Japan’s Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) has secured the full-turnkey contract from Hirono IGCC Power GK for constructing a 540MW integrated coal gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) facility in Hirono-machi, Fukushima Prefecture.

An IGCC is a system where the coal is gasified in a high-temperature, high-pressure gasification furnace, and the power is generated using a high-efficiency combined-cycle format integrating gas and steam turbines.

The plant will be built by MHPS within the Hirono Thermal Power Station, which is an oil-and-coal fired plant with an installed capacity of 4,400MW.

The new plant is scheduled to commence operations in September 2021 and expected to support Fukushima revitalisation.

The coal gasification furnace, which serves as the core equipment of the new IGCC facilities, will be assembled at a dedicated plant in Nagasaki next February.

The plant is said to have the capability to manufacture the component modules of coal gasification furnaces within a short time period.

The new IGCC facility is also expected to improve the power generation efficiency while reducing carbon emissions.

In addition to the IGCC facility in Hirono-machi, MHPS has also initiated a plant for Nakoso IGCC Power GK in Iwaki, Fukushima, which is slated to begin its operations in September 2020.