Mitsubishi Power starts gas turbine at Thai CCGT

Mitsubishi Power, a unit of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has commenced operation of the first M701JAC unit at a natural gas-fired power plant project in Rayong province, Thailand, MHI said on April 19.

This delivery marks the completion of the fifth of eight M701JAC gas turbines to be delivered as part of a full turnkey 5,300 MW contract secured by Mitsubishi Power in 2018. According to the contract, Mitsubishi Power will build two combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) thermal power generation facilities in Chonburi and Rayong provinces, each with four M701JAC gas turbine units providing an output of 2,650 MW.

Located approximately 130 km southeast of Bangkok, the Rayong plant is owned and operated by Gulf PD Company, a joint venture project by Gulf Energy Development, one of the largest independent power producers in Thailand, and Japan’s Mitsui & Co.

Power generated at these plants will be sold to Thailand’s state power company Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

Mitsubishi Power has delivered five of the gas turbines within the contract delivery period, and the two plants are expected to be in commercial operation by October 2024. All four units of the Chonburi power plant commenced commercial operation in October 2022.

The overall project encompasses two CCGT power generation plants, each with four power trains comprising a gas turbine, steam turbine, heat recovery steam generator, and generator.