GE secures first 9HA combined cycle power plant order in Vietnam

GE's 9HA turbine promises higher combined-cycle efficiency

GE on May 16 announced that it secured an order from Samsung C&T Corporation, the leader of the engineering, procurement, and construction consortium that will provide power generation equipment for PV Power’s Nhon Trach 3 & 4 Power Plant in Ong Keo Industrial Park in the Nhon Trach district.

The project marks GE’s first H-Class gas turbine order in Vietnam. Once in commercial operation in 2025, Nhon Trach 3 & 4 are expected to deliver over 1.6GW of electricity and will be the first power plants fueled by LNG in the country.

In addition, on May 11, an MoU to improve the efficiency of the existing Nhon Trach 1 power plant and develop long-term cooperation on the maintenance for Nhon Trach 3 & 4 was signed and exchanged between GE and PV Power in the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his visit to Washington DC.

Vietnam is currently heavily reliant on coal which fuels around a third of its electricity output. The growth of gas-fired power generation will support both coal-to-gas transition and accelerate renewables penetration by enhancing the reliability and stability of the energy grid.

For the Nhon Trach expansion, GE will provide two blocks of more than 800MW each, including a GE 9HA.02 gas turbine, the company’s most efficient 50Hz gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, and a W88 generator, and more.

Once in operation, the new power plant is expected to provide electricity for three large industrial areas in the southern region including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

By using highly efficient natural gas and GE’s H-class leading technology, power plants have a lower environmental impact, with 60 per cent fewer carbon emissions compared to thermal plants of the same electrical output powered by coal.

“Renewable energy is expected to grow significantly in Vietnam while at the same time, lower-carbon and highly efficient gas power generation will play a crucial role in supporting this growth and ensuring grid stability and reliability,” said Ramesh Singaram, president and CEO of Asia at GE Gas Power.

“This first-of-its-kind project is expected to open a new chapter for gas power generation in Vietnam, and we are proud to begin developing the first HA project in the country in alignment with its national energy goals for a more sustainable national economic growth.”

In Vietnam, GE’s equipment powers 11 power plants and provides up to 25 per cent of Vietnam’s electricity needs. With over 1,300 employees across six locations from various GE businesses throughout the country, GE’s global customers are served by a global network of repair and manufacturing capabilities which include GE’s Phu My repair facility and Dung Quat HRSG manufacturing plant in Vietnam.