Full-scale Construction of Coal Gasification Furnace Begins at 540 MW IGCC Plant in Fukushima

On March 13, a joint ceremony was held by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) and Nakoso IGCC Power GK to mark the full-scale launch of on-site construction of a coal gasification furnace that will form the core of an integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant in Iwaki, Fukushima, ordered by Nakoso IGCC Power. The plant will have a generating capacity of 540 megawatts (MW), with operation scheduled to commence in September 2020.

The coal gasification furnace for Nakoso IGCC Power is presently being manufactured as the first product of its kind at MHPS’s dedicated plant, which was completed at Nagasaki in 2017. Shipments will begin this June. The plant provides outstanding reliability and short lead time in manufacturing component modules for coal gasification furnaces that offer superlative durability against high temperatures and pressures. This capability derives from MHPS’s welding and other core technologies cultivated through the manufacture of boilers for conventional coal-fired power generation.

In an IGCC system, coal is gasified in a high-temperature, high-pressure gasification furnace, and power is generated using a high-efficiency combined-cycle format integrating gas and steam turbines. The system is revolutionary in that power generation efficiency is significantly higher and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions lower than conventional coal-fired plants. Providing the dual advantages efficient use of resources and environmental protection, demand for IGCC plants is expected to grow worldwide, especially in countries such as Japan which lack abundant resources.

Nakoso IGCC Power’s construction of the IGCC plant—the world’s most advanced coal-fired power plant—is being developed to create industrial infrastructure and contribute to the revitalization of Fukushima Prefecture.

Going forward, MHPS will continue to contribute to efficient use of resources and protection of the global environment through robust initiatives to promote adoption of IGCC, today’s leading-edge technology for efficient power generation.