UAE’s Newest Gas-Fired Plant: Fujairah F3 Powers 380K Households

The UAE’s energy infrastructure reached a new milestone as the huge Fujairah power plant started its commercial operations. The 2.4-gigawatt Fujairah F3 gas-fired power plant sits in the Qidfa area and can now supply power to about 380,000 homes across the country. This Dh4.2 billion ($1.14 billion) facility stands as one of the UAE’s largest gas-fired power plants.

The plant’s design features cutting-edge technology that helps reduce environmental effects while improving efficiency. The facility runs on Mitsubishi Power’s advanced JAC-class gas turbine technology in a combined cycle setup. The UAE just needs more energy as it grows, and the Fujairah power plant F3 is a vital part of the country’s energy transition. It adds cleaner power generation capacity and helps maintain grid stability while renewable energy sources grow. This new addition to Fujairah’s power and water plant network shows UAE’s steadfast dedication to meeting both development needs and sustainability goals.

TAQA and Partners Launch Fujairah F3 Power Plant

The Fujairah F3 Independent Power Producer (IPP) project exemplifies a mutually beneficial alliance between multiple energy leaders. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)’s stake in the project company stands at 40%, while Marubeni Corporation owns 20.4%, Mubadala 20%, and Hokuriku Electric Power controls the remaining 19.6%.

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) acts as the sole electricity procurer from the facility through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This setup will give stable energy distribution throughout the project’s operational lifetime.

Andreas Collor, Chief Operations Officer of TAQA’s Generation business, noted: “The Fujairah F3 IPP reaching full commercial operations is an important milestone for TAQA in our journey to deliver reliable and flexible power generation solutions that support our company’s growth ambitions and the broader energy transition in the UAE”.

Mohamed Almarzooqi, Chief Asset Development & Management Officer of EWEC, stated: “The commencement of full commercial operations at Fujairah F3 marks a major achievement in our strategic energy infrastructure development”.

The 2,400 MW combined cycle power plant delivers significant baseload power and offers flexibility to integrate more renewables into the grid. The Fujairah power plant project meets current energy demands and supports long-term sustainability goals in the region’s evolving energy landscape.

Fujairah F3 Uses Advanced Gas Turbine Technology

_{Image Source: Mitsubishi Power – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries}

The Fujairah F3 power plant features state-of-the-art JAC-class gas turbine technology from Mitsubishi Power. This technology merges with one of the region’s most advanced Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) configurations. The facility stands as the UAE’s largest natural gas-fired CCGT plant.

Mitsubishi Power’s Advanced M701JAC model turbines make their Middle East debut at this facility. These industry-leading turbines deliver impressive performance metrics:

• Efficiency greater than 64%
• Reliability rating of 99.6%
• Lowest carbon emissions per unit of power in combined cycle

The turbines run on a mix of up to 30 percent hydrogen and 70 percent natural gas. Future upgrades could enable 100 percent hydrogen operation. This fuel flexibility helps maintain operations during natural gas shortages.

Samsung C&T leads the engineering procurement construction services. Doosan Enerbility and Mitsubishi Power supply the equipment. Mitsubishi Power takes responsibility for operations and maintenance.

The plant responds quickly and maintains high thermal efficiency. These capabilities help merge intermittent renewable energy into the grid. This substantially supports the UAE’s vision for a modern, decarbonized energy system.

Fujairah F3 Supports UAE’s Clean Energy Transition

_{Image Source: NS Energy}

The Fujairah F3 power plant, though gas-fired, plays a key role in UAE’s clean energy strategy. This facility acts as a crucial bridge in the nation’s energy transition. It provides reliable baseload power and helps integrate renewable sources throughout the grid.

The plant fits perfectly with UAE Energy Strategy 2050’s goal to make clean energy 50% of the total energy mix. Fujairah F3’s highly efficient power generation reduces UAE’s electricity sector’s carbon footprint compared to older thermal plants.

The plant’s quick-start capability and operational flexibility support solar and wind power’s unpredictable nature. These features will give the grid stability as more renewable sources join the network.

The plant’s hydrogen-ready design shows its importance in energy transition. The facility could run on increasing amounts of hydrogen and might achieve zero-carbon operations in the future.

The Fujairah F3 project shows how we can design natural gas infrastructure to support decarbonization efforts. UAE can maintain its energy security while moving toward a cleaner energy future with this approach.

The Fujairah F3 power plant’s successful launch marks a most important milestone in UAE’s energy infrastructure. This facility powers about 380,000 homes across the nation with its 2.4-gigawatt capacity. The mutually beneficial alliance between TAQA, Marubeni Corporation, Mubadala, and Hokuriku Electric Power shows their steadfast dedication to better energy security and sustainability goals.

Mitsubishi Power’s advanced JAC-class gas turbine technology has raised the bar for operational efficiency. These turbines work at 64% efficiency with 99.6% reliability, making Fujairah F3 the life-blood of UAE’s changing digital world. The plant can use hydrogen blends now and could upgrade to 100% hydrogen capability later, which adds to its future value.

Fujairah F3 plays two key roles in UAE’s energy strategy. It provides cleaner power generation than traditional thermal plants and quickly responds to support renewable energy integration. This mix of reliability and flexibility perfectly matches UAE Energy Strategy 2050’s goal of 50% clean energy contribution.

Though powered by natural gas, Fujairah F3 connects today’s energy needs with tomorrow’s sustainability targets. The plant shows how smart infrastructure can ensure energy security while reducing carbon footprint. It stands as a technical marvel and strategic asset that will serve UAE’s energy needs and environmental goals for decades.