J-POWER USA Development Co. Ltd. (J-POWER USA) has achieved commercial operation with the first two Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbines manufactured in North America at its Jackson Generation Project, a 1,200 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle power plant in Elwood, Illinois.
The Jackson plant dispatches power into the PJM regional transmission organization, modernizing and diversifying the Illinois power grid and generating enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes. The project supports Illinois’s commitment to renewable energy by providing efficient, flexible natural gas generation to complement wind and solar energy. It also reduces the state’s dependence on coal-fired generation.
J-POWER-USA, Mitsubishi Power, and the project’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor Kiewit Power Constructors Co. (Kiewit) together developed and signed a Charter to commit to honest and professional behavior, individually and as a team to build the new plant. The Charter highlights the team’s ability to achieve safety, quality, budget, schedule, stakeholder management, and teamwork as a measure of its success.
“The engineering, project execution, and teamwork for Jackson Generation have been exceptional,” said Mark Condon, President and CEO of J-POWER USA. “Mitsubishi Power and Kiewit have worked closely and transparently with the Jackson commissioning crews throughout the global pandemic to overcome the impact that it has had across the entire supply chain. We are proud to enter commercial operation on time with the first American-made M501JAC gas turbines and one of the most fuel-efficient natural gas power plants in the world.”
The JAC is the world’s leading gas turbine, with an efficiency greater than 64 percent in combined cycle and the lowest emissions in its class. The Jackson Generation plant will be up to 50 percent more efficient than peaking plants and will produce more than 65 percent less carbon dioxide than a legacy coal-fired power plant. Mitsubishi Power’s TOMONI™ intelligent solutions will further optimize plant performance and reliability, while providing flexibility to respond to fluctuating energy demand and renewable energy supply. Remote monitoring services for Jackson Generation will detect anomalies and diagnose plant performance. These features along with a 25-year service agreement will enable J-POWER USA to reduce maintenance and operating costs as well as emissions.
Thomas Struchtemeyer, Project Manager, Kiewit, said, “J-POWER USA, Mitsubishi Power and our EPC team take pride in developing an efficient and reliable source of cleaner energy at Jackson Generation. We were able to overcome unprecedented challenges of building the plant during a global pandemic through consistent, open communication and extensive onsite safety measures. Working together, we effectively mitigated the impact and challenges related to the supply chain and logistics to successfully enter commercial operation on time.”
Steve Burris, Senior Vice President, New Generation Systems Project Execution, Mitsubishi Power Americas, said, “While we have executed this project during a challenging period with significant supply chain and labor interruptions, it has been one of our most efficient power plant startups for all makes and models of equipment. That’s a testament to the corporate entities—owner, EPC and OEM—working together as a solid group and executing with a common focus. We truly align with the Charter that we all signed at project inception, which begins by stating that we will successfully design, procure, construct and commission Jackson Generation through open communication, mutual respect, trust and cooperation at all levels, and will proactively plan our work, coordinate with each other and be flexible. Together with our customers and partners, we are creating a Change in Power.”
