Mitsubishi supports Brazilian power plant fuelled with pre-salt gas
Mitsubishi Power Americas announced June 17 that it shipped a turbine to Brazil to be used in a power plant that will utilise associated gas from offshore pre-salt basins.
The company said it shipped an M501JAC gas turbine to Marlim Azul Energia’s power plant in Rio de Janeiro. Once operations begin in 2023, Mitsubishi said the plant is expected to be among the most fuel-efficient in South America and the first in Brazil to use associated gas from the country’s pre-salt basins offshore.
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“Our goal is to make energy generation from Brazilian pre-salt gas a reality,” Bruno Chevalier, the CEO of Marlim Azul Energia, said.
Apart from vast oil riches offshore, the pre-salt basins of Brazil hold considerable volumes of associated natural gas. First oil from the Bacalhau oil and gas field, for example, is expected by 2024, though a floating production storage and offloading unit for the site can handle 15mn m3/d of natural gas.
Brazilian regulator ANP approved a development plan for Bacalhau's first phase in March, requesting that the developers file a preliminary study for its second phase by December 31, 2022 that includes a plan for commercialising its gas.
“The project will increase Brazil’s energy stability by using pre-salt natural gas,” said Paul Browning, the CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas.
Mitsubishi said the turbine has the lowest carbon emissions per unit of power when used in combined cycle. It can run on 30% hydrogen fuel and can be upgraded to utilise 100% hydrogen if need be. In addition, the gas-fired unit will complement wind- and solar-power generation.