Reciprocating engines: a key building block for distributed power

The growing global population and increasing standard of living produce a strong demand growth in power supply and distribution. Power needs to be supplied at or near the source of demand particularly in developing countries. Beyond baseload applications, growth in intermittent renewables and transient demand shifts require efficiency in flexible, peak-shaving and grid stabilization power supply. Reciprocating engines have undergone strong and sustained development over the past decades and today feature key characteristics suitable for distributed power: high simple-cycle efficiency, even at part load, lower de-rate with varying ambient conditions, modular power blocks that can be expanded as demand grows, low emissions, low water usage and attractive life-cycle costs. As demand for flexible, distributed power grows, this will drive the development of reciprocating engine technologies further into fast ramp-up and load shedding, part load operation and grid stabilization. Furthermore, a wider quality of base fuel and increasingly stringent emissions requirements increase the challenge to continue efficiency gains in development. Control system developments and the evolution of the industrial internet open new doors to efficient operation, predictive maintenance, and optimization of assets and fleets.