GE Vernova to Supply 7HA.02 Gas Turbine for Coal-Fired Plant Conversion

GE Vernova’s Gas Power division received an order from Korea Western Power (KOWEPO) to provide a 7HA.02 gas turbine and H65 generator for KOWEPO’s power station in the Republic of Korea. The plant’s coal-fired power will be replaced with natural gas power generation and is expected to reach an output of 500 MW, while allowing a future fuel mix combustion of up to 30% by volume of hydrogen with natural gas. This hydrogen integration is subject to the development of a hydrogen manufacturing industry of an applicable size and scale.

“In a country with an increasing power demand due to planned coal-fired power plant retirements, we are proud to support a lower-carbon future in Korea,” said Ramesh Singaram, President and CEO GE Vernova’s Gas Power in Asia. “We are committed to providing KOWEPO with our advanced gas turbine technology to accelerate coal phase-out and support an increase in the share of renewables as we work towards lower-carbon gas-based power generation with hydrogen. Once in operation, Gongju-si power plant is expected to be among the most efficient and flexible power plants in the country.”

KOWEPO’s power station is scheduled to begin operation in 2027 and, using GE Vernova’s HA-class turbine, the switch from coal to a gas equivalent can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 60%. The 7HA.02 replacement can also lower emissions levels for other pollutants like mercury, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter. GE Vernova and Daewoo E&C are part of an international consortium for the coal conversion project.

7HA.02 gas turbine; Image Credits: GE Vernova

“This power plant will add new capacity, expected to increase power supply security in South Korea while continuing to phase out coal power generation. In addition, it will help expand a more reliable deployment of renewable energy resources in our country as we’ll be more capable to dispatch power quickly in response to grid fluctuations,” said a representative from KOWEPO. “The new power plant will be capable to operate on up to 30% hydrogen by volume, in line with the national goal to deploy renewables and green hydrogen at large scale and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

In January 2024, GE Vernova performed upgrades on four 9F.03 gas turbines at the 2 GW Sabiya combined-cycle power plant in Kuwait. The upgrades are expected to increase the power plant’s block output by up to 6.3% and reduce heat rate by as much as 1.8%, which will lead to a combined increase in power production of up to 70 MW. GE Vernova provided advanced gas path upgrades for the 9F.03 turbines in blocks 2 and 3 of the Sabiya plant and will provide supply and maintenance services for seven years.

The company also deployed its dual-fuel capabilities for natural gas and hydrogen at the Tallawarra B power station in New South Wales, Australia. EnergyAustralia’s station began operation in February 2024, delivering up to 320 MW of dispatchable power with the help of GE Vernova’s 9F.05 gas turbine. Following the closure of the Liddell coal-fired 1,680 MW plant located in the Hunter Valley region in April 2023, the Tallawarra B plant will deliver capacity to partially replace energy that is no longer produced by the former coal plant.