The Shinsejong project is a 630MW natural gas-fired combined cycle power and heat generation plant under construction in the Chungcheongnam province, South Korea.

Korea Southern Power Company (KOSPO), a subsidiary of the national utility Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is responsible for the development of the combined heat and power generation project with an estimated total investment of £434m ($601m).

Construction on the project commenced in September 2021, after the South Korea Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy approved the construction plan for the power plant in June 2021.

The power plant is scheduled to begin operations in February 2024.

Project Gallery

Upon completion, the Shinsejong combined cycle power plant will sell electricity to the Korea Power Exchange and supply about 340 giga calories per hour (Gcal/h) of heat to the Sejong city, the administrative capital of South Korea.

The power plant is estimated to produce enough electricity to power approximately 160,000 South Korean homes, at full capacity. It will also be able to supply heat to about 270,000 people.

Location and site details

The Shinsejong combined cycle power plant is located in Nuri-ri, Yeongi-myeon town, Sejong city, Chungcheongnam province, South Korea.

The project will occupy a site of 84,648m2 area.

Shinsejong combined cycle power plant make-up

The Shinsejong combined cycle power plant will feature General Electric’s (GE) H-class technology-enabled 60 hertz (Hz) gas turbine, designed to deliver a total power output of 630MW.

The power plant will also comprise one steam turbine, one heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and one generator along with related auxiliaries.

The Shinsejong plant will be operated to deliver a net combined cycle power generation efficiency of more than 64%.

The other components of the project will include a district heating (DH) system, a fuel gas supply system, a condensate system, a feed water supply system, a cooling water system, a chemical injection system for steam and water, and a distributed control system (DCS).

Infrastructure facilities

The infrastructure facilities at the Shinsejong combined cycle power plant will include an emergency diesel engine and generator system, sump pumps, a compressed air and water treatment system, and overhead cranes along with additional cranes and hoists.

Power evacuation                 

The electricity generated from the Shinsejong combined cycle power plant will be evacuated to the Korean grid through a 154kV power transmission system.

Contractors involved

GE was contracted by KOSPO to manufacture and supply HA technology gas turbines and the main equipment for the Shinsejong combine cycle power plant in December 2020.

Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction was engaged for the construction works of the project in May 2021.

Korea District Heating Technology was contracted to deliver a comprehensive design technology service.

Ssangyong was awarded a contract worth £16.4m ($21.5m) for the installation of natural gas facilities at the combined cycle power plant in February 2022. The scope includes the installation of a 5.3km long main gas pipeline along with a supply station that includes a governor station and a block valve.

A consortium of Namyank Construction and Wooshin Construction was contracted for the start of construction preparation activities in June 2020.

GE 7HA.03 gas turbine details

The GE 60Hz H-class turbines are equipped with DLN 2.6e combustion system featuring advanced premixer technology to improve plant’s performance, reduce emissions and allow fuel flexibility.

With its efficient aftertreatment system, the technology is expected to enable the plant to produce power with reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, three parts per million (ppm) of NOx at the stack.

The 7HA.03 gas turbine is also designed with a flexibility to operate on different types of fuels, including a blend of hydrogen and natural gas to help reach near zero-carbon emission targets.