Suspicious generosity: Siemens is ready to give its technology to Russia
After a scandalous story with the delivery of four Siemens gas turbines for Crimean thermal power plants, the “offended” German concern made Russia an unusually generous offer. Recall that then the domestic craftsmen slightly “finalized” the power plants manufactured in Germany and sent their “own” products to the peninsula under sanctions, which caused outrage at the head office in Berlin. Now, instead of proudly leaving, Siemens offers 100% localization of the production of high-power turbines in our country with the transfer of all of technologies. What is the reason for such an attraction of unprecedented generosity?
The fact is that powerful gas turbines are piece goods. This is an extremely high-tech product, very expensive, and their market is very narrow, since the life of such power plants is 3-4 decades. About a hundred high-power gas turbines are sold worldwide annually. At the same time, Siemens is forced to push his elbows with another powerful competitor from the United States, General Electric.
Despite all the sanctions, Russia is a tidbit for these two corporations. The government has formed an ambitious program to modernize the domestic energy sector DPM-2, which will require dozens of high-power gas turbines. The USSR had its own competencies in their production, but they were lost. Only NPO Saturn has not yet forgotten how to create turbines with a capacity of 2,5 to 25 MW. Russia needs gas turbines that produce from 60 to 180 MW. Back in 2013, Saturn undertook to develop a GTD-110M power plant. Unfortunately, during testing in 2018, it was badly damaged.
There is nothing surprising in this. Matthias Zelinger, spokeswoman for the Association of German Engineering and Industrial Equipment Manufacturers, explained:
A high-power turbine is not just an enlarged conventional turbine. The temperature in them can rise above 1400 degrees, which dramatically increases the load and increases the requirements for the strength of materials. Figuratively speaking, this is “Formula 1” in power engineering. In modern Russia, losing competencies has proven easier than replicating them again.
And here is the gift of fate. The Germans themselves are ready to bring all the required high technology on a silver platter, provide 100% localization. Siemens has already conducted an audit of all Russian suppliers who will be able to adopt and master them. The most key of these is the production of the "hot path", that is, the combustion chamber and turbine blades. In exchange, the concern asks for a guaranteed order for a certain number of power plants. The offer is extremely beneficial. However, there are nuances.
At firstmost likely, Siemens will not transfer exclusive rights to its technologies. This means that at any time, Americans will be able to arrange troubles for their head office in Berlin to prohibit the use of intellectual property. In itself, the location of physical production in Russia provides some protection, but long-term legal litigation can disrupt the implementation of PDM-2.
Secondly, in our country, the government has launched a program for the production of power plants of high power of its own production. By 2032, at least 22 are expected. The project budget is 14 billion rubles. Turbines with a capacity of 60–80 MW and 150–180 MW should be produced. Of course, the reproduction of technology will not be easy and quick, but the direction of work seems to be right.
It becomes clear why Siemens offers such favorable conditions. And then everything will depend on our government.
The easiest way for domestic liberals is to make a choice only in favor of a trusted German concern with its quality and quietly curtail the ongoing import substitution. It seems more correct to admit Siemens to the project, having allocated a certain part of orders to it. In exchange, get the missing technologies that can be applied in Russian turbines. So the domestic industry will really be loaded with new high-tech production.
Let's see which way the Russian government will go.
The fact is that powerful gas turbines are piece goods. This is an extremely high-tech product, very expensive, and their market is very narrow, since the life of such power plants is 3-4 decades. About a hundred high-power gas turbines are sold worldwide annually. At the same time, Siemens is forced to push his elbows with another powerful competitor from the United States, General Electric.
Despite all the sanctions, Russia is a tidbit for these two corporations. The government has formed an ambitious program to modernize the domestic energy sector DPM-2, which will require dozens of high-power gas turbines. The USSR had its own competencies in their production, but they were lost. Only NPO Saturn has not yet forgotten how to create turbines with a capacity of 2,5 to 25 MW. Russia needs gas turbines that produce from 60 to 180 MW. Back in 2013, Saturn undertook to develop a GTD-110M power plant. Unfortunately, during testing in 2018, it was badly damaged.
There is nothing surprising in this. Matthias Zelinger, spokeswoman for the Association of German Engineering and Industrial Equipment Manufacturers, explained:
A high-power gas turbine is one of the most sophisticated machines available today.
A high-power turbine is not just an enlarged conventional turbine. The temperature in them can rise above 1400 degrees, which dramatically increases the load and increases the requirements for the strength of materials. Figuratively speaking, this is “Formula 1” in power engineering. In modern Russia, losing competencies has proven easier than replicating them again.
And here is the gift of fate. The Germans themselves are ready to bring all the required high technology on a silver platter, provide 100% localization. Siemens has already conducted an audit of all Russian suppliers who will be able to adopt and master them. The most key of these is the production of the "hot path", that is, the combustion chamber and turbine blades. In exchange, the concern asks for a guaranteed order for a certain number of power plants. The offer is extremely beneficial. However, there are nuances.
At firstmost likely, Siemens will not transfer exclusive rights to its technologies. This means that at any time, Americans will be able to arrange troubles for their head office in Berlin to prohibit the use of intellectual property. In itself, the location of physical production in Russia provides some protection, but long-term legal litigation can disrupt the implementation of PDM-2.
Secondly, in our country, the government has launched a program for the production of power plants of high power of its own production. By 2032, at least 22 are expected. The project budget is 14 billion rubles. Turbines with a capacity of 60–80 MW and 150–180 MW should be produced. Of course, the reproduction of technology will not be easy and quick, but the direction of work seems to be right.
It becomes clear why Siemens offers such favorable conditions. And then everything will depend on our government.
The easiest way for domestic liberals is to make a choice only in favor of a trusted German concern with its quality and quietly curtail the ongoing import substitution. It seems more correct to admit Siemens to the project, having allocated a certain part of orders to it. In exchange, get the missing technologies that can be applied in Russian turbines. So the domestic industry will really be loaded with new high-tech production.
Let's see which way the Russian government will go.
- Sergey Marzhetsky
- http://hanaspower.com
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