A Total Solution

GE’s Power Services business has been chosen to help modernize JFE Steel Corp.’s combined-cycle power plant in Chiba, Japan.

GE’s modernization efforts consisted of a MXL2 gas turbine upgrade, a low-pressure steam turbine retrofit and a new lifetime management concept on the GT26 gas turbine. These upgrades are expected to increase the output of the gas turbine by up to 60 MW. In addition, they will help improve operational flexibility for JFE and extend maintenance intervals of the turbine, GE said.

“In Japan, the recent deregulation of the electric power industry is causing a shift in the energy landscape,” said Satoshi Ogino, manager, Energy Technology Section, Energy Department, East Japan Works, JFE. “The industry competition is intense, with a lower barrier to entry for new power generation players. To sustain competitiveness, existing power generation operators with long standing histories, like JFE, are constantly looking at adopting modernized power plant solutions and services, ensuring energy security and optimized plant operation. GE is the best partner to work with collaboratively for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the power plant and to expand the business opportunity for JFE.”

As part of a multi-year agreement signed by the two companies, GE will also provide O&M support at the facility for the next 15 years, and a small number of GE personnel will be on-site to assist and provide consultation to JFE on its plant operations.

GE said the project is the first in Japan that exploits its full capacity stemming from its acquisition of Alstom’s power business in 2015. GE delivered a full turnkey project to upgrade the entire power station as a fruitful result of its expanded capabilities. The modernizations included gas turbine, boiler and balance of plant—under comprehensive project management, from process management to restarting the plant within the required designated downtime period.