Harbin Electric International clinches dual wins at the Asian Power Awards 2024

The company won Dual Fuel Power Plant of the Year - Gold and R&D Project of the Year - Pakistan.

Harbin Electric International Co., Ltd. (HEI) has secured top honours at the prestigious Asian Power Awards 2024, earning recognition for its technological innovation and engineering excellence. The company clinched the Dual Fuel Power Plant of the Year - Gold award at the regional level, as well as the R&D Project of the Year - Pakistan accolade.

As China’s largest power company and a leading exporter of power equipment, HEI has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable energy solutions since its inception in 1983. The company’s core competencies span the execution of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects, with expertise in building thermal power plants, hydropower stations, combined-cycle power plants, and wind energy solutions. Additionally, HEI is involved in the construction of transmission lines, substations, and Operation and Maintenance, reinforcing its leadership in global infrastructure development.

1180 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant: A technological benchmark

HEI’s flagship 1180 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) exemplifies the company’s commitment to efficiency and performance. The plant integrates cutting-edge technologies, including the GE 9HA.01 gas turbines renowned for their reliability and high efficiency, heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) from Hangzhou Boiler Group, and an Alstom ST1375 steam turbine, which further boosts overall thermal efficiency.

The Bhikki CCPP is distinguished as the only plant globally using GE 9HA.01 gas turbines on high-speed diesel (HSD), achieving a record-breaking 1,522 operational hours. Amongst its remarkable technical achievements are a 61.61% efficiency rate and a 99.29% availability factor, both recorded during the sixth year of operation.

The plant sets a benchmark for sustainable power generation through reforestation efforts and stringent emissions control. Till date, over 36,000 trees have been planted on-site, reducing CO₂ emissions by 1,901,328 kg and exceeding environmental benchmarks. Emissions from the plant remain well below the International Finance Corporation (IFC) standards, with CO₂ emissions at 214 kg/MWh (against an IFC limit of 325 kg/MWh) and NOx emissions at 28 mg/Nm³ (significantly lower than the 125 mg/Nm³ limit).

Driving innovation through R&D

HEI award-winning research and development efforts underscore its focus on industry innovation and continuous improvement. The company’s Energy Center of Excellence (ECoE) serves as a premier facility featuring advanced simulators for simple and combined-cycle power plants. It leverages the GE 9HA.01 gas turbine for simple cycles and a GE 7HA.02-based system for combined cycles. This hands-on approach provides a platform for operators and academic researchers to simulate plant operations, analyse fault scenarios, and foster industry-academia collaboration.

The Bhikki plant’s Operations & Maintenance (O&M) team has further strengthened HEI reputation by publishing two research papers in high-impact international journals. The first article, titled "Frequency Stabilization for Interconnected Renewable-Based Power Systems Using Cascaded Model Predictive Controller with Fractional Order PID Controller," appeared in IET Renewable Power Generation (impact factor 2.6). The second, "Design and Analysis of Input Capacitor in DC-DC Boost Converter for Photovoltaic-Based Systems," was published in Sustainability (impact factor 3.9).

Additionally, HEI has conducted ground-breaking research to address Pakistan’s recurring power system blackouts. Its study, "A Solution for Frequent Power System Blackouts, Cascading Effects, and Restoration Problems in Pakistan," provides actionable insights to mitigate grid failures that typically occur every three to five years.

Pioneering digitalisation and remote operations

HEI also implemented the integration of robots into its operation and maintenance processes. Equipped with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence, these robots play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of the power generation complex. They enhance data logging and monitoring capabilities by collecting, processing, and transmitting data, which then allows for more accurate predictions of maintenance needs, optimised operations, and reduced downtime.

Further strengthening operational oversight, HEI has implemented an Integrated Management System that connects its Chinese headquarters with live plant data streams. This real-time monitoring capability allows the central management team to make timely, data-driven decisions, proactively address potential issues, and ensure operational continuity.

With its commitment to technological advancement, environmental stewardship, and industry leadership, HEI has solidified its reputation as a global leader in the power sector. The dual victories at the Asian Power Awards 2024 are proof of the company’s excellence in engineering, sustainable practices, and innovative R&D.

The Asian Power Awards is a prestigious event that recognises and celebrates innovative and ground-breaking projects and initiatives by power companies. It honours those who have taken innovative and game-changing steps to address the effects of the climate crisis and meet the growing demand for energy.

The Asian Power Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives in the power industry in Asia, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].