Japanese utility Chugoku Electric Power is considering revamping ageing units at its Yanai gas-fired power generation plant, aiming to cut CO2 emissions by installing the latest combined-cycle gas-turbine (CCGT) technology.
Chugoku is set to start preparing for the environmental impact assessment to refurbish the 198MW No.2-1 and No.2-2 units at Yanai in western Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture. Both units have already adopted CCGT technologies. But it has been nearly 30 years since the units started operations in 1996, which has caused ageing issues in equipment, Chugoku said.
Chugoku aims to improve generation efficiency at the No.2-1 and No.2-2 units from the current 50.9pc to more than 60pc. It is still unclear when the company is planning to conduct the upgrading, which is dependent on the environmental assessment process.
The Yanai plant consists of six 131MW units at the No.1 unit and four 198MW units at the No.2 unit. All the units use CCGT technology. Chugoku is not currently considering upgrading the other units, except for the No.2-1 and No.2-2 units.
Chugoku is also planning to co-fire with hydrogen at the Yanai gas-fired plant in the future. This is part of its strategy to achieve a 10pc hydrogen mix in its overall gas-fired power generation in the 2030s, the company said.

