"Through the years, we have proven our ability to develop and manufacture the most cutting-edge solutions for the power generation industry," said Mr. Ken Kawai, President and CEO, MHPS. "Building on the legacy of the original T-Point, T-Point 2 will enable us to widen our footprint as the preferred solutions partner to meet ever-changing power generation requirements around the world."

Engineering the next generation of gas turbines

Once commercial operations begin in July 2020, T-Point 2 is expected to achieve power output of over 566 MW (60Hz), with nearly 64% efficiency, 99.5% reliability and a world-first turbine inlet temperature of 1650? - raising industry standards for gas turbine combined cycle performance globally. This improved performance is possible due to the advanced engineering of the upgraded J-Series Air-Cooled (JAC) model, which is the first gas turbine being validated at T-Point 2.

The new facility features a triple-casing steam turbine, augmenting overall system efficiency through a multiplier effect with the JAC gas turbine. This greater efficiency reduces carbon emissions and heat loss, significantly reducing the environmental impact of T-Point 2.

"The prototype validation system established by MHPS has given our customers the clear assurance that they are receiving the highest caliber and most reliable energy solutions in the market," said Mr. Junichiro Masada, Senior Vice President and Senior General Manager of Gas Turbine Technology & Products Integration Division, MHPS. "The launch of T-Point 2 is testament to MHPS’ commitment to deliver industry-leading power generation technology and customer service underpinned by best-in-class methods for performance and durability verification."

MHPS will use the facility to conduct validation of the next-generation 1700?-class ultrahigh-temperature gas turbines, steam turbine upgrades, air-cooled condenser technology, generators, and static frequency converters.

Bringing power generation to the digital age

Work is underway to install and train advanced artificial intelligence technology at T-Point 2, which will feature the MHPS-TOMONI® suite of digital solutions. During the 8,000 hour durability demonstration period, MHPS will also be training its AI apps, allowing T-Point 2 to eventually become the world’s first autonomous combined cycle power plant. This will catapult power generation into a future where digital technologies are fully integrated into plant operations, allowing plant owners to leverage data to optimize performance, enable condition-based predictive maintenance for equipment, selectively automate operation and maintenance (O&M) decision-making, and reduce risk.

With these building blocks, MHPS will remotely monitor and manage total plant performance; remotely operate the plant in coordination with grid and fleet-wide energy management objectives; and utilize sensor and control system data to make smarter operation decisions in real time. MHPS-TOMONI® solutions powered by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning will enable MHPS to automate O&M decision-making to maximize the profitability of existing and future GTCC plants.

Source:  MHI
Associated URL: Click here to visit

"We are excited to announce Lake Charles Power Station achieved commercial operations well ahead of schedule. It’s a huge win for our customers," said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. "Not only does the addition of this plant make our generation portfolio, which was already one of the cleanest in the nation, even cleaner, but it also supports system reliability and produces substantial customer savings."

Combined-cycle gas turbine units like the Lake Charles Power Station emit on average about 40% less carbon dioxide than Entergy’s older natural gas-powered units. Because of the plant’s high efficiency, it has been projected customers will save between $1.3 billion and $2 billion over the anticipated 30-year life of the plant.

The $872 million project helps improve the region’s overall reliability by locating the station in a rapidly growing area and avoids costly transmission projects that would otherwise have been needed to maintain reliability for the greater Lake Charles area.

Construction began on the Westlake facility in August 2017, and the plant officially reached commercial operation well ahead of its originally scheduled June completion date. At its peak, construction of the plant employed approximately 1,100 people. Ongoing operations of the plant will employ approximately 30 people.

Entergy Corporation Portfolio Transformation

The Lake Charles Power Station is another important milestone in Entergy Corporation’s broader plan to modernize and transform the existing generation fleet of its utility operating companies while maintaining some of the lowest rates in the nation. Over the past 15 years, Entergy has added approximately 8,500 megawatts of clean, highly efficient combined-cycle gas turbine generation, allowing for the deactivation of over 6,500 megawatts of older, less efficient gas or oil units.

In addition to providing reliable, cost-effective power, Entergy’s investments in its generation portfolio transformation and nuclear improvements since 2000 have resulted in substantial reductions in the company’s greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting Entergy’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

In 2001, Entergy Corporation became the first U.S. electric utility to voluntarily commit to capping greenhouse gas emissions. Most recently, the company announced a goal of reducing its carbon emission rate by 50% below year 2000 levels by 2030.

Source:  Entergy Louisiana
Associated URL: Click here to visit

Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) Chief Executive Officer Ben Wilson said AGIG, Jemena Gas Networks, AusNet and Evoenergy had released a joint expression of interest for information from the international hydrogen supply chain on the cost of deploying renewable hydrogen at scale.

"Through this expression of interest process, suppliers of key inputs to the international hydrogen supply chain are invited to comment on the feasibility, approach and cost of achieving 10 per cent renewable hydrogen by volume across gas networks in the eastern and southern states of Australia," Wilson said.

"We believe this objective is achievable by 2030, and that a systematic approach will deliver economies of scale and cost reductions to benefit our customers."

The international expression of interest will help the Australian industry meet the targets set out in Gas Vision 2050 released in mid-2017.

Gas Vision 2050 sets the trajectory for decarbonizing gas supply into the future through hydrogen and other renewable sources.

"Gas Vision 2050 sets out three phases as to how the transition to a lower carbon gas supply system would occur in Australia," Wilson, right, said.

"Importantly, this piece of work will inform our move beyond demonstrations to the second phase of commercial-scale blending in gas networks."

AGIG is based in Adelaide, South Australia and has been leading work on exploring the feasibility of blending hydrogen into natural gas networks in South Australia and Victoria through the establishment of the Australian Hydrogen Centre (AHC).

The AHC, which is being driven by AGIG company Australian Gas Networks, will develop feasibility studies into injecting up to 10 per cent renewable hydrogen into the gas distribution network of one yet to be chosen regional town in South Australia and two in Victoria.

Building on the feasibility studies for regional towns, the AHC will also develop feasibility studies to inject up to 10 per cent renewable hydrogen into the gas distribution networks of South Australia and Victoria and develop a pathway to make the transition to 100 per cent hydrogen networks.

In addition, the AHC will share key insights and data from the operations of Australian Gas Networks’ flagship project, the $11.4 million Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA).

The project is being constructed at the Tonsley innovation precinct south of Adelaide and is expected to be operational by mid-this year. It will be Australia’s largest renewable hydrogen production facility, producing hydrogen and blending it into the gas distribution network in suburban Mitchell Park.

The key piece of infrastructure at the Tonsley hydrogen park will be a 1.25MW proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, which will use purchased renewable electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas.

Source:  The LEAD
Associated URL: Click here to visit
Author: Jim Plouffe