ENERGY PROGRAMME REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

Transcription

1 ENERGY PROGRAMME REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SEMBCORP-EMA ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP Research Areas 1. Directed Call for Proposals on Innovations in robotics and automation technologies to enable unmanned, autonomous, and remote inspection of service corridor pipelines in Jurong Island. RFP Number EPO RFP 1 2. Directed Call for Proposals on Innovations to maximise the utilisation of low grade waste heat in a multi-utilities facility. Category Open Date for Full Proposal Submission Directed Call 8 February April 2017, by 1200 hrs (noon) (UTC +08:00) Closing Date for Full Proposal Submission Proposals and all accompanying attachments MUST be submitted in PDF format via the RITA website ( by 1200 hrs (noon) Singapore Time (UTC +08:00) of the stipulated date. Contact (For proposal submission) Energy Programme Office (EPO) c/o: Energy Market Authority 991G Alexandra Road #02-29 Singapore Other Instructions For more information, please refer to: Energy Programme Office 1 of 13

2 CALL FOR PROPOSALS: SEMBCORP-EMA ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP Background 1. The SEETP is a dedicated industry receptacle in the energy sector that encourages the translation of ideas from the laboratory to market, and addresses a current gap where the potential of promising technologies is often not exploited beyond the research and development (R&D) stage. 2. The grant calls under the partnership aim to catalyse the development and encourage the commercialisation of innovative R&D solutions that address Singapore s energy challenges and needs, as well as strengthen the overall energy R&D capabilities for Sembcorp and its partners. 3. Technological advancements over the years have enabled our utilities to support Singapore s economic growth. While Singapore today has one of the world s most stable and reliable power systems 1, this cannot be taken for granted. Issues on reliability, availability and efficiency still remain top priorities for Singapore, as well as critical infrastructure, such as our utilities. As a strong advocate for technology and innovation, and a leading utility company in Singapore, Sembcorp is committed to addressing these priorities through applied R&D. 4. Successful grantees of the grant call would have the opportunity to develop their technologies in close partnership with Sembcorp. They will also be able to leverage Sembcorp s extensive facilities to test-bed their technologies, as well as its comprehensive network to take their technologies a step closer towards commercialisation. Scope of Grant Call 5. The EPO invites submission of Full Proposals for R&D projects that will enhance the resilience of our power system and energy efficiency of utilities. Submitted proposals shall be in any one of the following 2 domain areas: i. Domain A: Robotics and automation technologies to enable unmanned, autonomous, and remote inspection of service corridor pipelines in Jurong Island a. The Service Corridor is a designated space in Jurong Island where transmission pipelines of different sizes and configurations are located. These pipelines are connected to different companies throughout the island and are used to transport vital chemical feedstock, products (comprising liquids and 1 According to a 2014 benchmark study by independent consultant DNV GL, Singapore topped 25 global cities in network performance. Energy Programme Office 2 of 13

3 gases) and utilities (steam and cooling water). The contents in the pipelines can be flammable and toxic. Figure 1: Sections of pipe racks and bridges at the service corridor. No reproduction of these pictures, in any form, is allowed without the expressed permission of Sembcorp Industries Ltd. b. The corridor consists of more than 200 pipelines, spanning 25 km in total distance and rising 20 m above the ground in some areas. The pipelines are mainly made of carbon steel, fibre-reinforced plastics and stainless steel. The diameters of the pipes range from ¾ to 74 inches. The space between two side-to-side pipes ranges from 100 mm to 600 mm, depending on pipe size. c. The pipelines are supported by structural beams made of carbon steel. The ends of the individual beams measure (4 to 24 inches) by (8 to 36 inches). The distance between pipe bridges (marked a in Figure 2) is 9 m along the length of the corridor, while the width between the two vertical beams (marked b in Figure 2) ranges from 3 to 8 m. The clearance height between the tiers (marked c in Figure 2) ranges from 2 to 4 m. Energy Programme Office 3 of 13

