Mitsubishi Power completes power plant in Thailand
Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has completed construction of the eighth and final M701JAC unit of a 5,300MW natural gas-fired power plant project in Thailand. The project, a joint venture between Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited, one of Thailand’s largest independent power producers (IPP), and Mitsui & Co, a Japanese trading company, commenced full commercial operations on 1 October 2024.
The milestone marks the on-time completion of a multi-phase project awarded in 2018, featuring two gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) plants in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces, key hubs for technological manufacturing and services, with a total installed capacity of 5,300 MW.
Each plant is equipped with four M701JAC gas turbines, steam turbines, and heat recovery steam generators, ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply critical for Thailand’s energy security and economic growth. On 1 October, the first seven units installed in Chonburi and Rayong have collectively logged 100,000 actual operating hours (AOH), reinforcing their proven reliability.
The project’s first phase at the Chonburi power plant marked a significant milestone as the site of Mitsubishi Power’s inaugural J-Series Air-Cooled (JAC) gas turbine installation in Southeast Asia in 2021.
Following the completion of the two GTCC power plants, Mitsubishi Power says it is committed to maintaining the facilities under the Long Term Service Agreement (LTSA).
In conjunction with the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and a 25-year LTSA with Mitsubishi Power have been established to ensure the plant continues to meet Thailand’s growing energy needs at peak performance throughout its lifespan.
Mitsubishi Power has established a strong track record in large-scale gas turbine installations in Thailand. In 2011, the company received full-turnkey orders from a company backed by Gulf Energy Development to construct GTCC plants at Nong Saeng and U Thai, which began commercial operations in 2014 and 2015, respectively. In 2020, Mitsubishi Power secured an order from Hin Kong Power Company Limited, another Gulf Energy Development joint venture, for a GTCC plant comprising two M701JAC gas turbines.
The M701JAC gas turbines deliver an exceptional 64% power generation efficiency, drastically reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions. These gas turbines support the region in enhancing energy stability as nations work to decarbonise their energy mixes, says the firm.
