On 7 November GE Vernova announced the start of commercial operation for Tongyeong Eco Power’s Tongyeong combined cycle power plant in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The new 1 GW LNG-fuelled plant site, which includes a 200 000 cubic metre LNG storage tank, is located at Anjeong Industrial Park in Tongyeong City.
For the project, GE Vernova provided two 7HA.02 gas turbines, one STF-D600 steam turbine, two heat recovery steam generators and three H65 generators. GE is also expected to provide maintenance services for the 7HA.02 gas turbines and generators for the next 17 years.
South Korea’s largest utilities are turning from coal-burning power plants to liquefied natural gas, which can help deliver power on demand and support the development of renewable energy resources like wind and solar. Two other major power projects in South Korea are also using HA gas turbines from GE to help progress towards the environmental goals laid out in the country’s energy commitments. These are Naepo Green Energy’s new district heating plant in the centre of Naepo City, about 65 miles south of the capital Seoul (GE 7HA.02 gas turbine), and the Shinsejong combined cycle power plant (GE 7HA.03 GT) owned by Korea Southern Power Co. a unit of the national utility Korea Electric Power Corp, has recently started operations.
GE Vernova claims that its HA gas turbines can save over 3.3 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, per unit, compared to an average coal-fired plant of the same size. GE simulations suggested that H-class units in South Korea could reduce carbon emission intensity of the fossil fleet per kilowatt hour more than three-fold over current levels if coal plants were retired and more advanced technology was deployed in the country.
GE’s HA gas turbines have accumulated more than 2.5 million commercial operating hours in all, and are believed to be the fastest growing fleet in the heavy-duty gas turbine H-class segment.
