The gas unit of Dokouheh Power Plant is expected to come on stream in the spring of the next Iranian year (starting March 21, 2022), the deputy of projects development at the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company said.
“The combined-cycle power plant, consisting of a gas and a steam unit, has a total generation capacity of 451 megawatts. The plant’s construction has registered 64% progress,” Hamidreza Azimi was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal Paven.
Benefiting from an F-class turbine, the gas unit will help provide reliable and stable electricity in the southwestern province, especially in the hot season, he added.
The advanced F-class turbine used in the plant is the third of its kind made inside the country. With a capacity of 307 MW, it has been manufactured at the Turbine Engineering and Manufacturing Company (TUGA), a subsidiary of MAPNA Group.
It consumes less gas and is more eco-friendly. This type of turbine increases electricity generation in a simple- and combined-cycle power plant by 40% and 59% respectively.
Dokouheh Power Plant is built on 50 hectares near Andimeshk City in the oil-rich Khuzestan Province. In addition to the gas unit, the plant will have a steam unit with a capacity of 144 MW.
The plant will have 58% compliance with regulations set by the Energy Ministry, which require all new power plants to have an efficiency rate of 58% and above.
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 simple cycle plant. The waste heat from gas turbine is sent to a nearby steam turbine, which also generates electricity.
MAPNA Group, a conglomerate of Iranian companies, is involved in the development and execution of thermal and renewable power, and plays a key role in upgrading the key power industry.
German engineering giant Siemens, one of the world's biggest turbine manufacturers, signed an agreement with MAPNA in 2017 to help modernize Iran's energy infrastructure.
As part of the agreement, MAPNA acquired the know-how to manufacture Siemens F-class gas turbines in Iran. Now local engineers are capable of manufacturing this type of turbines.
The Energy Ministry is gradually phasing out inefficient power plants, improving and expanding electricity infrastructure and acquiring modern technology.
Effective steps have been taken to convert conventional plants into combined-cycle units to improve efficiency and reduce pollution and costs.
Established in 1999, TUGA manufactures turbines and other equipment for the power industry.
In the past decade, TUGA has manufactured over 300 gas and steam turbines with a nominal capacity of 32,000 MW.
