MAPNA Group personnel have synchronized the first gas unit of Sahand Combined Cycle Power Plant with the national grid on September 1, 2024.
The plant utilizes the MGT-80 gas turbine, an F-class turbine with a capacity of 307 MW, manufactured by MAPNA Turbine Engineering and Manufacturing Company (TUGA).
Sahand consists of one gas-fired unit and one steam cycle with a power generation capacity of 144 MWs (451 MWs overall). Upon completion, the power plant will have an efficiency of 58 percent.
For years, MAPNA Group has been transferring the technical knowledge required to manufacture F-class turbines and generators, which are more efficient than their predecessors.
This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of thermal power plants and develop the country’s power industry. The F-class turbines and generators not only offer high efficiency but also produce lower emissions, aligning with sustainable development goals and international environmental agreements, particularly the Paris Agreement.
This technology transfer has also positively impacted job creation in factories and boosted the country’s power industry capabilities.
The move towards F-class turbines came in line with an agreement with the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company, a subsidiary of Power Ministry, to improve efficiency and reduce electricity waste.
The agreement stipulates the construction of 5,000 MW of thermal power plants using F-class gas turbines made inside the country.
Thermal Power Plants Holding Company is the client of the megaproject, and Ghods Niroo serves as a consultant. MAPNA Special Projects Construction & Development Company (MD-3) represents MAPNA Group as the executor of the agreement.
Utilizing state-of-the-art gas turbine technology, the MGT-80 heavy-duty gas turbine offers significantly high nominal power output of 307 MW and gross efficiency of up to 40% and 59% in simple and combined cycle applications, respectively.
MGT80 is an environment-friendly product with minimized NOx and CO emissions. The smooth, reliable, and robust performance of the machine, as well as higher maintenance intervals and extended lifetime, let clients benefit from its second-to-none features while reducing fuel consumption. In addition to electrical power generation, the MGT-80 can be used in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants and large-scale desalination plants as well.
The Sahand Combined Cycle Power Plant project offers several notable benefits, including stable energy supply, reduced concerns over power outages, especially during peak consumption periods, a 15% reduction in carbon emissions, and significant reductions in water and gas consumption for electricity generation.
The power plant runs primarily on natural gas but can also consume diesel fuel for power generation. The new power plant is adjacent to an older 650-MW plant in the vicinity of the city of Bonab. Upon completion, an overall power capacity of 1000 MWs will provide industrial and agricultural sectors in the southern part of East Azerbaijan Province with necessary electricity to develop their operations.