GE Vernova’s Power Generation Equipment Supports the Caribbean's Growing Economy

The Dominican Republic, one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America, is expanding its renewable power generation, switching out most of its oil-fired generation capacity to natural gas. GE Vernova announced in mid-December that it’s delivering its first H-Class gas turbine to the Caribbean’s Generadora San Felipe Ltd.’s 470-MW power plant station, San Felipe—located in Punta Caucedo, Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.

The power station has one multi-shaft generating block that will be equipped with GE Vernova’s 7HA.02 gas turbine coupled to an H65 generator, STF-A650 steam turbine coupled to an H35 generator, triple pressure with a reheat heat recovery steam generator, and a condenser.

Port in Punta Caucedo, Dominican Republic; image credit: Cifi

Turbomachinery International spoke with Carlos Mousadi, Regional Commercial Leader at GE Vernova, about the company’s involvement in this growing region and the San Felipe power station.

Turbo: How is it significant for GE Vernova (and the region) to deliver its power-generation equipment to the Caribbean area?

Mousadi: The Caribbean is an important region for GE Vernova Gas Power because our aeroderivative gas turbines provide critical frequency stability to the islands’ grids, allowing renewable penetration. Our larger turbines provide reliability, high-thermal efficiency, and low-cost power generation, allowing economic growth.

Turbo: What are the differences (realized or anticipated) in delivering and operating power-generation equipment to this region versus other regions?

Mousadi: The Caribbean has several smaller grids (< 250 MW) that are sensitive to renewable penetration; therefore, GE Vernova Gas Power carefully selects and offers power-generation equipment applicable to the grids’ current and future needs/considerations of stability and quality of each kW/hr required for social and economic development.

Turbo: Does GE Vernova have other plans to expand its supply in the Caribbean?

Mousadi: GE Vernova Gas Power is working to improve our support and collaborative efforts in the Caribbean area.

Turbo: What additional details can you offer regarding the expectation that the San Felipe power will be among the most efficient power plants in the Caribbean? What engineering advancements are making this possible?

Mousadi: The San Felipe power plant, which is being constructed near Santo Domingo, features our 7HA.02 gas turbine in a 1x1 configuration with an Engineered Equipment Package provided by GE Vernova. This power plant will have the lowest emission per kW generated among all thermal power, and it will be capable of providing ancillary services, such as fast ramp, to stabilize the grid against sizable frequency changes and low turn down with high efficiency among other ancillary services.

Turbo: Are there plans to install post-combustion carbon capture systems at this plant, or plans to run GE Vernova’s HA gas turbine on various fuels, such as blends of hydrogen and natural gas?

Mousadi: At this moment there is no plan to install a carbon-capture system at this plant because the location does not have the geological makeup to do so. The 7HA.02 can operate with 20% hydrogen content with a path toward 100% in the future. Additional modification might be required for the power plant to receive, store, and handle hydrogen before entering the gas turbine.