Gas turbine project underway

Verve Energy has awarded contracts for the supply, construction and commissioning of two 100MW high efficiency gas turbines (HEGT).

The State Government announced the $263 million project in May 2009 as part of the strategy to help maintain a secure supply of electricity in WA as demand for power continued to grow.

General Electric will supply the two LMS100 gas turbines, while United Group Ltd was awarded the integrated works contract for the installation and commissioning of the machines and the supply and installation of balance of plant equipment.

The state of the art HEGTs will be built at Kwinana Power Station where the boilers and stack of two 1970s thermal generating units are being demolished to make way for the new equipment.

Construction is scheduled to commence in April 2010 and the new plant will be operating before the 2011/12 summer.

The first to be installed in Australia, the HEGTs combine efficiency with flexible operating capabilities and begin the process of transforming Verve Energy’s ageing portfolio.

Their features include:

Efficiency of up to 44%;
Improved efficiency ensures better use of the gas and lowering the carbon intensity of Verve Energy’s generation portfolio;
Lower CO2 and NOx emissions and heat load into Cockburn Sound;
Fast-start capability (10 minutes to full load);
Dual fuel capability (gas and liquid fuel) which provides flexibility;
Suitable for the mid merit and peaking role required of Verve Energy to fulfil its balancing services (particularly in the face of increasing wind penetration);
Multiple stop-start operations without maintenance penalties on the plant; and
Exceptional hot-day performance.

CONTACT REFERENCE: PETER WINNER 9424 1977

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