MHI has received a full-turnkey order from Viridian, an electricity producer and distributor in Ireland, to construct a gas turbine combined-cycle (GTCC) power generation plant at Huntstown, near Dublin. The event marks MHI's first turnkey power plant order in Ireland.

The newly ordered 400 MW plant is to consist of one M701F gas turbine, one steam turbine, one heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and one generator. The gas and steam turbines will be manufactured at MHI's Takasago Machinery Works, the generator will be made by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and the HRSG will be procured from a global supplier.

Viridian has already built a 343 MW GTCC plant at Huntstown, and went on stream in November 2002. In response to tight electricity supply in Ireland and liberalization of Europe's electricity industry overall, the company has decided to build a second power station adjacent to the existing plant. Full-scale construction work is due to commence in October 2005.

When completed, the expanded Huntstown facility will have capacity to meet roughly 17% of Ireland's total electricity requirement. Output will be sold through Energia, Viridian's market supply business.

The GTCC plant on order will use natural gas for primary fuel supported by distillate for standby. Use of natural gas results in higher power- generating efficiency than coal- or oil-fired power plants, enabling reduced flue-gas emissions and thereby making gas-fueled plants more environmentally friendly. In recognition of these advantages, MHI has been marketing its gas-fueled GTCC plants aggressively. Now, building on the momentum of this latest order, it will further strengthen its marketing activities worldwide.