BMT develops small-scale FSRU concept

UK-based BMT said it developed a floating modular concept for small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution.

The concept could help to “transform the lives of people” in off-grid coastal communities across the Asia Pacific region by bringing power and allowing the roll-out of cleaner fuels, according to GMT.

Taking a ‘plug and play’ approach to small-scale LNG distribution, BMT’s AgileLNG floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), coupled with gas engine or turbine systems, pieces together off-the-shelf and prefabricated elements to drive down the cost of gas distribution and power delivery, the company claims.

“Historically, electricity has been delivered to isolated communities via diesel generator power sets, but growing concern about emissions and the availability of huge gas reserves worldwide makes it an increasingly attractive fuel choice,” BMT’s Richard Colwill said.

“Whilst LNG is a feasible alternative, to deliver a viable solution we had to develop an LNG reception system that did not incur major diseconomies of scale in the 10-50MW power range, that would make small-scale LNG unaffordable,” Colwill added.

Moving away from typical steel construction, the barge hulls are built of concrete, making them much more durable in the hostile marine environment, permitting longer lifespans, and significantly less inspection and maintenance, BMT claims.

To turn the concept into reality, BMT has teamed with GL Engineering, who bring their concrete barge construction experience and LNG New Technologies whose LNT A-BOX containment system represents a new containment option for marine applications.

Offline fabrication of storage and systems coupled with significant prefabrication of the concrete hull and the use of standard off-the-shelf components, ensures the rapid delivery of the units. Power systems can be barge based, or sited on land to suit local conditions, BMT said.