In the heart of Sarawak, a quiet transformation is underway in Bintulu. The PETRONAS LNG Complex (PLC) - operated by Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd (MLNG), will undergo plant electrification as part of the company’s efforts to decarbonise its operations. This complex has nine LNG production trains, making it one of the top five largest LNG plants in the world. The PLC can produce up to 29.8 million tonnes of LNG per year, which is equivalent to the energy consumption of around 10 million homes¹.

Electrification is a way to lower GHG emissions through the process of switching from fossil fuel-based energy sources to electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower². For PETRONAS, electrification is one of the four levers to achieve its Net Zero Carbon Emissions 2050 aspiration. One of the initiatives is to generate electricity for MLNG plants using hydroelectric power in place of fuel gas. 

Project G.L.O.R.Y - Gain in LNG by Outsourcing from Renewable Energy

Enter Project GLORY – an initiative mooted in 2019 to reduce the usage of natural gas to fuel the plants. Therefore, instead of relying solely on gas-powered turbines, PLC will be supplied partially with electricity generated by hydropower from the Sarawak main grid.  The decision to electrify the PLC was driven by the following factors:
 

• To obtain clean and reliable power supply from the Sarawak Energy operated State Power Grid with low GHG index of 0.213 tCO₂/MWh.
• To reduce GHG emissions (CO₂e) from the combustion in MLNG which generates a GHG index of 0.916 tCO₂e/MWh.
• To retire low efficiency electricity generators which contributes to significant CO₂ emissions.  

What’s the story, morning glory?

So why was this flower’s name chosen? Despite its delicate appearance, the morning glory symbolises tenacity. It is a resilient plant that can grow in difficult conditions such as poor soil. It is also excellent for creating shade as trellises, keeping buildings cool thus reducing energy costs. This corresponds with Project GLORY’s objective and purpose: ‘Winning in a battle to optimise hydrocarbon (HC) molecules while concurrently reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions’.

How it will work

A new substation and transmission line tower will be built to connect the main electricity grid from Sarawak Energy’s operating arm Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO) to PLC. This will supply 90 megawatts of electricity to power the MLNG plants. As a result, this project will substitute 40 per cent of PLC’s total power requirements with electricity that comes from the grid, hence lowering GHG emissions.

The electrification of the complex is a game-changer, as it is set to reduce CO₂ emissions by a whopping 0.5 million tonnes per year, which is a tremendous reduction in GHG pollution. To put it into perspective, this is almost equivalent to offsetting the emissions from 250,000 round-trip flights from New York to London³!

Currently, this project is at the construction stage and is on track to be completed by Quarter 4, 2024. It is also in tandem with Malaysia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce GHG emissions by 45 per cent in 2030.  
 

Challenges of electrification

Electrifying the PLC is no mean feat – it’s a complex and costly undertaking. For instance, building the new infrastructure  involves constructing power lines and substations on a brownfield location, requiring significant investment.

Additionally, integrating the new infrastructure with existing facilities requires working around the existing infrastructure, lending to its complexity and difficulty. However according to Rose Sapinah, Head of LNG Technology and Project Commercial Lead at MLNG, the experienced project team was able to manoeuvre these challenges through extensive planning and analysis during the design and execution stage.

Cost-saving benefit

While electrifying the plant may require substantial investments upfront, it can lead to long-term cost savings. This is because electric-powered systems are often more efficient and have lower maintenance and operating costs compared to traditional systems.

The future is electrification

Electrification of the PLC is part of a wider trend towards decarbonising the LNG industry. It is a project that is worth watching, as it could pave the way for the electrification of other LNG plants around the world.

“The electrification project at PLC marks the beginning of electrification initiatives at PETRONAS in our journey towards sustainability”, Rose Sapinah concluded.

Despite the challenges, electrification is a crucial step in the decarbonisation of the LNG industry and the global shift towards cleaner energy. Stay tuned as we await Project Glory’s completion this year!

1. Source: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/use-of-natural-gas.php
2. International Energy Agency (IEA): https://www.iea.org/energy-system/electricity/electrification
3. Source: Carbon Footprint Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator