HK Electric today (7 August, 2018) marked the completion of installation of all major components of its new gas-fired generating unit (L10) in a "drum-lifting" ceremony at Lamma Power Station. The L10, a gas-fired combined cycle turbine unit, will allow the Company to take a major step forward in increasing natural gas generation in the future.
The drum-lifting today was for the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) which is part of the gas-fired unit consisting of more than 2,400 tons of steel structures and tube bundles. With an installed capacity of 380 MW, the L10 is a base-load unit comprising a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a generator, a heat recovery steam generator and miscellaneous auxiliary equipment. Given the current progress, it is expected to come into operation as scheduled in 2020.
Officiating at the ceremony, Managing Director of HK Electric, Mr. Wan Chi-tin, said that apart from L10, the Company is also constructing L11, another gas-fired unit. Together with the newly-approved unit L12, these three gas-fired units will be commissioned successively within the next five years.
Other than building gas-fired units, HK Electric is also identifying new sources of natural gas so as to address the significant increase in gas generation in the near future.
“We have recently submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the development of an offshore LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) terminal using the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit technology in Hong Kong waters, and this is pending Government approval,” he said.
“This terminal will allow us to import LNG directly from international markets to enhance our negotiating power for pricing as well as the security and stability of natural gas supply,” he added.
The proportion of HK Electric's gas-fired generation will substantially increase from the current above 30 per cent to about 70 per cent by 2023, Mr. Wan noted.
“As we enter into a new era of gas-fired generation, we are contributing to Hong Kong's transition into a low-carbon city, in line with the HKSAR Government’s targets of combating climate change and improving the air quality in Hong Kong,” he said.
Mr. Wan also indicated that all works have progressed smoothly over the past three years, thanks to the close cooperation between HK Electric's project team and business partners to overcome various difficulties and challenges. He said he is fully confident that the units will be completed and commissioned on schedule.
General Manager of the engineering headquarters of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (“MHPS”), Mr. Katsunori Uchida, who arrived from Japan for the ceremony, said: “Mitsubishi appreciates the long and great relationship with HK Electric for more than 40 years. It is our great honour to contribute to electricity generation for Hong Kong.”
All the main components of L10 were designed, manufactured, tested and installed under instructions by MHPS. In the upcoming months, piping installation work and various electrical and mechanical works will be carried out prior to testing and commissioning to be commenced by early next year, and preparation for its integration into the electricity grid and trial operation.
The "combined-cycle generation technology" adopted in the new unit is one of the cleanest, most advanced and efficient ways to generate electricity from fossil fuels in the world. Additional power can be generated by a steam turbine using the high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine, in addition to the power it produced, resulting in outstanding fuel efficiency.
The L10 is also the first of its kind in Hong Kong to be equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction system in the heat recovery steam generator to further reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.