Hanwha Power makes US market debut with gas compressor supply for Ohio power plant

Hanwha Power has entered the US combined-cycle power generation market, marking a significant step in its North American expansion.

The company announced Thursday that it secured its first US earnings by supplying three fuel gas compressors to the Trumbull Energy Center combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) project.

The Trumbull Energy Center is a project in which Korea Southern Power participated in development and investment. The 950-megawatt high-efficiency combined-cycle plant was built to replace aging coal-fired power stations and is set to serve as a key electricity source within PJM Interconnection, the largest wholesale power market in the United States.

A completion and commercial operations launch ceremony was held Wednesday in Trumbull County, Ohio, drawing representatives from Hanwha Power, Korea Southern Power, Gemma Power Systems, Siemens Energy, the Ohio state government, the Korean Consul General to the United States, and financial institutions.

The equipment Hanwha Power supplied is an integrated centrifugal compressor incorporating variable frequency drive technology, designed to ensure stable operation amid the wide seasonal pipeline pressure fluctuations characteristic of the PJM region. Beyond the equipment supply, the company signed a nine-year long-term service agreement under which its Houston service center will handle on-site support and parts maintenance.

Choi Ju-mong, head of the Trumbull corporation, said the Trumbull Energy Center is "an important milestone contributing to stable power supply and the transition to clean energy," adding that the company intends to "demonstrate the competitiveness of Korean power generation technology through cooperation with Hanwha Power and other domestic companies, and expand our presence in the global market."

Prakash Nair, chief commercial officer of Hanwha Power, said securing both the equipment supply and a long-term service contract on this project "reflects our customers' trust in our technological capabilities and operational expertise." He added that the company will "continue to expand its position in the US power market through a service business built on long-term partnerships."