4 a b c Figure 2: A typical configuration of beams for pipe racks along service corridor. No reproduction of the picture, in any form, is allowed without the expressed permission of Sembcorp Industries Ltd. Challenges d. To ensure that the service corridor operates with a high degree of reliability and safety, the pipelines along the entire length of the corridor have to be routinely inspected. The routine tasks to be undertaken on the pipelines include: Leak detection Visual inspection Leak Detection e. Currently, leak detections along pipelines are done on ad hoc basis, manually by personnel with a handheld device. Due to the sheer size and complexity of the service corridor, there is currently no practical method of locating pipeline leaks effectively and in a timely manner. This is especially true for pinhole-sized leaks (Figure 3) that may be located at the upper tiers of the pipe racks or in tight spaces between adjacent pipes. Undetected leaks of gases and liquids could lead to disastrous consequences. Energy Programme Office 4 of 13

5 Figure 3: Pinhole-sized leaks along the pipelines. No reproduction of the picture, in any form, is allowed without the expressed permission of Sembcorp Industries Ltd. Visual Inspections f. Visual inspections are carried out to spot for damage, corrosion and other structural anomalies in the pipelines. However, visual inspections are generally limited to pipes located nearer to the ground. To inspect upper tiers of the service corridor (Figure 4), additional equipment is necessary in the form of scaffolding, using a boom lift or installing permanent platforms for personnel access. g. Scaffoldings have to be erected and dismantled in stages when carrying out visual inspections along the service corridor. This is a labour-intensive, costly and time-consuming endeavour. h. As assets age, there is a greater imperative to assess the structural integrity of pipelines on a more regular basis. Due to the compact arrangement of the pipelines, it is challenging to conduct visual inspections for two critical areas. These include (i) the areas between adjacent pipelines and (ii) the areas between the pipelines and the supporting pipe racks. Energy Programme Office 5 of 13

6 Figure 4: Upper tiers of the service corridor. No reproduction of the picture, in any form, is allowed without the expressed permission of Sembcorp Industries Ltd. Desired Deliverables i. Innovation is required to overcome the limitations of leak detection and visual inspection as described in the preceding section. The proposed solution should aim for 100% inspection coverage of all exposed pipe surfaces. The inspection of the entire service corridor should be completed in less than a year. j. The proposed solution could comprise but is not limited to the following components: An unmanned, robotic, autonomous and remote device which can be deployed round the clock, can carry different payloads (e.g. weight of sensors) for different jobs, and able to gain access to various parts of the service corridor not usually accessible by humans (e.g. the critical areas as described in (h)). Imaging or sensing devices which can detect leaks (both liquids and gases) and slight changes in physical properties of pipes that would otherwise be undetected using the human eye. Data processors which can perform pattern recognition to assist users to carry out online and/or offline analysis of information transmitted from the sensors. k. Jurong Island s status as a Protected Area should be incorporated as a design factor in the proposed solution. For example, an in-situ solution confining its application within the domain of the service corridor would be preferred. Energy Programme Office 6 of 13

7 l. Alternative solutions that are able to perform the tasks required for the service corridor could be considered. Intrusive solutions that require access into the pipelines, such as pigging, will not be considered. m. An implementation plan of the proposed solution across the entire 25km of the service corridor shall be included in the proposal, along with an economic feasibility analysis that clearly demonstrates the potential commercial viability and economic advantage of the proposed solution over the current inspection method. Test-bed Opportunity n. Grantees are expected to test and demonstrate their prototype solutions using selected sections of the existing service corridor in Jurong Island. ii. Domain B: Maximising the utilisation of low grade waste heat in a multiutilities facility a. Sembcorp Utilities (SCU) is a centralised utility provider in Jurong Island, Singapore. The facility includes utilities and services such as power, steam, process water, fire water, demineralised water (DMW), seawater, cooling water, chilled water, waste water treatment, service corridor, storage and terminalling facilities. b. Figure 5 shows a schematic of the heat exchange process within the facility. Figure 5: Schematic of the heat exchange process in SCU Energy Programme Office 7 of 13

