Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc. (MHPSA) has received an order from Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, for the supply of three M501J gas turbines. Subject to approval of the project by the State Corporation Commission, these turbines are likely to be installed at VEPCO’s Greensville County Power Station.
The three gas turbines will be manufactured and assembled at MHPSA’s Savannah Machinery Works (Savannah, Georgia) to support a project completion date of year end 2018. The new gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plant combines the output of the three, highly efficient M501J gas turbines with a steam turbine resulting in the GTCC block. Utilizing low cost natural gas, the plant is expected to produce an output of approximately 1600MW, which can power over 400,000 homes.
The M501J is said to be the most efficient large frame gas turbine in commercial operation with 17 turbines accumulating over 126,000 operating hours for six different owners. GTCC power stations use gas and steam turbines in combination to generate electricity in two stages; electric power from the gas turbine and then utilizing high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine to produce the steam to drive the steam turbine. This configuration enables GTCC power plants to achieve a higher thermal efficiency, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and lowers emissions.
This is the third MHPSA advanced design gas turbine order placed by VEPCO over the last five years. The other two sites, Warren County and Brunswick County Power Stations, utilize three M501GAC gas turbines combined with a steam turbine. Warren County has already achieved commercial operation and Brunswick County is likely to follow in 2016. All three sites are covered by an MHPSA long-term maintenance agreement to provide parts, repairs and maintenance services plus remote monitoring of vital operating data.
