GE Announces Multiple Plant Openings

GE has announced commercial operation of two power plants as well as a large order for another facility.

TECO

Tampa Electric Company (TECO) announced the recent start of commercial operation for its Big Bend Units 5 & 6, at Apollo Beach, Florida, powered by two GE 7HA.02 gas turbines and two GE H65 generators. The plant is powered by two GE 7HA.02 gas turbines, which can burn between 15-20% hydrogen by volume in the gas stream initially and is expected to have the capability to transition to 100% hydrogen over the next decade.

The 1,090-megawatt (MW) power plant will replace existing 50-year-old coal-fired units at the site. Wwitching to natural gas will help reduce Big Bend Power Station's CO2 emissions per MWh of electricity generated, by 67% and lower emissions levels for other pollutants such as mercury, NOx, SOx and particulate matter.

Initially, Big Bend’s new units will operate in simple cycle mode, with combined-cycle operation targeted in late 2022. In addition, GE’s integrated Mark* VIe control system will provide gas turbine generator control and performance visibility, and data collected from sensors throughout the facility will be monitored and analyzed 24/7 at GE’s Monitoring & Diagnostics (M&D) Center in Atlanta, GA.

“Coal-to-gas switching by retiring existing coal-fired capacity and replacing it with new, high efficiency combined cycle capacity offers good potential to combat climate change, and we are honored to support our customers like TECO in this transition,” said Eric Gray, President of GE Gas Power in the Americas region. “We look forward to the refurbishment of the existing coal-fired steam turbine to complete the modernization of the site next year. The project will increase operational efficiency and help TECO by using less water, producing less wastewater and reducing carbon emissions.”

Malaysian plant

Edra Energy announced the start of commercial operation for a power plant in Alor Gajah, Malacca, Malaysia. It adds 2.2 gigawatts (GW) and consists of three generating blocks capable of generating over 745 MW per block, each including a GE 9HA.02 gas turbine, a STF-D650 steam turbine, a W88 generator and a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG). A Mark* VIe control system will provide gas turbine generator control and performance visibility and GE Digital’s asset performance management (APM) suite. In addition, as part of the multiyear services agreement, the power generation equipment at Alor Gajah is part of the fleet monitored by GE’s Monitoring & Diagnostics (M&D) Center in Kuala Lumpur.

Taiwan order

GE announced an order from Taiwan Power Company (TPC) for six LM2500XPRESS gas turbine packages that can quickly bridge the power gap during blackouts, or energy shortages. TPC’s 175 megawatt (MW) Tung Hsiao Power Plant Renewal Project gas plant is expected to be built by GE in less than 10 months from the order, with a targeted official dispatch date expected before December 31, 2022. It is 95% factory assembled into modules.

Each package comprises a GE LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine and emissions control system, which can start in 5 minutes or less. They will be assembled at GE Gas Power’s Manufacturing Excellence Center in Veresegyhaz, Hungary.