MHPS Turbines Selected For New Power Plant

CB&I, a provider of technology and infrastructure for the energy industry, has broken ground for the Lake Charles Power Station, a natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant for Entergy Corporation subsidiary Entergy Louisiana, LLC in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA.

Entergy Louisiana has selected two Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) gas turbine generation units for its 994 MW Lake Charles Power Station.

When it becomes operational in 2020, the plant will help reduce emissions and will generate enough electricity to power approximately 675 000 homes. The two turbines to be installed at the Lake Charles Power Station are air-cooled versions of the MHPS G-Series.

“The Lake Charles Power Station will supply the energy we need to help the communities and customers we serve prosper. This power plant will not only provide needed generating capacity for the fast-growing region, but it’s another step in our ongoing effort to upgrade Entergy Louisiana’s generating fleet to provide power more efficiently, affordably and with fewer emissions,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana.

“MHPS is proud to provide the advanced technology that Entergy Louisiana uses to serve the energy needs of Louisiana, helping fuel the economy, reduce emissions and save money for Entergy’s customers,” said Paul Browning, President and CEO of MHPS Americas.  “The Lake Charles Power Station will feature proven advanced class gas turbine technology to boost efficiency and reduce emissions.  We also will supply MHPS TOMONI™ digital capabilities to enhance connectivity with Entergy Louisiana.  This allows us to use cloud-based big data analytics and machine learning to leverage the massive amount of data that are generated during plant operations, driving optimum power plant performance, flexibility and reliability.”

The high efficiency natural gas-fired plant is projected to save customers between US$1.3-$2 billion over its projected 30-year life, while also avoiding an estimated US$600 million in costs to build transmission projects that would otherwise be needed in the Lake Charles region in the near future.

“We appreciate the trust Entergy Louisiana has placed in MHPS technology,” Browning said. “As our industry transitions away from less efficient F-class technology, we are leading the way.  Our products are redefining uptime standards and environmental performance. The Lake Charles Power Station project is a prime example of the change in power that MHPS is leading.”

CB&I’s scope of work on the project includes the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for the plant.