MHPS Supplying Three J Class Turbines For Combined Cycle Power Plant

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) will supply three 1×1 M501JAC powertrains for a 1600 MW combined cycle power plant in the state of Virginia, USA.

When completed in 2022, the Chickahominy Power Station will provide electricity in support of expected regional growth. The station is named in honor the Chickahominy Nation, an indigenous people that have populated the lands in east-central Virginia near Richmond for centuries. Balico, LLC, Gemma Power Systems, and MHPS are teaming on the project.

“Following a vigorous bidding and evaluation process in collaboration with our partner Gemma Power Systems, Balico selected MHPS’ J Class turbines as the best suited for our project objectives,” said Irfan K. Ali, managing member of Balico, LLC. “This was confirmed during my recent trip to Japan, during which I was able to visit the MHPS T-Point facility where they demonstrate their industry-leading performance under real-time grid-dispatched conditions.”

Virginia is experiencing substantial regional investment from technology companies and data centers, driving a need for more electricity, the companies said.

The M501JAC turbine uses air-cooled condensers to reduce water usage for cooling which is important to the region surrounding the plant’s location, MHPS said. The plant will use natural gas from the Marcellus shale formation.

“We’re happy to be selected by Chickahominy Power and their parent, Balico, to bring reliable and low carbon electricity to the residents of Virginia,” said Paul Browning, president & CEO of MHPS Americas. “Generators today want to satisfy electricity demand while reducing carbon footprint and they are selecting our advanced class gas turbines to bring a change in power.”

The project is slated for completion in 2022 and is expected to provide 800 to 1000 skilled construction jobs over the course of the three years of construction. The plant anticipates having 35 permanent operational positions when the facility is completed.