Six gas turbines ordered to bring energy stability to Hawaii

GE Vernova is to supply six aeroderivative gas turbines for the modernisation of Hawaiian Electric's (HECO) Waiau Power Plant on the island of O'ahu, replacing ageing oil-fired generating equipment that has been in service for up to six decades.

The six LM6000Velox turbine packages will be installed at the Pearl City facility as part of a wider programme to retire steam turbine units that are between 58 and 67 years old.

The first two turbines are scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2029, with the remaining units being commissioned in phases.

Once complete, the redevelopment is expected to provide more than 250MW of firm generating capacity, helping maintain electricity supplies during periods when renewable generation from wind and solar is unavailable.

Hawaiian Electric’s vice president of power supply, Mike DeCaprio, said: “The project will repower the facility with proven, fuel-flexible and modern technology. This represents the most significant modernisation of the O‘ahu generation infrastructure in decades and it will strengthen the reliability and resilience of our system while supporting the integration of more renewable resources such as solar and energy storage.”

Better connected

Dave Ross, CEO of GE Gas Power in North and Latin America, said: “We are proud to support HECO in its mission to provide fast, reliable and more sustainable power to the people of Hawaii. Because Hawaii’s energy grid is isolated and cannot rely on continental interconnections for emergency support, the need for rapid-response capability is paramount.

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“By deploying our aeroderivative units, HECO gains the benefit of efficient and modular power assets that can transition from a cold start to full load in under 10 minutes. This jet engine-derived technology is uniquely suited to balance the variable nature of renewable energy, helping to ensure grid stability when it is needed most."

The GE Vernova turbine packages can operate on a range of liquid fuels, including locally produced biofuels, and can also be converted to run on liquefied natural gas should LNG infrastructure become available in the future.

Ansaldo deal

Another gas turbine deal has also just been announced, this one for a site in Texas. Ansaldo Energia has won a contract to supply eight AE64.3A gas turbines for a power generation project supporting a major data centre development, marking the Italian company's return to the US new-build power generation market after more than three decades.

The agreement, signed with Pacifico Energy, covers the delivery of eight 60Hz-configured gas turbines together with associated generators. The equipment will be used to provide dedicated power generation for the data centre, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.

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The turbine is designed to provide rapid start-up capability and operational flexibility, characteristics that are increasingly important for facilities requiring high levels of power availability.

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Its maker says that that the turbine’s power output range, fuel flexibility and operational versatility make it particularly well suited to the modular and redundant architectures typically adopted by data centres, both for grid-connected and Behind-the-Meter (BTM) applications. The turbine can also support cogeneration configurations, enabling Ansaldo’s customers to maximise overall energy efficiency while ensuring the high availability required by critical digital infrastructure.

Flexible approach

Discussing the significance of this deal, Stefano Gianatti, Executive Vice President Thermal New Units at Ansaldo Energia said: “This project highlights the growing role of flexible gas-fired generation in supporting the expansion of AI-driven digital infrastructure. As data centre operators seek reliable and scalable power solutions, our technology portfolio is strongly positioned to provide secure, efficient and resilient energy supply for mission-critical applications.”

The agreement also establishes a framework for potential future collaboration between Ansaldo Energia and Pacifico Energy as investment in AI infrastructure and large-scale data centres continues to drive demand for new power generation capacity across the USA.