The two M701F gas turbines and related auxiliary equipment will be delivered by Mitsubishi Power Australia, a power solutions division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
Built by Snowy Hydro Limited in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley and scheduled for commercial operations in 2023, the power plant aims to meet the anticipated shortage of power supply in Australia.
The project is part of an effort to secure an alternative cleaner power supply following the scheduled shutdown of a large-scale coal-fired power in Australia and ensures security and stability in supporting the volatility that can arise from intermittent renewables.
Total power output of the plant will be 660 megawatts and has the potential for up to 15 per cent hydrogen co-firing.
Mitsubishi Power Australia managing director and chief executive officer Jiro Nishiyama said the company’s M701F turbine was one of the most efficient in F class gas turbines in the world and had a proven operations record worldwide maintaining a more than 99 per cent reliability rate.
Nishiyama added: “We are very pleased that our M701F gas turbines will be able to contribute to the stable power supply in Australia together increasing renewable energy.
“Our gas turbines can utilize up to 30 per cent hydrogen for co-firing with current technology and can be configured in the future to operate on 100 per cent hydrogen for zero carbon emissions.”
The turbines, generators and all related auxiliary equipment will be supplied from Japan, with the two gas turbines to be manufactured at Takasago Machinery Works in Hyogo Prefecture and the generators to be made by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
