Mitsubishi Power completes 5,300MW combined cycle power plant in Thailand
Mitsubishi Power has completed construction of the eighth and final M701JAC unit of a 5,300MW natural gas-fired power plant project in Thailand.
The multi-phase project features two gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) plants in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces with a total installed capacity of 5,300MW.
Each plant is equipped with four M701JAC gas turbines, steam turbines, and heat recovery steam generators.
The project was awarded in 2018 to a joint venture between Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited and Mitsui & Co and successfully started commercial operations on 1 October 2024.
The project’s first phase at the Chonburi power plant was fully completed in October 2022 and on 1 October 2024, the first seven units installed in Chonburi and Rayong collectively logged 100,000 operating hours (AOH).
Takao Tsukui, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Power, Ltd. commented on the project milestone: “Having overcome challenging circumstances, including COVID-19, we completed each of the remaining units every 6 months. Today, all units are fully operational on schedule – a testament to the unwavering collaboration of everyone involved, and a milestone we take immense pride in.
“As our first JAC gas turbine project in Southeast Asia, the GTCC plants in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces set the stage for contracting over 90 JAC gas turbines globally. We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and are committed to ensuring the continued success of this project through our long-term service agreement.”
Mitsubishi Power will maintain the plants under a 25-year service agreement. Furthermore, a 25-year power purchase agreement has been signed with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).
The Chonburi and Rayong Provinces are technology manufacturing hubs with high energy demand. The power plants will help to meet the growing energy demand in the region, according to Mitsubishi, and the use of the M701JAC gas turbines will help decarbonise the energy mix and provide 64% power generation efficiency.
Mitsubishi Power operates several large-scale gas turbine installations in Thailand including GTCC plants at Nong Saeng and U Thai, which began commercial operations in 2014 and 2015, respectively. In 2020, Mitsubishi Power also secured an order from Hin Kong Power Company Limited for a GTCC plant comprising two M701JAC gas turbines.
The Chonburi power plant received the ‘Power Plant of the Year’ award at the Power and Energy Awards presented during Enlit Asia 2023. Enlit Asia is taking place 8-10 October at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Source: https://www.powerengineeringint.com/gas-oil-fired/mitsubishi-power-completes-5300mw-combined-cycle-power-plant-in-thailand/
