Mexico’s enlargement of its energy era capability, significantly from pure fuel, continues as GE Vernova and Iberdrola Mexico on Jan. 3 introduced the beginning of economic operation of the 766-MW Topolobampo III energy plant. Mexico is constructing extra gas-fired era items to allow use of the nation’s home pure fuel assets.
The Topolobampo facility, positioned in Sinaloa state, is served by the Topolobampo fuel pipeline, and powered by GE’s H-class mixed cycle gear. It options two 7HA.01 fuel generators, the primary such generators deployed in a Mexican energy station.
“Iberdrola, as a world renewable vitality chief, has all the time been engaged on extra sustainable energy era with a concentrate on investing in a portfolio of renewable vitality, supported by environment friendly fuel energy,” mentioned Enrique Alba, CEO, Iberdrola Mexico. “Flexibility is important for incorporating renewable vitality sources into the grid like wind and solar energy and GE Vernova’s H-Class gear, on the coronary heart of our Topolobampo III energy plant, is essential to help the expansion of renewables energy era in Mexico.”
Mexico’s Pure Gasoline Manufacturing
Mexico, which for years has imported pure fuel from the U.S., additionally ranks among the many world’s 25 largest producers of the gasoline, in accordance with authorities information. Researchers have mentioned the nation’s pure fuel manufacturing rose 18% year-over-year from 2021 to 2022. Mexican officers have mentioned extra gas-fired energy vegetation—together with from Iberdrola’s portfolio—additionally present grid reliability and resilience to help the nation’s objective of greater than doubling renewable vitality era capability this decade, from its present 15 GW to 40 GW by 2030.
Authorities information exhibits pure fuel accounted for about 55% of Mexico’s electrical energy era in 2022, adopted by hydropower at about 10%. The nation has three working coal-fired services with complete era capability of about 5,400 MW. Mexico has one nuclear energy plant, the two-reactor Laguna Verde facility with about 1,500 MW of era capability.
Mexico final yr modified the way in which it defines clear vitality assets, with the vitality ministry Sener in Could 2023 saying the nation will meet its law-mandated clear vitality era targets in 2024 on account of change in the way it considers pure gas-powered vegetation. The brand new guidelines from CRE, Mexico’s vitality regulator, say that some cogeneration and mixed cycle vegetation that use residual steam to energy second-generation generators (along with a traditional combustion turbine) will now be categorised as clear vitality producers.
GE Gear
GE Vernova’s gear at Topolobampo III, along with the 2 7HA.01 fuel generators, features a D650 steam turbine, three H53 turbines, and superior plant management methods with GE Vernova’s built-in Mark* VIe Distributed Management System (DCS). GE Vernova on Wednesday mentioned the DCS provides “the chance to make use of real-time information to ship higher outcomes supporting secure and environment friendly operations. The bundle is aimed to assist Iberdrola enhance asset visibility, reliability, and availability whereas decreasing working and upkeep prices.” Officers mentioned the 2 warmth restoration steam turbines, or HRSGs, on the facility have been equipped by CERREY, GE Vernova’s native HRSG expertise licensee.
“In Mexico, GE Vernova continues to help the progress of the nation’s vitality targets, working alongside our long-term buyer Iberdrola. Because the demand for electrical energy in Mexico continues to develop at a fast tempo, our HA expertise, prolonged scope merchandise and superior digital capabilities are serving to to rework the way in which future calls for are met by delivering extra dependable, environment friendly and versatile energy to the nation,” mentioned Dave Ross, president and CEO for GE Vernova’s Gasoline Energy enterprise within the Americas. “We’re proud to be a part of this thrilling venture, which marks the primary order for our 7HA.01 expertise in Mexico. The 7HA fuel turbine at its core was engineered from the bottom as much as be extraordinarily environment friendly and versatile to assist decrease emissions and meet fluctuating demand. We anticipate continued effectivity positive factors within the years to return.”
$2 Billion Funding
GE Vernova mentioned it has invested practically $2 billion within the improvement of its HA expertise. The corporate mentioned the 7HA.01 turbine can begin and supply full energy in underneath 10 minutes. The turbine is also able to burning hydrogen when blended with pure fuel.
GEIQ, GE Vernova’s engineering middle in Queretaro, Mexico, offered engineering help for the venture.
Iberdrola Mexico mentioned the brand new energy plant provides to the corporate’s portfolio in Mexico, which incorporates greater than 11 GW of era capability from 28 energy vegetation, together with gas-fired mixed cycles, cogeneration, and wind and photo voltaic farms.
“We’re proud to have fun this milestone venture with GE Vernova,” mentioned Alba. “It additional strengthens our longstanding relationship with a participant which has all the time offered us with each probably the most dependable expertise and wonderful service throughout the previous 23 years.”
—Darrell Proctor is a senior affiliate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
