General Electric (GE) and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the main electricity producer in the country, have announced the start of commercial operation of EGAT’s Bang Pakong Power Plant Block 1 and 2 in Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao Province, approximately 60 kilometers south of Bangkok. Built in 1977, the original Bang Pakong Power Plant complex comprised of five blocks burning natural gas and diesel. The two new gas-fired combined cycle blocks, powered by GE’s equipment, replaced the retired ones and were incorporated in EGAT’s Bang Pakong power plant with the objective to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprint of the Bang Pakong plant.
This project is aligned with EGAT’s goals to improve efficiency and reliability, reduce CO2 and NOx emissions, and lower electricity costs for its overall assets, replacing them with highly efficient combined cycle power generation equipment.
The new blocks add approximately 1,400 Megawatts (MW) of electricity, the equivalent power needed by approximately 3 million Thai homes. They are powered by two of GE’s 9HA.02 gas turbines, the company’s most efficient 50 Hz gas turbines, for the first time in Thailand, as well as two advanced STF-A650 steam turbines, and two W86 generators. GE has also signed a long-term services agreement with EGAT to provide parts, repairs and maintenance services for these sites.
GE advanced gas turbines have been operating with hydrogen fuel blends in a variety of industrial applications, including steel mills, refineries, and petrochemical plants for decades. GE’s H-Class gas turbine portfolio currently has the capability to burn up to 50% by volume of hydrogen when blended with natural gas. This capability is enabled by the DLN2.6e combustion system that is standard on current 9HA.01/9HA.02/7HA.03 gas turbines offerings. GE’s H-Class heavy duty gas turbine fleet—the fastest growing fleet in its class—has secured more than 50 customers across 20 countries and GE expects the rapid maturation of commercial operating HA gas turbines to continue in 2022.
The country’s electricity capacity amounts to approximately 51 GW (as of April 2022, according to Enerdata). Gas has been following an upward trend since 2016 (+5.1 GW) and currently has the largest share with 51% of the total capacity. GE has had a presence in Thailand since 1900. GE Gas Power equipment generates up to 30% of Thailand’s power with a fleet of over one hundred gas turbines. Today, GE is one of Thailand’s largest foreign infrastructure providers with businesses including energy, aviation, and healthcare. GE’s presence includes offices in two locations, as well as a center for aeroderivative services and tooling for heavy duty gas turbines.
(Source: General Electric)
