Iran's Thermal Power Plants Holding Company, a subsidiary of the Energy Ministry, concluded an agreement Sunday with the privately-owned Farab Company to convert Bampour (Iranshahr) simple-cycle power plant in Sistan-Baluchestan Province into a combined-cycle station, the TPPHC boss said.
“Farab will construct a 160-megawatt steam unit that will increase the plant’s current efficiency from 30 to 50%,” Mohsen Tarztalab was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The facility already has two gas-powered units each with 160- MW capacity and the steam unit will increase the capacity to 480 MW, he said.
Moving to steam power is part of the government policy to convert simple-cycle plants into combined-cycle units to boost efficiency. Energy efficiency of conventional thermal power stations, considered salable energy produced as a percent of the heating value of the fuel consumed, is typically 30%.
Given the extreme heat produced by gas-fueled turbines, their efficiency is limited and governed by the laws of thermodynamics. Thermal accounts for 80% of total electricity generation in Iran and improving efficiency is crucial.
A combined-cycle power plant uses both gas and steam turbines to produce up to 50% more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine is rerouted to a steam turbine, which in turn generates more power.
“The project is estimated to cost $160 million,” he said, and added that the steam unit will help reduce gas consumption (as feedstock) in the facility by as much as 190 million cubic meters per year.
Founded in 1992, Farab PJSC is currently working on several domestic and international projects in a wide variety of fields namely hydro power, thermal power plants, oil, gas, petrochemical projects, railroads, civil works, smart grids, water treatment plants and water desalination.
Farab has built several power plants two of which are Dalahou Combined Cycle Power Plant in Eslamabad-e-Gharb County, Kermanshah Province and South Pars Combined Cycle Power Plant in Bushehr Province.
“Sistan-Baluchestan is an underdeveloped region and needs investment for developing its energy infrastructure.”
It is hoped that improving energy infrastructure will help underpin sustainable growth in the region.
Mobile Power
In related news, the Energy Ministry news portal quoted Alireza Parandeh Motlaq, managing director of Sistan Provincial Electricity Company, as saying that the second mobile power plant has been synchronized with the national grid to help prevent power disruption in Saravan city in the region.
"The 25-MW portable trailer-mounted mobile turbine can help stabilize power supply in the southeastern region," he said.
TPPHC launched the mobile power plan at a cost of $30 million, he said.
“Power transformers have been installed in different locations,” he said, adding that the unit uses both natural gas and diesel.
Referring to the first portable turbine that was installed in 2019 and cost $10 million, he said both units (constructed by Mapna, the engineering and energy giant) have 35% efficiency.
Power plants in Sistan-Baluchestan generate 1,100 MW while the province requires at least 1,500 MW to avoid frequent power outages that have harmed industries taking a toll on electrical equipment and reducing efficiency.
Daily electricity consumption in the southeastern province surpasses 1,500 MW between June and August.
Mobile power units are space conscious and can be transported anywhere by land, air, or sea for rapid deployment. When installed the turbine starts producing power within half an hour.
