(EnergyAsia, December 23 2011, Friday) — Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) said it has received a full-turnkey order for the construction of a 1,600MW gas turbine combined-cycle (GTCC) power generation plant in Thailand.

The order came from Gulf JP NS Company Limited (GNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf JP Company Limited, a 90/10 joint venture between a local subsidiary of Japan’s Electric Power Development Co Ltd (J-POWER) and Gulf Holding Company Limited, a major Thai power development company.

MHI did not disclose the project’s value.

The plant, which GNS is to build and operate in Nong Saeng district, Saraburi Province, will consist of two 800MW power generation plant trains.

Due to come onstream in June and December 2014, the two units will help meet Thailand’s rising power demand according to the government’s electricity development plan. GNS has already signed a long-term agreement to supply 25 years of electricity to state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

MHI said the GTCC plant will primarily consist of four M701F gas turbines, two steam turbines and six generators.

The company will manufacture the gas turbines at its Takasago Machinery Works and the steam turbines at its Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works while Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will manufacture the generators.

Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Ltd, a local construction firm, will undertake the civil construction work and installation at the plant site.

]In GTCC plants, a gas turbine and steam turbine are used in combination to generate electricity in two stages, utilising high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine to produce steam to drive the steam turbine.

This configuration enables GTCC plants to achieve higher thermal efficiency, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and results in lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) relative to electricity generation, thereby contributing to environmental protection. Global demand for GTCC power generation plants has been rising in view of their efficient use of fossil fuels and reduced burden on the environment.