New 1.2 GW power plant in Malaysia underway

The 1.2GW gas-fired plant is expected to be operational by 2024.

The construction of a new 1.2 GW gas-fired power plant Pulau Indah Power Plant (PIPP) in Selangor, Malaysia has already commenced, with full commercial operations expected to begin in 2024.

The project, which amounts to a US$837m investment, will power approximately 500,000 households.

A consortium comprising Posco Engineering and Construction, Mitsubishi Corp., and PEC Powercon were the preferred bidder for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of PIPP in 2018.

They have secured an order from General Electric (GE) to supply two of its 9HA.01 gas turbines for the gas-fired plant. GE will provide two blocks of 600 MW, each including a 9HA.01 gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, a W88 generator and a once-through Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG).

GE described the HRSG as “a key enabler in advanced water-steam cycles delivering higher combined cycle efficiency.”

“The 9HA gas turbine at its core was engineered from the ground up to be extremely efficient and flexible to help lower emissions. This includes high ramp rates and fast start up times to meet fluctuating demand, and the capability to burn up to 50% by volume of hydrogen when blended with natural gas,” GE Gas Power Asia CEO Ramesh Singaram said.

PIPP executive director Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria noted that it was crucial for them to select a highly efficient technology to help reduce the amount of fuel used to generate electricity.

“Malaysia in particularly the state of Selangor has seen massive economic development, urbanization and population growth in the last three decades, which have been major drivers for its increasing demand for energy, although accompanied with increasing greenhouse gas emissions,” the executive director said.

Malaysia seeks to achieve a 45% CO2 emissions reduction target by 2030 across key industries.

GE’s service contract will include capital parts, major inspections on the 9HA.01 gas turbines, along with technical advisory services, and repairs.