8 c. Steam from SCU is distributed to various customers via pipelines along the service corridor and subsequently returned as steam condensate to SCU for polishing. Steam condensate at 105 C 110 C is sent to the Stage I Condensate Cooler where it is cooled using DMW in a heat exchange process before it is transferred to a condensate tank for storage. Steam condensate in the condensate tank is then sent to the Stage II Condensate Cooler for further heat exchange with DMW. Steam condensate coming out of the Stage II Condensate Cooler, at 55 C 60 C, is too hot and will damage the resins in the Demineralisation (DM) Plant. Therefore, seawater is used to cool the steam condensate from 55 C 60 C to 35 C 40 C before the steam condensate is fed into the DM plant for polishing. d. The hot DMW exiting from both Condensate Coolers, at 70 C 75 C, is combined and supplied as feedwater to User 1. The remaining cold DMW at 35 C 40 C is supplied to User 2. Challenges e. The current heat recovery system, comprising the Condensate Coolers, cooling process using seawater and other ancillary equipment, is not ideal as a significant amount of heat is dumped into seawater. For the same reason of energy wastage, replacing the Condensate Coolers with off-the-shelf Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems or adsorption chillers with cooling requirements are not desirable for the SCU facility. f. The challenge for this project is to develop innovative low grade heat recovery solutions to (i) maximise the utilisation of low grade waste heat; and (ii) convert low grade waste heat to useful resources such as electricity and chilled water, which could be supplied to SCU s customers. To achieve both (i) and (ii), the proposed solution could potentially be implemented alongside or replace part of the current heat recovery system. Desired Deliverables g. Innovation is required to maximise the utilisation of the low grade waste heat, and at the same time, to generate income from the conversion of low grade waste heat to resources such as, but not limited to, electricity and chilled water. h. The proposed solution should be developed into a demonstration plant setup that is able to address the following operational challenges and requirements: Energy Programme Office 8 of 13

9 The temperature of the hot steam condensate going into the DM plant should not exceed the design temperature of 40 C. The temperature of the hot DMW supply to User 1 should be maintained between 70 C to 75 C. The proposed solution should accommodate three sets of operating flow rates 2 in the facility, as shown in Table 1. Table 1: Various flow rates in the SCU facility Flow Rate F1 Flow Rate F2 Flow Rate F3 Flow Rate F4 Set (steam condensate from customers) (tph) (DMW supply to Users 1 and 2) (tph) (DMW supply to User 2) (tph) (DMW supply to User 1) (tph) ± ± Due to limited space in the SCU facility, the proposed low grade heat recovery system should not exceed 12 m in length and 6 m in width. There is no height restriction. i. An economic feasibility analysis that clearly demonstrates the potential commercial viability and economic advantage of the proposed solution over the current heat recovery method and other conventional low grade heat recovery technologies shall be included in the proposal. Test-bed Opportunity j. Grantees are expected to test and demonstrate their prototype solutions at the SCU facility. 2 Operating flow rates vary according to the supply of steam condensate and demand for DMW. For example, flow rate of steam condensate may be significantly reduced during shutdowns of customers plants. Energy Programme Office 9 of 13

