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Gas Power

South Korea’s Naepo District Heating Plant starts commercial operation, powered by GE Vernova’s H-Class combined cycle equipment

  • Naepo District Heating Plant, powered by GE Vernova’s advanced H-Class combined cycle equipment, now providing approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid and steam for district heating for over 100,000 citizens of Naepo City
  • The new gas turbine-based district heating plant will replace a previously planned Solid Refuse Fuel boiler plant
  • Project built on GE Vernova’ s extensive experience applying HA gas turbine technology to district heating projects in South Korea at GS Power’s Anyang plant

 Naepo City, South Korea — October 17, 2023 — GE Vernova’s Gas Power business (NYSE: GE) today announced the successful start of commercial operation for Naepo District Heating Plant, a cutting-edge district heating plant located in Naepo City, South Korea, powered by GE's H-Class gas combined cycle equipment. The facility, owned by Naepo Green Energy Co., Ltd., plays a vital role in providing approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid as well as supplying steam for district heating purposes for over 100,000 of Naepo’s citizens. In addition, the new plant prevents the need to purchase and maintain individual hot water boilers for citizens and provides significant support for the city’s colder winter months.

The completion of the Naepo District Heating Plant marks a significant milestone in the transition towards more sustainable and efficient power generation and heating solutions in South Korea. The new district heating plant, built by Lotte Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Lotte E&C), one of South Korea’s top engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies, replaces a planned Solid Refuse Fuel boiler plant, contributing to the government's objective of shifting away from high-emitting projects.

“We are proud to celebrate the start of commercial operation of the Naepo District Heating Plant, a significant achievement that underlines our commitment to delivering efficient and lower-emitting energy solutions” said a representative of Naepo Green Energy Co., Ltd.’s. “We trusted GE Vernova given their extensive experience executing projects of this scale in South Korea as well as the company’s technological and services leadership. With industry leading combined cycle capability for district heating operation, GE Vernova’s HA gas turbines was a natural choice for this kind of application and made it possible for us to provide both reliable, affordable, and lower-carbon electricity and steam to Naepo City.”

The plant is equipped with a 7HA.02 gas turbine, paired with its matching H65 generator, an STF-D650 Steam Turbine powering an H35 generator, a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), and a GE Vernova condenser. In addition, project will include comprehensive equipment maintenance services for 19 years.

"We’re proud that GE’s H-Class technology supported this first of its kind fuel conversion of the Naepo cogeneration plant. Changing the main energy source of the heat source facility from waste solid fuel (SRF) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) leads to significant improvements in fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and enhanced cost-effectiveness," said Ramesh Singaram, President & CEO for GE Vernova’s Gas Power business in Asia. “Our HA technology has demonstrated industry leading performance with close to 64% efficiency in combined cycle mode and over 91% efficiency in district heating mode. By capturing and reusing waste heat or steam that would otherwise be released into the environment, the plant increases energy output while reducing carbon emissions per unit of fuel consumed and supporting the transition towards a lower carbon future in the country.”

GE Vernova's expertise and proven technology in district heating applications in South Korea is a key factor to the successful completion of the Naepo project. GE Vernova has previously demonstrated its capabilities through projects including GS Power's combined cycle power plant in Anyang, powered by a GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbine, and Oseong Combined Cycle power plant in Pyeongtaek, powered by a GE Vernova 7F gas turbine.

GE Vernova is a major player in power generation in South Korea, where its gas turbines (simple and combined cycle) have the capacity to generate more than 14 gigawatts of electricity with an installed base of more than 77 units. It has been present in South Korea since 1976, working closely with local companies to support the country’s growth in energy, advanced infrastructure and healthcare. In 2015, GE Vernova undertook a large-scale manufacturing plant investment in Changwon, South Korea after acquiring Doosan’s HRSG business.

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About GE Vernova
GE Vernova is a planned, purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses of Advanced Research, Consulting Services, and Financial Services. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world’s challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with more than 80,000 employees across 140+ countries around the world. GE Vernova’s Gas Power business engineers advanced, efficient natural gas-powered technologies and services, along with decarbonization solutions that aim to help electrify a lower carbon future.

GE Vernova’s mission is embedded in its name – it retains its legacy, “GE,” as an enduring and hard-earned badge of quality and ingenuity. “Ver” / “verde” signal Earth’s verdant and lush ecosystems. “Nova,” from the Latin “novus,” nods to a new, innovative era of lower carbon energy. Supported by the Company Purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova will help deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova and LinkedIn.

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Naepo Power Plant
Image credit: Naepo Green Energy Co.
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Naepo Power Plant
Image credit: Naepo Green Energy Co,
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Laura Aresi
GE Vernova | Media Relations Leader, Power
Zatalini Zulkiply
GE Vernova | Communications Leader, APAC
+60 172 245752