6 A COLLABORATIVE ROAD TO PROJECT SUCCESS Heatric had worked with several of the partner organisations in the design of the thermal loop and to establish equipment sizing considerations even prior to the STEP Demo project’s call for suppliers of equipment. Subsequently, during the detailed design and implementation phases, collaborative working practices between Heatric, SwRI and GTI Energy were critical to addressing these challenges. This was despite the impact of COVID restrictions, which limited the opportunities for face-to-face discussions and work. The site was still being built, and the main equipment was in the delivery phase when the COVID global pandemic hit, which slowed down the project tremendously. Ultimately, though, the collaborative relationship was key to the success of this unique project. As a first-of-a-kind development, it is only when physical development starts that some of the issues that may not have been known or identified during the project definition stage emerged. It is at these most challenging times that the relationship is most important to be able to address those issues constructively. Sadly, many first-of-a-kind projects have historically failed and fallen by the wayside as they got closer to execution, but the foundation of a solid collaborative relationship between Heatric, GTI Energy and SwRI was there to help overcome these difficulties. The HTR was delivered in 2021, with electricity first produced mid-2024 and subsequently tested successfully in a simple cycle configuration, using the HTR and the main cooler and generating some 4 MWe net in late 2024. John Marion, Senior Director for Carbon Management & Conversion at GTI Energy, summarises the importance of the project success. “We are delighted with the project achievements to date. The STEP Demo facility is a driving force in power cycle technology development, establishing the groundwork for future sCO2 applications. GTI Energy is proud to be leading this collaboration enabling future low carbon power generation processes.” Commenting on the project, Dr. Tim Allison, director of SwRI’s Machinery Department, highlighted the pioneering nature of the technology and the role of close collaboration in achieving this remarkable energy sector breakthrough. “The success of phase 1 of STEP Demo is a major advancement of the commercial maturity of these transformative power systems which represents many technical firsts. Overcoming the challenges associated with the combination of operating temperatures and pressures while generating power highlights the tenacity and perseverance of STEP Demo’s engineering and project teams,” said Dr. Allison. Image 5 - The 10 MWe STEP Demo project in San Antonio, Texas, USA in 2023. In October 2024, the STEP Demo facility accomplished the phase 1 testing milestone: achieving full operational speed of its turbine at 27,000 RPM operating at 500°C. It generated 4 MWe net of grid synchronized power.
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