GE Vernova has announced that it has completed work on the modernisation of four gas turbines at the Sabiya Combined Cycle Power Plant in Kuwait, thus boosting its efficiency and increasing output.

Located in Al Jahra, approximately 52 km away from Kuwait City, Sabiya power station has a total of six of GE Vernova’s 9F.03 gas turbines and three D11 steam turbines.

Owned by the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, it is the biggest power station in Kuwait with a total capacity of 2GW.

Previously, GE Vernova had successfully upgraded two gas turbines in the power plant’s Block 1. The upgrade increased the output by up to 6 per cent, leading to a combined increase in power production of more than 35 MW without requiring additional fuel, which would amount to the equivalent of approximately another 8,000 cars being put on Kuwait's roads.

The upgrades were completed as part of a multiyear service agreement between Alghanim International, a leading engineering, procurement, construction contracting company in Kuwait, and GE Vernova.

An operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement was also inked by Alghanim and the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy for all three combined-cycle power blocks at Sabiya.

The goal was to boost power production, increase the duration between planned maintenance cycles, drive fuel efficacy, and reduce costs as well as carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt of power generated, it stated.

The new upgrades are part of a broader effort by the Ministry to modernise the power generation infrastructure in Kuwait. This project is expected to increase the power plant’s block output by up to 6.3 per cent and reduce heat rate by as much as 1.8 per cent, leading to a combined increase in power production of up to 70 megawatts (MW).

This increase in efficiency and output will allow more power to be produced without increasing fuel consumption and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions, which would amount to the equivalent of approximately another 16,000 cars being put on Kuwait's roads.

On the successful upgradation work, GE Vernova said as per the service agreement with Alghanim International, it had provided Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrades for the four 9F.03 turbines in Blocks 2 and 3 at the Sabiya plant, along with the supply and maintenance services of the units for 7 years.

The AGP upgrade will help deliver more fuel efficient and reliable power output to Kuwait's power grid to meet the increase in electricity demand, especially during peak seasons, it stated.

Joseph Anis, President & CEO, Europe, Middle East & Africa of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business, said: "In line with the country’s strategic plans, the upgrades at the Sabiya Power Plant underscore our proven ability in delivering our advanced technology for reliable power supply across the nation," he added.