Did you know the Goi Power Station is undergoing a significant transformation? Let’s delve into the story of this vital energy hub in Chiba Prefecture. The Goi Power Station has been a source of power since 1963. For decades it was operated by Tokyo Electric Power known as TEPCO. In April 2019, JERA took over. JERA is a joint venture between TEPCO and Chubu Electric Power.
The Goi Power Station is located at Goi-Kaigan. This is near Ichihara City on a 400,000 square meter site. This location is strategic for energy production in the Chiba Prefecture of Japan.
In March 2018, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry approved a plan to replace the aging facility. JERA and JXT Nippon signed an agreement in September 2018. They agreed to jointly construct operate and maintain a new combined-cycle generating facility. This would be at the existing Goi Power Station site.
The replacement project is quite substantial. It involves building three new gas-fired combined-cycle units. Their total capacity will be 2.34GW. These units will replace six older gas-fired steam power units. The investment is estimated at a staggering 1.86 billion US dollars.
Goi United Generation is executing the replacement project. It is a joint venture by JERA and JXT Nippon. The contract for this massive undertaking was awarded in July 2019. Construction started in 2021. The commissioning of the new LNG-fired combined-cycle units is scheduled between 2024 and 2025.
Each of the three combined-cycle units boasts a capacity of 780MW. They are equipped with advanced technology. This includes a high-efficiency air-cooled 9HA.02 gas turbine from GE. Each unit also has a steam turbine and a heat recovery steam generator from Toshiba Energy System & Solutions.
The GE 9HA.02 gas turbine is impressive. It offers a 70MW per minute ramping capability. It can operate at 64% thermal efficiency in a combined-cycle configuration.
Toshiba ESS and Toshiba Plant System & Services Corporation have a crucial role. They form a consortium responsible for the engineering procurement and construction. Toshiba ESS handles civil engineering plant design equipment supply and construction. TPSC is in charge of equipment installation.
The existing Goi Power Station has a history. It consists of six LNG-fired steam power units. They were commissioned between 1963 and 1968. The first four units had a rated power output of 265MW each. Units five and six each had a capacity of 350MW. In 1994, Unit six was upgraded with a Hitachi gas-fired unit.
The LNG for the Goi Power Station comes from the Futtsu LNG import terminal. This terminal is located in Shintomi Futtsu. The Goi Power Station replacement marks a new chapter. It secures a reliable energy supply for the region. It uses advanced technology for greater efficiency. It contributes to Japan’s energy infrastructure. The Goi Power Station stands as a testament to progress. It ensures power for years to come.