June 27, 2024 [LNG Prime]- Japan’s Jera is nearing the launch of the first new LNG unit at its Goi thermal power plant in Chiba as part of a replacement project which includes the construction of three LNG units.

The power firm and LNG trader said on Thursday it has drawn up measures to address the heavy-load summer season from July to September.

To avoid fuel constraints and an electricity supply-demand crunch this summer, Jera plans wherever possible to avoid scheduling thermal power plant repairs and inspections during the summer.

The joint venture of Tokyo Electric and Chubu Electric said it is securing power supply capacity by “moving steadily forward” with the construction of thermal power stations as part of planned replacements.

“In August, we plan to begin operation of Goi Thermal Power Station Unit 1 (Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture) through our subsidiary Goi United Generation,” Jera said.

Jera previously said that it expects to launch the first LNG unit at its Goi thermal power station in August 2024, the second unit in November 2024, and the third unit in March 2025.

Each of the units is able to produce 780 MW for a total of 2,340 MW.

The Goi thermal power station replacement project involves the replacement of six ageing gas-fired steam power units at the facility.

Last year, Jera agreed to transfer a stake in the LNG power plant to compatriot Kyushu Electric Power.

Following completion of the transfer, the ownership ratio in the power plant between Jera, Eneos, and Kyushu Electric is 9:5:1.

Jera also launched last year commercial operations at the third new LNG-fueled unit at its Anegasaki thermal power station in Chiba.

With this, Jera completed the project which consisted of building three new units to replace aging equipment.

Jera decommissioned in December 2021 four old LNG-fueled units at its Anegasaki power plant.

Ammonia co-firing trial at Hekinan coal power plant

Jera also said in a separate statement that it has concluded demonstration testing of fuel ammonia substitution at the Hekinan thermal power station unit 4.

Under this project, JERA and IHI have conducted the world’s first demonstration testing of large-volume fuel ammonia substitution (20 percent of heating value) at a large-scale coal-fired thermal power plant, it said.

On April 10, this demonstration testing achieved 20 percent substitution of fuel ammonia while operating at a rated output of 1 GW, according to Jera.

“Results were positive, confirming that the level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) generated was no higher than before fuel ammonia substitution (than when firing coal alone), a 20 percent reduction in sulfur oxides (SOx), and that generation of N2O, which has a strong greenhouse effect, was below the threshold for detection,” it said.

Based on the results of this recent demonstration testing, Jera will in July begin construction aimed at commercial operation using large-volume fuel ammonia substitution at the Hekinan thermal power station, the company said.

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