10 Eligibility, Funding Support and Other Important Information 6. This grant call is open to Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), Research Institutes (RIs), not-for-profit organisations and private sector companies. Research consortia comprising the above organisations are permitted. While it is not mandatory for this RFP, research consortia are encouraged to include or work with local enterprises to help build local capabilities and partnerships. 7. Proposals shall not be funded or be currently considered for funding by other agencies. 8. Funding awarded cannot be used to support overseas R&D activities. All funding awarded must be used to carry out the research activities in Singapore. 9. IHLs, RIs and not-for-profit organisations will qualify for up to 100% funding support of approved direct qualifying costs of a project. Private sector companies will qualify for up to 70% of funding support of the approved direct qualifying costs of a project. Only IHLs, RIs and not-for-profit entities would be allowed support for indirect costs (i.e. up to 20% of qualifying costs as Overheads). 10. Budget for the entire project shall be broken down into the following broad categories, mainly: (a) expenditure on manpower (EOM); (b) equipment; (c) other operating expenditure (OOE); (d) overseas travel, and (e) research scholarship. Please refer to Annex A for the list of supportable costs when proposing the project budget. 11. Projects may include research collaborations with local or overseas organisations. However, contracting out the whole or substantial part of the research work is not permitted. 12. Collaborators are not permitted to receive, directly or indirectly, any part of the funding, whether in cash or in the form of assets acquired using the funding or otherwise. All assets acquired using the funding must be located in Singapore and maintained within the control of the grantees. 13. The project duration, including test-bedding, completion of the final report and all related project activities, shall not exceed 2 years. The proposed project schedule must be realistic, allowing sufficient time for the preparation of final report and for the review of project results. 14. All Foreground Intellectual Property (i.e. IP arising from the awarded projects) will vest in the grantees and Sembcorp in a manner to be mutually agreed between the grantees and Sembcorp. Energy Programme Office 10 of 13

11 15. The Government and public sector agencies shall reserve a non-exclusive, nontransferable, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free right and licence to use, modify, reproduce and distribute the Foreground IP for non-commercial, R&D and/or educational purposes only. Assessment Criteria 16. Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria: i. High-technical-merit research and innovation that is novel, internationally competitive, directly addresses the identified challenge(s), and can lead to breakthrough results; ii. iii. iv. Strong and clear demonstration of potential commercial viability and economic advantage of the proposed solution over existing technologies and practices; Economic benefits to Singapore in terms of capabilities and manpower development, as well as commercialisation spin-offs; Excellent execution by an experienced research team with a good track record and whose members have the relevant and complementary expertise. Application and Evaluation Process 17. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is a single Full Proposal stage. 18. The Principal Investigator (PI) should first submit an electronic application on Research, Innovation and Technology Administration (RITA) system. PI is required to sign up for a RITA UserID if PI does not already have one. It is necessary for Co- Investigators (Co-Is) and Collaborators to sign up for a RITA UserID. Please refer to the NRF - Researcher User Guide that is available at the grant call RITA site for more information. 19. Applicants are required to (i) fill up the online RITA application, and (ii) attach the completed Full Proposal using the template provided in the RITA site and the required supporting documents (all attachments MUST be submitted in PDF format). Separate submissions outside of RITA will not be considered. 20. The Full Proposal shall be up to 20 pages in minimum size 11-point font with reasonable margins, describing the research programme being proposed using the given template, and shall be submitted in PDF format. Energy Programme Office 11 of 13

12 21. Only CVs (2 pages per PI, co-i or Collaborator in the format specified in the Application Form) and references (up to 2 pages per Proposal) may be attached as supporting documents that will not be subjected to the 20-page limit. 22. The Full Proposals will be assessed by International Peer Reviewers, and subsequently evaluated by a Project Evaluation Panel (PEP). Submission 23. Full Proposals must be lodged in the RITA system and endorsed by the Director of Research (or equivalent) of the PI s host institution by the deadline for online submissions on 10 April 2017, 1200 hrs (noon), Singapore Time (UTC +08:00). Once PIs have submitted their documents online, their applications will be routed to the Director of Research (or equivalent) of their respective host institution for online endorsement. This online endorsement will constitute an electronic signature of the undertaking required in Section 4 of the RITA application form by the host institution. 24. Applications are only considered as complete after the RITA application form with the relevant attachments are submitted by the specified deadline and the online endorsement by the respective Director of Research (or equivalent) is completed on RITA. In addition, two hardcopies of the proposals must be submitted to EPO. EPO will not entertain any submissions after the specified call deadline or any requests to extend the endorsement deadline. Result 25. Successful Full Proposals which are accepted and approved by EPO will be notified by Q Awarded projects will commence thereafter. Energy Programme Office 12 of 13

