Rosslyn Brewery Cogeneration Plant

Maximizing production with a more efficient and reliable source of energy

Anheuser-Busch InBev | South Africa | 2016-2018

Cogeneration plant with a guaranteed efficiency of +88%

Zero LTI in 164,000 hours

Largest brewery in South Africa

Challenges

  • AB-InBev’s Rosslyn Brewery is the largest brewery in South Africa and is key to the company’s Southern Africa production targets.
  • Brewing is an energy intensive process requiring large quantities of both electricity and steam—a reliable source of energy is essential.
  • Ongoing load shedding was affecting their operations.
  • Full integration with the existing brewery was required in terms of steam, hot water, and electricity generation with minimal impact on production.
  • The project involved extensive brownfield work due to wide-ranging integration challenges.
  • The 850 m gas pipeline included a 120 m horizontal directional drilling (HDD) exercise near a rail line, two road crossings, and numerous water supply lines and fibre and electrical cables.

Solutions

  • We conducted an engineering study of options to provide both a source of in-house electrical generation while optimizing the brewery’s steam production process to ensure security of supply. The study identified attractive benefits if they installed a natural gas-fired combined-heat and power (CHP) plant.
  • Based on the outcome of the study, AB-InBev extended Hatch’s appointment to provide EPCM services to design, construction manage, and commission the entire CHP plant.
  • The installation of the CHP plant required the installation of a new, high-pressure, underground gas supply pipeline from the existing Sasol natural gas line to the brewery, a high-pressure metering station, the redesign of the electrical reticulation system to allow for a combined electrical feed from the municipality, the gas turbine generator, an additional diesel generator for black start scenarios, and future allowance for solar PV panels.
  • We designed the hot water recovery system, including the complex functional and control system.
  • We developed the specifications for the CHP plant (gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator), a new 35-bar natural gas pipeline, electrical switch gear, and construction packages.

Highlights

  • Capital investment will be paid off in less than four years.
  • Using a similar amount of natural gas that was used in the gas-fired boilers to generate 4 MW of electricity and the same amount of steam.
  • Implementation of the project provides AB-InBev with improved efficiency in reduced energy requirements.
  • Plant personnel was trained by Original Equipment Manufacturers to gain an understanding of the technologies and practical experience control and maintain the plant.

Project numbers

  • 8 principal contractors and CHP suppliers on site
  • 163,842 total project man-hours
  • 0 Lost Time Injury
  • 4 MW of electrical power using a gas turbine
  • 28.5 tonne/hour of saturated steam generated
  • 41 tonne/hour of hot water
  • 14 months of construction and commissioning work

Services provided

How we can help you

If you have a problem that needs to be solved, please get in touch.

Contact Us

Related Projects