GE Gas Power awarded combined cycle plant order for 725 MW power plant

GE’s 7HA.03 combined cycle plant equipment will be used to power Kindle Energy’s natural gas-fired Magnolia Power Plant. (Photo: GE Gas Power)

GE Gas Power announced that it has secured an order from Kindle Energy to provide H-Class power generation equipment for the 725 MW natural gas-fired Magnolia Power Plant, scheduled to be built in Plaquemine, La., USA. In addition, GE will provide power plant services for nearly two decades.

The Magnolia plant will be powered by combined cycle plant equipment that includes a GE 7HA.03 gas turbine, an STF-A650 steam turbine, a triple pressure with reheat Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) and Mark VIe Distributed Control System (DCS) software solution. Lee Davis, CEO of Kindle Energy, noted that the project requires a mix of energy sources in order to achieve the carbon emissions goals of the state of Louisiana.

“By utilizing GE’s flexible and highly efficient 7HA.03 gas turbine, we will support the growth of renewable energy sources, which will ultimately play a critical role in facilitating the transition to a lower carbon future in the state,” he commented. “In addition, we selected GE’s turbine because it is capable of using up to 50% by volume of hydrogen for fuel. When compared to other gas-fired power generation technologies, the GE H-class power plant offers the lowest capital cost per megawatt, with tremendous benefits to the residents of Louisiana.”

The 7HA.03 gas turbine will initially be fueled by natural gas until hydrogen becomes more available in the area.

The STF-A650 to be used at the plant is a two casing Steam Turbine (ST) featuring a separate High Pressure (HP) and combined Intermediate Pressure and Low Pressure (IPLP) section. It uses GE’s ST modularized approach utilizing shared HP, IPLP and LP modules across the combined cycle ST portfolio to optimize availability and reliability.

“In a region with an increasing power demand due to planned coal-fired plants retirements, Magnolia will be first new GE combined cycle plant to be installed in the MISO South RTO in about 20 years, and is expected to be the most efficient once it begins operation,” said Eric Gray, CEO, GE Gas Power. “We are tremendously proud to continue our ongoing relationship with Kindle Energy – sealed through more than 11 GW of electricity projects including a 7HA.02 and 15 F-Class gas turbines – as we work together toward supporting a lower-carbon future in Louisiana.”

The Magnolia Power Plant project is expected to create between 250 and 350 construction jobs locally at the site and provide between 20 and 25 longer term full-time jobs once it is in operation in 2025.