Mitsubishi Completes Construction Of Eighth And Final M701JAC Unit At 5300 MW Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Project In Thailand
Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI), has completed construction of the eighth and final M701JAC unit of a 5300MW natural gas-fired power plant project in Thailand. The project, a joint venture between Gulf Energy Development Public Company Ltd., one of Thailand’s largest independent power producers (IPP), and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (Mitsui & Co.), a Japanese trading company, successfully commenced full commercial operations on October 1, 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 5300 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 October 1, the first seven units installed in Chonburi and Rayong have collectively logged 100,000 actual operating hours (AOH).
The project’s first phase at the Chonburi power plant, which operated by Gulf SRC Company Limited, 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. The plant was fully completed in October 2022. The units were delivered by Mitsubishi Power in close cooperation with its customers and construction partners, with constant application of learnings and improvements from previous units applied to enhance the quality of the project.
“As a result of our collective efforts as a team, we successfully navigated challenges posed by COVID-19 and commenced the operation of all eight units on schedule,” said Boonchai Thirati, deputy chief executive officer of Gulf Energy Development at the completion ceremony. “We thank all our partners for their excellent performance and look forward to continuing our partnership to deliver stable electricity to communities across Thailand.”
“Having overcome challenging circumstances, including COVID-19, we completed each of the remaining units every six months,” said Takao Tsukui, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Power. “Today, all units are fully operational on schedule – a testament to the unwavering collaboration of everyone involved, and a milestone we take immense pride in. As our first JAC gas turbine project in Southeast Asia, the GTCC plants in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces set the stage for contracting over 90 JAC gas turbines globally. We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and are committed to ensuring the continued success of this project through our long-term service agreement.”
(Image Courtesy Of Mitsubishi)
Following the completion of the two GTCC power plants, Mitsubishi Power said that it is committed to maintaining the facilities under a 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, 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 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.
According to Mitsubishi Power, the M701JAC gas turbines deliver 64% power generation efficiency, drastically reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions. The gas turbines support the region in enhancing energy stability as nations work to decarbonize their energy mixes. To meet the growing energy demand in the region, Mitsubishi Power remains dedicated to advancing its gas turbine and GTCC technologies. Through strategic partnerships and continuous innovation, Mitsubishi Power said that it aims to support a stable and reliable energy transition that meets the future energy needs of the region.
