Gas-Fired Power News

GE Wins Nearly $700 Million Contract from Saudi Electricity Company

GE signed a nearly $700 million contract with Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to bring additional F-class combined-cycle gas turbines, and associated equipment and services, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. GE’s technology will support SEC’s large, combined-cycle power plants to generate more than 3.8 GW of power and will provide fuel savings and lower emissions. GE’s technology previously has been chosen for SEC’s PP9, PP10, PP11 and PP12 power plants.

Duke Seeks Approval for S.C. Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant

Duke Energy Carolinas filed an application for a certificate of environmental compatibility and public convenience and necessity (CECPCN) with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) seeking approval to construct and operate a 750-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle plant at the existing Lee Steam Station in Anderson County, S.C. This filing was in partnership with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), which will be a minority owner of 100 MW of the project if constructed.

APR Energy Awarded 147MW of New Contracts

APR Energy was awarded 147MW of new contracts for fast-track power projects in Mozambique, Senegal, and Indonesia. The 40MW award in Mozambique is a multi-year contract for a fast-track power plant comprising gas power modules. The plant will run solely on natural gas and will be APR Energy's second project in the country. The 32MW contract award for diesel power modules in Senegal will supplement the 66MW of power capacity APR Energy is already providing.

Siemens Receives $400 Million Order For Power Plant In U.S.

Siemens received an order from the U.S. for the delivery of two power plant blocks for the Liberty combined cycle power plant in Pennsylvania. Siemens will deliver two H-class gas turbines, two steam turbines, two generators, two heat recovery steam generators as well as the electrical equipment and the control system. The EPC contractor is Gemma Power Systems. The customer is an affiliate of Panda Power Funds. The order includes a long-term service agreement and has a total value for Siemens of approximately $400 million.

Two New Calpine Power Plants Begin Commercial Operations in California

Calpine began commercial operations at its Russell City Energy Center and Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility, both located in the San Francisco Bay area. Together, the two plants bring on-line more than 900 MW of combined-cycle natural gas-fired power generation capacity. The full power output of both plants will be delivered to Calpine’s customer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which will also supply the natural gas fuel, under 10-year power purchase agreements.

ABB Wins GIS substation Order for PPL’s Sunbury Project

ABB provided a 500kV turnkey gas insulated switchgear (GIS) substation to upgrade the existing PPL Electric Utilities’ Sunbury Substation located north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. ABB is providing all engineering, equipment and construction for the project, including the GIS switchgear, its associated foundation and enclosure and the GIS bus work that will be extending from the enclosure to the existing transformer and 500kV lines.

NRG Begins Operations at 720-MW Marsh Landing Facility

NRG Energy began commercial operation at its Marsh Landing Generating Station, a 720-MW natural gas–fueled, peaking facility located near Antioch, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area. The Marsh Landing station will employ technologies to meet or exceed the state of California’s standards for emissions control and air quality. The turbines will operate with ultra-low nitrogen oxides (NOx) combustors, along with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and an oxidation catalyst system to reduce carbon monoxide and other organic compound emissions.

Siemens to Maintain Russian Combined Cycle Plant

Siemens entered a long-term service contract for the largest combined cycle power plant in Russia, the 800-MW Kirishi power plant, which was repowered in March 2012. Per the agreement, Siemens will provide maintenance of the gas turbines and generators for 12 years. Kirishi was the first combined-cycle repowering project in Russia, and it increased the unit’s capacity from 300 MW to 800 MW, and raised its efficiency from 38 percent to 55 percent.

SRP Acquires Half of Sempra Gas-Fired Plant

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power sold one 625-MW block of its 1,250-MW Mesquite gas-fired power plant to Salt River Project (SRP) for $371 million. In addition to 100-percent ownership of the 625-MW power block, SRP gained a 50-percent undivided interest in plant facilities. Sempra retains ownership of the power plant’s remaining 625-MW power block and 50-percent interest in the plant facilities. As part of the transaction, Salt River Project will become the operator of the Mesquite facility.