GE Power's LMS100 Gas Turbine To Support Grid Stability In South Asia

• GE Power to supply the first high-efficiency LMS100 Gas Turbine in South Asia – to power the upcoming 100 MW power plant in Shahjibazar, Bangladesh
• The power plant is designed to work under three modes – base, peak and swing to meet the regional grid’s variable demand

GE Power recently announced that it has been selected by the Jiangsu Etern Company Limited to supply its LMS100 gas turbine for an upcoming 100 (±10) megawatt (MW) simple cycle natural gas-based power plant located in the city of Shahjibazar in Bangladesh. The order, worth multi-million USD, includes supplying the gas turbine equipment and providing related services for installation, testing and commissioning. The project is expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2019.

The LMS100 is among GE’s high-efficiency aeroderivative gas turbines ideally suited to meet fluctuating grid conditions due to their heightened flexibility and helping to provide a high degree of stability to the grid. The embedded dual-fuel capability gives additional flexibility to the gas turbine, enabling it to operate on both natural gas and LPG with zero fuel transition cost. GE’s LMS100 technology is apt for the power plants currently running on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) or Diesel in South Asian countries of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“Bangladesh is an important country for us, wherein each power project is designed to meet the local power demand and challenges such as load variation. We are proud to partner with GE Power, getting the necessary technical expertise and the best-suited equipment for the upcoming power plant in Shahjibazar,” said Mr. Yan Wei, Vice Chairman, Jiangsu Etern Co. Ltd.

Jiangsu Etern Co. Ltd. has won the contract from Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for setting-up the Shahjibazar power plant on a turnkey basis. The 100 MW power plant is a part of the larger initiative undertaken by BPDB to improve grid stability with power generation systems. The power plant is designed to work under three modes – base, peak and swing – to meet the grid’s variable demand. The Shahjibazar project also marks BPDB’s first EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract for an aeroderivative gas turbine in the Bangladesh power segment.

“The South Asian region needs advanced technologies to support its growing power infrastructure – particularly those focused on managing grid frequency and load variations. By utilizing GE’s high-efficiency LMS100 technology for the first time in region, the upcoming power plant in Shahjibazar will leverage the latest flexible gas power technologies to enhance grid stability and fuel availability for years to come,” said Deepesh Nanda, CEO, Gas Power Systems, GE South Asia.

With fast 10-minute start-up, higher efficiency and unrestricted daily stops and starts compared to similar technologies, the LMS100 gas turbine provides a proven, economical solution for the 100+ MW power dispatch needs. The LMS100 fleet has surpassed over 350,000 combined hours of successful operation, with over 44,000 starts and outstanding average reliability of 99.6 percent and average availability of 98 percent.

This will be GE’s third power plant project with BPDB in Shahjibazar with the other two installed with 2 x 6B and 2 X 9E.03 gas turbines. GE’s presence in the Bangladesh power segment has grown significantly over the years and GE Power’s technology is contributing steadily to generate reliable and affordable electricity in the country. GE provides a full scope of services and equipment portfolio to meet the power requirements across the region and beyond.