Expansion of the Qurrayah Independent Power Plant (QIPP) gets closer in sight after Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC). Also at the table for the expansion of the largest independent power generation project in the world was ACWA Power. The cost of the expansion project currently stands at 3.56 billion (SAR13.35 billion).
Expansion of the largest independent power generation project in the world
The SAR13.4 billion expansion of the largest independent power generation project in the world will majorly involve the construction of a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant. The plant will have a total capacity of 3,010 MW. Also included in the plan is the development of a carbon capture unit. A 380 kV substation has also been hinted of.
Saudi’s Ministry of Energy will oversee the QIPP expansion project. Once complete, the power plant will further boost the Kingdom’s electricity production capacity. Also as an aim is the enhancement of the plant’s operational efficiency.
Qurrayah Independent Power Plant (QIPP) factsheet
Location: Qurrayah, Eastern Saudi Arabia
Developer: Hajr Electricity Production
Engineering & Construction: Samsung C&T, Siemens
Turbine supplier for the gas-fired project: Siemens
Electric generator supplier: Siemens
Steam boiler supplier: BHI
Project Operation & Maintenance: Siemens, The First National Operation & Maintenance
Chiller Plant Operation & Maintenance: Saudi Tabreed Operation and Maintenance (STOM)
Plant Operation: Remote Manual
Start of construction date: 2013
Start of operation / Commissioning date: August 2014
Overview of the QIPP and it’s expansion
The QIPP was constructed in three phases across a one year time-frame. Located in Qurrayah on the Saudi Arabian eastern coast, the QIPP generates up to 3,927 MW of electricity. This is sold to Saudi Electricity Company, and will be so for a while as the lease PPA indicated 20 years of supply.
The largest independent power generation project in the world features a highly thermal efficient energy-producing unit. The combined-cycle gas-fired power plant was also designed with a Turbine Inlet Cooling (TIC) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) which commenced operation in 2014. It runs on both natural gas and diesel, with priority anchored to the former.
According to official statement, once QIPP realizes the expansion project, it will mark an important step in the shift to more “sustainable alternatives” from “oil-based power generation”. The expansion project will also help in the long-term efforts to realize Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 objectives.
