Long Ridge Energy Generation Project is a 485MW combined-cycle power plant being developed in Hannibal, Ohio, US. Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors (FTAI) is developing the project through its subsidiary Long Ridge Energy Generation.

Final investment decision for the power project was made in February 2019, with construction expected to be commenced in 2019. The plant is expected to begin operations by November 2021.

The power project aims to provide long-term, low-cost power to industrial energy users in the region as well as for consumers. It is expected to create approximately 350 jobs during construction and 20 permanent operational jobs.

Long Ridge Energy Generation Project location and make-up

The Long Ridge Energy Generation Project is being developed as part of the Long Ridge Energy terminal on an abandoned Ormet aluminium smelter site, which spreads over 1,600 acres in the Monroe County of Ohio and the Wetzel County of West Virginia.

The Long Ridge Energy Generation facility is a single-shaft combined-cycle gas turbine power plant. It will employ GE 7HA.02 gas turbine, one of the biggest and most efficient heavy-duty gas turbine in the world, along with a steam turbine, a hydrogen-cooled generator, and one heat recovery steam generator (HRSG).

Operating at 60Hz, the gas turbine has a rated combined-cycle output of 573MW. The turbine has a start-up time of less than 30 minutes and will achieve a net efficiency of 63.4%.

Financing for Long Ridge Energy Generation plant

LREG, along with two subsidiaries Ohio Gasco and Ohio PP Holdco, secured $589m of non-recourse financing for the project by entering a first lien credit agreement (FLCA) in February 2019.

The FLCA includes $445m of construction loan and a $154m of letter of credit (LC) facility. The company also holds the option to increase the LC facility to up to $179m.

Transmission of power generated at Long Ridge Energy Generation plant

Power generated at the Long Ridge Energy facility will be transmitted through two existing 138kV double-circuit transmission lines connecting the Ormet 138kV station.

The project calls for the construction of a new eight-circuit breaker switching station at the Ormet station site. To be called the Hannibal station, the new switching station will be owned and operated by American Electric Power (AEP).

The Hannibal station will involve new installations including the associated protection and control equipment, line risers, SCADA system, revenue metering system, and other associated infrastructure.

The existing Kammer-Ormet 138kV transmission lines will be rerouted to enter the new Hannibal 138kV station.

Contractors involved

Kiewit Power Constructors was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the project in February 2019.

General Electric is supplying power generation equipment including the 7HA.02 gas turbine for the Long Ridge Energy Generation project, under a multi-year services agreement.