Twin-fuel gas turbine goes live

A GAS turbine that can burn both diesel and natural gas has gone on line at the Vasiliko power plant.

The €220 million combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) is said to be around 25 per cent more efficient that traditional steam turbines.

In a combined cycle power plant, a gas turbine generator generates electricity and the waste heat is used to make steam to generate additional electricity via a steam turbine. This last step enhances the efficiency of electricity generation. Most new gas power plants in North America and Europe are of this type.

The CCGT is manufactured by General Electric, which has also been awarded a three-year contract for maintenance of the turbine. The Electricity Authority of Cyprus meanwhile has signed another contract for a second CCGT, and there are plans for a third.

With the addition of the CCGT, which underwent extensive testing, the electricity grid’s total output has increased to 1135 megawatts.

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