Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 08 2021

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operation a 5-MW rooftop solar system at its turbine technology from General Electric Co system to ensure the stability of the grid
factory in Thailand. (GE) that is expected to achieve combined network. The system will be used to balance
The photovoltaic (PV) plant was built cycle efficiency exceed- ing 60%. SPG is the intermittent generation with smart and
atop the company’s production and sales unit first-ever power plant that commercially dynamic loads.
Laemchabang Factory of Mitsubishi Motors operates with this method. The virtual power plant project was
(Thailand) Co Ltd, or (MMTh), Mitsubishi’s Its turbine models are also GE’s latest and launched in 2019 by the Energy Research
largest manufacturing centre outside Japan. most efficient gas turbines. Institute at Nanyang Technological University
According to the press release, MMTh is Nor Azman said SPG’s successful and jointly funded by Singapore’s Energy
also planning to install a 2-MW solar power completion was achieved with the Market Authority (EMA) and Sembcorp
array “in the near future.” Together, the output collaborative efforts and support of Industries (Sembcorp).
of these two PV facilities is expected to cut stakeholders comprising regulators, The virtual power plant will use energy
the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from authorities, projects partners, financiers and generated from distributed energy resources
Mitsubishi’s production activities at the site by contractors. including solar and wind, integrate it
more than 6,100 tonnes per year. “Together we have made this another intelligently into the main grid and ensure the
At present, the Japanese tech giant is significant accomplishment for TNB in stability of the grid.
working on initiatives to cut its carbon delivering major projects for the country,” he Nirupa Chander, country managing
footprint by 40% from fiscal 2014 levels by said. director of Hitachi ABB Power Grids in
promoting renewables and developing utility- TNB and its wholly-owned subsidiary Singapore, said: “Singapore operates one of
scale solar projects at domestic and overseas TNB Power Generation own a majority stake the most reliable electricity networks in the
manufacturing centres, it said. of 70% in SPG, while SIPP Energy Sdn Bhd world.
MMTh operates car-production plants holds the remaining 30%. “This project is a good example of how
and an engine factory in Taiwan’s Chonburi The national utility giant acquired an multiple stakeholders i.e. the government
Province. additional 19% interest in SPG from SIPP (EMA), academia (NTU), industry
Energy for RM238mn in September last year. (Sembcorp) and technology providers like us
SPG was incorporated on Aug 12, 2016, as collaborate to deliver innovative solutions and
a special-purpose vehicle for the development accelerate the energy transition for a greener
GRID of a CCGT power plant in Pasir Gudang. future,” she added.
Mr Matthew Friedman, Sembcorp’s
Malaysia’s Southern chief digital officer, adds: “This marks a key
milestone in the VPP project, as energy
Power Generation to boost VIRTUAL POWER PL ANTS storage is critical to the efficient integration of
green energy into Singapore’s power grid.”
national grid Singapore selects Hitachi Professor Lam Khin Yong, reiterates: “To
NTU’s senior vice president of research,
SOUTHERN Power Generation Sdn Bhd ABB for virtual power plant meet the carbon emission standards of
(SPG) is prepared to supply 1,440MW of the future, Singapore will have to tap all
electrical power into the national grid from storage renewable energy sources, relying on artificial
its two 720MW combined cycle gas turbine intelligence and smart solutions to better
(CCGT) power plants. Technology firm Hitachi ABB Power Grids coordinate and manage all its energy sources
SPG’s Unit 1 power plant has achieved its has been selected to provide its energy storage efficiently.
commercial operation date (COD) on Jan solution for Singapore’s first virtual power
1, while Unit 2 has added another 720MW plant.
to Peninsular Malaysia’s existing generating Hitachi ABB Power Grids will provide its
capacity, raising it to a total of 25,962MW. e-mesh PowerStore battery energy storage
“I am proud to share that SPG can now
deliver its full generation capacity as its Unit 2
CCGT power plant has successfully achieved
its COD at midnight on Feb 19,” TNB Power
Generation Sdn Bhd MD Datuk Nor Azman
Mufti said in a recent bourse filing.
Nor Azman said the two power plants,
located in Pasir Gudang, Johor, are important
in reinforcing the security of Peninsular
Malaysia’s power supply.
Both plants are entirely operated and
maintained by TNB Repair and Maintenance
Sdn Bhd, a TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd
subsidiary. SPG supplies power to Tenaga
Nasional Bhd (TNB) through a 21-year power
purchase agreement, and its two plants use
natural gas as their primary fuel.
The electricity generated from these
plants is generated using 9HA.02 combustion

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