrabian, last year.
The replacement of German-made equipment and parts of gas turbines with Iranian products has already started and Iranian producers can export highly-efficient indigenized F-class and E-class MGT-70 and MGT-75 gas turbines to Russia, as Siemens Energy and some other foreign companies, whose turbines were used to build modern gas power plants in Russia, are either withdrawing from the Russian market or have suspended operations, making it difficult for Moscow to service these plants, the Iranian Energy Ministry’s news agency added.
Referring to Iran’s technological prowess, Abbas Aliabadi, managing director of MAPNA Group, noted that the engineering and energy giant has manufactured hydrogen-fueled gas turbines that consume less gas to generate electricity and discharge water instead of hazardous emissions.
According to the CEO, the MGT-75 turbine will considerably boost production from existing infrastructure without the need for new and costly power plants.
"MGT-75 is an industrial accomplishment and one of the best-in-class turbines in the world. The new generation MGT-70 turbines allow expansion of power production without spending massive amounts on new units," he said.
Adding hydrogen to natural gas is a major step toward decarbonizing energy production, as its combustion process emits less greenhouse gases, such as CO2. It also produces more energy.
Improved Efficiency
The fourth upgrade to the MGT-70 turbine has improved efficiency by 24-60% over the previous design.
Aliabadi said most turbines used in Iran’s power stations are from the E-class family and can be upgraded to MGT-75 with improved efficiency.
“We take hydrogen, which is a clean fuel, from renewable power plants, and use it in turbines, which increase installed capacity by 70 megawatts,” he added.
While reducing carbon emissions from traditional power stations is driving the increase in power production from renewables, hydrogen-fueled gas turbines can also play a role.
Hydrogen, reacting with oxygen, is a very energetic, non-polluting fuel. Surplus renewable electrical energy from solar and wind could be used for electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen to power gas turbine power plants.
“We can replace up to 60% of the methane used in gas turbines with hydrogen,” the MAPNA chief said, adding that the first hydrogen-fueled gas turbine will be installed in a Tehran power plant.
Along with other manufacturers, MAPNA has set a target to offer gas turbines capable of burning 100% hydrogen, and is developing special combustors to this end.
According to Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov, Russia has been trying to start producing its own gas turbines of medium or large capacity for years, but is yet to fine-tune the process.
The need to have its own production has become more acute since the start of what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine last February.
Closer Ties
Moscow has been pushing for closer ties with Tehran amid Western sanctions and pressure over Russia's operation in Ukraine.
Iran also wants deeper cooperation with Russia in energy, transportation and agriculture sectors.
“A contract has been signed between Iran and Russia, based on which 40 turbines manufactured domestically will be exported to Russia,” Reza Noshadi, managing director of Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company, said.
“Currently, 85% of the facilities and equipment needed by the Iranian gas industry are made by local manufacturers. This has made the country capable of exporting the parts as well,” he added.
Turbines are generally used to generate power by coupling it along with a generator. The fluid can be steam or gas with high pressure.
Instead of coupling the turbine with a generator, it can be coupled to a compressor or pump for oil and gas production.
Gas may be required to be injected to oil wells, where gas-fired turbines shall be used to compress the gas to the required pressure.
The National Iranian Gas Company, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company, has invested $4 billion to fast track the indigenization of vital equipment in collaboration with domestic manufacturers and engineers over the past two decades.
Indigenized equipment include turbines, pumps, anti-corrosion steel pipes, valves, storage tanks, boilers and compressors.
