MHI Receives Order for GTCC Power Generation System for Australia - Country's Sixth Gas Turbine Unit, For Installation in Tasmania -

The new GTCC power plant, to be built at the existing Tamar Valley Power Station site in Tasmania, will consist of a M701DA gas turbine, steam turbine, generator, heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and other components (balance of plant: BOP). MHI will manufacture a gas turbine and a steam turbine at its Takasago Machinery Works. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will supply the generator. Civil engineering and installation will be consigned separately by Alinta Energy. Mitsubishi Corporation will handle the trade particulars.

Alinta Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alinta Limited, which engages in wholesaling of electricity and gas in Australia and New Zealand. Previously, in 2003 and 2005 MHI received orders from Alinta Co-generation (Pinjarra) Pty Ltd. for its co-generation projects, 140 MW each, for the Pinjarra Unit #1 and Unit #2 near Perth. Pinjarra Unit #1 and Unit #2 went on-stream in March 2006 and February this year, respectively. The latest order marks MHI's third unit ordered from the company and the sixth unit for Australia.

Tasmania is a large (more than 90,000 km2) verdant island located south of the Australian mainland. About 20% of the island is registered as a UNESCO-designated World Heritage area. The island has 17 national parks and numerous mountains, rivers and lakes that retain their unique ecosystems. The state government of Tasmania focuses heavily on environmental conservation.

With GTCC type power generation, gas and steam turbines are used in combination to generate electricity in two stages, utilizing high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine. This configuration enables GTCC power plants to achieve higher thermal efficiency than non-GTCC plants such as conventional boiler steam turbine plants. Higher efficiency means that GTCC plants reduce fuel consumption relative to electricity output and emit less CO2, thus making them more environmentally friendly.

MHI has delivered a large number of GTCC power generation systems both in Japan and abroad, and in the process has gained widespread trust in the market for its proprietary technologies and prompt delivery record. Spurred by the latest order, going forward MHI intends to aggressively market its natural-gas-fired GTCC power generation systems that contribute to efficient energy usage and reduction of environmental burden.