GE Vernova to supply gas turbine to Korea Western Power

GE Vernova on April 8 announced an agreement with Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), to supply 7HA.02 gas turbine and an H65 generator for KOWEPO's proposed power station in Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.

For the project, GE Vernova is part of an international consortium, including the Korean engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Daewoo E&C. 

KOWEPO's decision to transition from an aging coal-fired plant to a natural gas power generation facility aligns with South Korea's commitment to enhance energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and foster the adoption of renewable energy resources, GE Vernova said. 

The plant is projected to generate 500 MW of power, with the flexibility to incorporate up to 30% hydrogen fuel mix. 

“This power plant will add new capacity, expected to increase power supply security in South Korea while continuing to phase out coal power generation. In addition, it will help expand a more reliable deployment of renewable energy resources in our country as we’ll be more capable to dispatch power quickly in response to grid fluctuations,” said a representative from KOWEPO. 

With a targeted operational commencement set for 2027, the transition from coal-fired to gas-power generation is poised to yield significant environmental benefits. According to GE Vernova, the conversion alone can result in a reduction of up to 60% in carbon emissions, in addition to lowering levels of other pollutants such as mercury, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter.

“In a country with an increasing power demand due to planned coal-fired power plant retirements, we are proud to support a lower-carbon future in Korea,” said Ramesh Singaram, CEO GE Vernova’s Gas Power in Asia.