Oklahoma’s Grand River Energy Center to add second gas turbine
The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) and Mitsubishi Power are partnering to provide a second advanced class gas turbine to the Grand River Energy Center in Chouteau, Okla.
This will be the first M501JAC gas turbine to operate in simple cycle in the United States. The turbine will provide operational flexibility and fast start-up times to meet the needs of GRDA’s evolving electricity grid. The signing ceremony for Unit 4 was held on Oct. 2 at the Energy Center.
This turbine, Unit 4, replaces the last remaining coal-fired unit at the Grand River Energy Center. The construction on the project is slated to begin in January of 2024, with the unit expected to be operational by April 2026.
“We are excited about this historic investment to enhance our generation portfolio at GRDA,” Dan Sullivan, CEO at GRDA, Oklahoma’s largest public utility, said. “Our long, proven history with Mitsubishi Power, and the strong partnership we have built over the past decade, allows us to invest in world-class power generation and help GRDA continue to meet the growing demands of providing affordable and reliable energy to our customers.”
This is the second project the GRDA has awarded to Mitsubishi Power for its Grand River Energy Center in the last 10 years. In addition to this new unit, the first-ever J-series advanced gas turbine to operate in the U.S. is located at the Center’s Unit 3 project. This 500-megawatt (MW) gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power station began operations in 2017.
“By replacing its coal-fired units with our advanced J-Class gas turbines, including Unit 4’s hydrogen-capable turbine, GRDA is demonstrating its continuing commitment to cleaner, more flexible and reliable energy production. Our long-term relationship with GRDA was born out of mutual trust and confidence cultivated over nearly a decade. We look forward to continuing our commitment to providing high-quality technology and services to the GRDA,” Bill Newsom, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas, said.
The M501JAC enhanced air-cooled gas turbine for Unit 4 will replace the Energy Center’s Unit 2, a 492-megawatt coal-fired generator that came online in 1985.
This new natural gas-fired unit will result in emissions reduction and help to meet efficiency goals. The Unit 4 gas turbine is also hydrogen-capable and can be adapted in the future to operate on a blend or 100 percent hydrogen.
GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility, funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes.
