| Gas turbine technology
Aerial rendering of Kingston Energy Complex, to be fuelled by natural gas and designed to balance the grid while TVA adds a large quantity of wind and solar assets. Image credit: TVA
“A more gradual transition allows time for innovative technologies to evolve, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency of offshore wind, battery storage and carbon capture,” said Axford.
However, there are a few areas of the world that are adopting policies that advance gas generation in the name of a creating the stable renewable grid of the future. Let’s take a closer look at Texas, Tennessee and Queensland, Australia.
Texas
Texas leads the USA in most categories. It has close to 40 GW of wind and more than 15 GW of solar. Yet the Lone Star State also leads the USA in new natural gas plant construction. A company named WattBridge Energy, for example, has established a network of about 40 gas turbine plants, all of them using the GE Vernova LM6000 aeroderivative turbine. These are fast start, low- emission peaking units that provide power when there is a lack of wind and solar, as well as grid resilience and greater energy security. The latest example is the Brotman generating station in Brazoria County, Texas, bringing the total of the company’s Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) zone portfolio to 1.8 GW. The company is now expanding across the USA and internationally.
“We have 2400 MW operational or under construction and at least 1600 MW in advanced development that could be online by 2026,” said WattBridge President, Mike Alvarado. The Texas legislature is rare in that it provides funding for wind, solar, and natural gas. A new bill created a $10 billion fund to support the construction of new gas-fired generation, as well as the modernisation of existing gas-fired generators.
“Texas politicians and the state’s grid operator, ERCOT, have been advocating for an increase in gas-fired, generation to ensure the lights stay on during weather extremes,” said Burt.
Tennessee
Natural gas accounted for about 41% of the electricity generated in 2023 in the USA and the forecast is also for around 40% in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Beyond Texas, states like Montana, Wyoming and Tennessee are keen to add more gas generation.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), for example, has an aggressive renewable programme ongoing with 1 GW of wind and solar PV destined for the state over the next couple of years.
In parallel, aging coal plants are being decommissioned while older gas turbine facilities are largely being retained for peaking power and grid support. Further, a great many new plants are under construction or ordered. TVA has received ten GE LM6000 PF+ gas turbine generators for new facilities and has another 20 on order.
Sixteen of these units are destined for the Kingston Energy Complex, which is being built on the site of a coal plant that will be shuttered by 2027. It will supply up to 850 MW of electricity and enhance grid reliability. The site will also host 100 MW of onsite battery storage and 4 MW of solar generation.
“The Kingston Energy Complex highlights the way diverse generation works together to ensure TVA can provide more reliable, resilient and affordable power,” said TVA Chief Operating Officer Don Moul. “These aeroderivative units will help us meet demand during peak energy usage
and supplement solar generation on days when sunshine is limited.”
emissions abatement. LM6000 gas turbines take five minutes to reach full power and are designed for frequent cycling so they can withstand the rapid starts and stops required to complement renewables.
These GE Vernova units are slated to begin operation in 2028. They include a dual-fuel capability to run on natural gas or liquid fuels when required. The dry low emissions (DLE) combustor configuration can meet emissions limits in compliance with the regional air district requirements and avoids water consumption for NOx
The Kingston project follows earlier LM6000 installations such as those at TVA’s Johnsonville plant in 2023. The plan is for TVA to add 3.8 GW of natural gas generation to the grid between 2023 and 2028.
“Many of TVA’s new combustion turbines are replacing older, less efficient units,” said Jamie Cook, TVA’s General Manager of Major Projects. “We can operate natural gas units when other sources of generation aren’t available. They supplement those sources with reliable power when we need it most.”
These units are being fitted for double duty. At the end of the day or under cloudy conditions, natural gas power is needed fast when solar output declines. Additionally, many of these rotating assets serve as synchronous condensers. As TVA understands the need for grid stability, its planning for the Kingston plant includes maintaining reserve margins by providing transmission system voltage support to the local area to maintain system stability and reliability.
Accordingly, the company has ordered clutches for each LM6000 PF+ from SSS Clutch
www.modernpowersystems.com | November/December 2024 | 27
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