OREANDA-NEWS. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) has received an order to build a 480 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired, gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation plant from Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. at the utility's Shin Oita Thermal Power Station. The high-efficiency GTCC power plant on order will incorporate an advanced M501J gas turbine at its heart, and is slated to go on stream in July 2016.

The GTCC power plant will be built at the existing Shin Oita Thermal Power Station located at the mouth of the Ono River in Oita City. The facility is Kyushu Electric Power's largest thermal power station, and the new plant will help ensure a more stable supply of electricity by significantly expanding generating capacity at the power station. With the addition of the plant on order, the Shin Oita Thermal Power Station will have 14 GTCC power plants with a collective installed power generation capacity of 2,775 MW.

The GTCC power plant on order will consist primarily of an M501J gas turbine, an SRT-50 steam turbine with 50-inch blade (turbine end), a heat recovery steam generator, and a generator.

The J-Series gas turbine is a state-of-the-art gas turbine developed by MHPS. Incorporating the company's proprietary technologies, it significantly reduces environmental impact by achieving the world's highest level thermal efficiency at the generator terminal. Including the current order from Kyushu Electric Power, a total of 29 J-Series gas turbine orders have been received. Ten of these turbines are currently in operation, with a collective track record of over 40,000 hours of operation.

GTCC power plants generate electricity in two stages through the combined use of gas and steam turbines, with high-temperature exhaust from the gas turbine utilized to produce the steam that drives the steam turbine.

MHPS has previously supplied GTCC power generation systems to the Shin Oita Thermal Power Station and numerous other customers in Japan and overseas, and enjoys a solid reputation for its technological expertise and delivery track record. Going forward, MHPS looks to further strengthen its marketing activities for GTCC power generation systems and components that contribute to effective resource utilization and reduced environmental impact.

MHPS will leverage its ability to provide full-range product portfolios and thermal power generation system solutions through the proven expertise of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi in this field. MHPS will also continue to aggressively pursue a global leadership position in thermal power generation systems, and respond to the market's varied and diverse needs.