Vietnam’s energy landscape has reached a significant milestone with the commissioning of a groundbreaking power facility that represents both immediate energy security and future sustainability goals. The Nhon Trach 3&4 Power Plant stands as a testament to advanced engineering and forward-thinking energy planning in Southeast Asia. This facility marks several firsts for Vietnam while establishing a foundation for the country’s transition toward cleaner energy sources and grid modernization efforts.
Vietnam inaugurates its first facility featuring HA turbine technology
The 1.6 gigawatt Nhon Trach 3&4 Power Plant is successfully operational and is the first gas-fired power plant in Vietnam. The power plant is set up in Ong Keo Industrial Park and is located some 70 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. The total investment for this power plant is $1.4 billion. This power plant operates with a huge efficiency level of over 63 percent and is one of the most efficient power plants in operation globally.
PetroVietnam Power Corporation undertook the development project together with Samsung C&T and Lilama as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractors. It is composed of two blocks with a capacity greater than 800 megawatts, which utilize GE Vernova’s 9HA.02 gas turbine, STF-D650 steam turbine, W88 generator, and Once Through Heat Recovery Steam Generator technology with advanced water-steam cycle capability that provides better efficiency than other power generation setups.
Strategic LNG infrastructure enables national energy transition
The energy project enhances the natural gas-fired power generation capacity of Vietnam as the country moves to abandon the use of coal for power generation. The Adjusted PDP8 amendment to the National Power Development Plan VIII of Vietnam identifies the integral role of LNG in the country’s flexible power generation mix, with over 22 gigawatts planned for 2030. This capacity represents 9.5 to 12.3 percent of the country’s power generation system.
PV Power signed a 25-year contract with sister company PetroVietnam Gas for the supply of LNG to the plant, which is the country’s first LNG deal that sees a supply amount of 530 million mmscfd in the initial five years, thus meeting Vietnam’s demand for additional power needed in the regions of Ho Chi Minh City as well as in the province of Dong Nai.
“The solution for Vietnam’s power transition needs to be balanced in terms of capacity, efficient power generation, and sustainability. This prompted us to pick GE Vernova’s 9HA.02 gas turbine for Nhon Trach 3&4 power plant operations, as stated by a rep for PV Power.
Advanced turbine design enables future hydrogen integration
The 9HA.02 gas turbine technology has flexibility in switching fuels, which enables the project to meet both short-term and long-term sustainable objectives for energy transition. The project is now running on LNG and has a capability to support up to 50% hydrogen cofiring and sets up plans for conversion to fully run on hydrogen in the coming decades to meet Vietnam’s net-zero objectives. The General Electric Vernova’s Integrated Mark VIe Distributed Control System enables PV Power to enhance asset visibility and reliability while minimizing operational expenses.
Reduce carbon emissions and adopt efficient gas power technology to ensure that growth in renewable energy sources in Vietnam is supported by clean and efficient gas power technology that enhances grid reliability and stability. This power plant emits 60% fewer carbon emissions than a fuel-fired power plant with equal gross electrical output, said Ramesh Singaram, President and CEO for GE Vernova’s Gas Power Asia Pacific.
The plant emits reduced carbon emissions compared to thermal power stations that consume coal. GE Vernova’s Nhon Trach 3&4 project provides an investment in the future for the energy sector of Vietnam with the dual benefit of providing reliable electricity now and ensuring the future remains sustainable through planning for the decarbonization of the country and the renewable energy mix for the future.
