Rendering of the gas fired power plant to be built in Alexandroupolis, Greece. Credit: Copelouzos Group

GE has received an order to provide power generation equipment for Damco Energy’s 840MW natural gas-fired power plant to be built in Alexandroupolis, Greece.

The Alexandroupolis plant, scheduled to be operational in 2026, will be powered by a fuel-flexible GE 9HA.02 gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, a W88 generator, a triple pressure with reheat Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), and a Distributed Control System (DCS) software solution.

The contract also includes a 14-year service agreement.

Alexandroupolis Electricity Production SA will finance, construct, own and operate the new power plant with Greek Copelouzos Group’s DAMCO nominated as EPC contractor.

“Alexandroupolis power plant is in the crossroads of the natural gas network of the Balkan region,” said Andreas Diamandopoulos, general manager, DAMCO.

“It was crucial for us to select the most advanced technology, such as GE’s 9HA.02 gas turbine, to help secure the lowest cost of conversion from gas to electricity to support the energy transition in Greece.”

GE 9HA.02 gas turbines can operate on a variety of fuels, including blends of hydrogen and natural gas to support decarbonisation of the plant and align with the country’s overall clean energy goals.

Natural gas is the greatest source of energy used for electricity production in Greece, according to Statista. Between January and June 2020, 8TWh of electricity were generated using gas.

According to GE, gas power generation is expected to continue to play a crucial role in Greece’s energy mix as sector reforms expand the share of natural gas and renewables.

Greece’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources in its gross final energy consumption to 35% by 2030.

As renewables increase, system operators and energy suppliers will require more gas to ensure reliable supply of energy.