13 Site Visits 26. Interested applicants for the grant call are invited to attend a site visit to Sembcorp s facilities on Jurong Island for each of the two domain areas of the RFP. Attendance is not compulsory for the participation in the grant call. Please register your interest for the site visit by sending an (indicating the domain area) to EMA_EnergyR&D@ema.gov.sg by 15 Feb 2017, 2359 hrs, Singapore Time (UTC +08:00). Places are limited, and registration will be accepted on a first-come-firstserve basis. Domain Date/Time Venue Domain A: Robotics and automation technologies to enable unmanned, autonomous, and remote inspection of service corridor pipelines in Jurong Island Domain B: Maximising the utilisation of low grade waste heat in a multi-utilities facility 21 Feb pm 21 Feb pm Sembcorp Utilities, 51 Sakra Avenue, Jurong Island, S ~ End ~ Energy Programme Office 13 of 13

14 GUIDE ON PROJECT COST ITEMS Annex A Non-Fundable Direct Costs Type of Expenses Description Expenditure on Manpower (EOM) Related Expenses General policy The general principle is that grants should support EOM costs and related benefits (as per employment contract) as long as it is in line with the consistently applied Host Institution 3 s HR policies. This will extend to Host Institution policies that govern staff recruitment and related costs (e.g. costs associated with the onboarding of staff, staff insurance, overtime claims, staff relocation, employment benefits, employment levy, employment pass, pre-examination medical check-up and housing allowance.) All Manpower related costs that fall under Other Operating Costs (OOE) should be accurately reflected in the Budget. Fractional charging for staff costs based on time commitment to the project must be practised. Principal Investigator/ Co-Investigators EOM cost Unconsumed leave Student Assistants/Interns Not allowable. Provision for unconsumed leave is not allowable. Not allowable for students who are recipients of existing awards (or stipends) or students who are not residents of Singapore. Only full-time students enrolled in local institutes of higher learning qualify to be supported as a student assistant/intern. 3 The institution named in the Letter of Award as the body responsible for undertaking and managing the Project Energy Programme Office A-1

15 Type of Expenses Description Equipment Related Expenses General policy No purchase of equipment is allowed unless specifically provided for in the grant approved by EPO. The procurement of such equipment must be made according to the formal established and consistently applied policies of the Host Institution. The invoices for all claims must be dated before the end of the qualifying period. Cost of capital works, general infrastructure, general purpose IT and communication equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fittings Not allowable under direct costs, unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by NRF. Examples of such costs are computers, office productivity software, PDAs, mobile phones, photocopier machines, workstations, printers, etc. Type of Expenses Description Other Operating Expenses (OOE) Related Expenses General policy Not allowable for expenses that are not directly related to the project. All procurement of such items must be made according to the formal established and consistently applied policies of the Host Institution. Visiting Professors/Experts Audit fees Entertainment & Refreshment Fines and Penalties Legal Fees Overhead Expenses Patent Application Not allowable unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by EPO. The visiting professor must be identified and his/her contribution to the project must be clearly defined and described in the proposal. Not allowable. This includes both internal and external audit fees. Not allowable. Not allowable. Not allowable. Not allowable unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by EPO based on the nature of the research. This includes rental, utilities, facilities management, telephone charges, internet charges, etc. Not allowable. This includes patent application filing, maintenance and other related cost. Energy Programme Office A-2

16 Professional Membership Fees Software Professional fees (including fees to consultants) Staff retreat Not allowable. This applies to Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators as well as all research staff funded from the grant. Not allowable under direct cost unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by EPO. Not allowable unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by the EPO. Not allowed. Type of Expenses Description Overseas Travel Related Expenses General policy Not allowable unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by EPO. Conference participation should be directly relevant to the research area outlined in the project and necessary to accomplish project objectives. All travel must align to the existing and consistently applied Institutions travel policies regardless of the source of funds. Type of Expenses Description Research Scholarship General policy Not allowable unless specifically provided for in the grant and approved by EPO. Postgraduate stipend must align with the prevailing rates set by the Ministry of Education. Postgraduate stipend and tuition support will not attract indirect costs. Undergraduate stipend and tuition support Not allowable. Energy Programme Office A-3