GE has secured an order from Kindle Energy to provide H-Class power generation equipment for its expected 725 MW natural gas-fired Magnolia Power Plant to be built in Plaquemine, Louisiana.
Once in operation in 2025, the plant will be the most efficient plant in the MISO South system and it will help support the ongoing energy transition in Louisiana, according to a press release. It will be fueled initially by natural gas, with the ability to utilize up to 50% hydrogen by volume as hydrogen becomes more available in the area.
GE’s advanced HA gas turbine is able to operate on a variety of fuels, including blends of hydrogen and natural gas to offer multiple pathways to achieve near-zero carbon operations.
“A mix of flexible and efficient energy sources will be necessary to achieve the carbon emissions goals of Louisiana,” says Lee Davis, CEO of Kindle Energy. “By utilizing GE’s flexible and highly efficient 7HA.03 gas turbine, we will support the growth of renewable energy sources which will ultimately play a critical role in facilitating the transition to a lower carbon future in the state.”
“In a region with an increasing power demand due to planned coal-fired plants retirements, Magnolia will be first new GE combined cycle plant to be installed in the MISO South RTO in about 20 years, and is expected to be the most efficient once it begins operation,” said Eric Gray, CEO of GE Gas Power. “We are tremendously proud to continue our ongoing relationship with Kindle Energy – sealed through more than 11 GW of electricity projects including a 7HA.02 and 15 F-Class gas turbines – as we work together toward supporting a lower-carbon future in Louisiana.”
The Kindle Energy-Magnolia Power Project will be powered by a GE 7HA.03 gas turbine, the second of its kind in North America, an STF-A650 steam turbine, a triple pressure with reheat Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) and Mark* VIe Distributed Control System (DCS) software solution.
Kindle Magnolia’s STF-A650 is a two casing Steam Turbine (ST) featuring a separate High Pressure (HP) and combined Intermediate Pressure and Low Pressure (IPLP) section. This unit uses GE’s ST modularized approach utilizing shared HP, IPLP, and LP modules across the entire combined cycle ST portfolio to ensure high level of availability and reliability.
Additionally, GE will provide a full spectrum of power plant services for nearly two decades, the release states. The project is expected to create between 250 and 350 construction jobs locally at the site and provide between 20 and 25 longer-term full-time jobs.
