In the run-up to COP28, Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (SEWA), Sharjah Hamriyah Independent Power Company (SHIPCO), and GE Vernova announced commercial operations of all three blocks at the Hamriyah Independent Power Plant (IPP).

The combined cycle facility is the most efficient gas power plant operating in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) today, helping to reduce the carbon intensity of power generated in Sharjah.

By offering a significantly higher efficiency level than previous power generation assets installed in the emirate, the three GE Vernova 9HA.01 turbines are expected to help SEWA generate an additional 1.8 GW of power with up to 4 million fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum when compared to generating the same amount of electricity with legacy technology.

This is the equivalent of taking up to one million cars off the roads of the UAE.

GE Vernova’s Gas Power business provided turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services and delivered three 9HA.01 gas turbines powering three H84 generators, three STF-D650 steam turbines powering three A74 generators, and three heat recovery steam generators for the facility.

It also plans to provide parts, repairs, and maintenance services for power generation assets at the site for about 25 years.

H.E Saeed Sultan Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (SEWA) said: “At SEWA, we are committed to meeting Sharjah’s growing energy needs with more reliable, affordable, and sustainable power, and to supporting the UAE’s plan towards transitioning to net zero carbon emissions by year 2050.

"The Hamriyah IPP is an integral part of SEWA’s 2030 Roadmap and our strategy to strengthen Sharjah’s grid with lower carbon power.

"We are delighted to have collaborated with industry-leading organizations such as SHIPCO and GE Vernova on this project, which is expected to help meet up to 40 percent of Sharjah’s electricity needs."

Omar Almulla, Chairman of SHIPCO said: “The significant milestone of commercial operations of all three blocks at the Hamriyah IPP was the result of over 11 million hours of work done by more than 1,500 people from over 20 countries from across SEWA, SHIPCO, GE Vernova, and other stakeholders.

"Together, we are committed to adding power capacity in the UAE, while lowering the carbon intensity of electricity generated to help address the global climate challenge and keep powering growth.”

GE Vernova’s H-class gas turbine technology has helped deliver two world records for combined cycle efficiency. More than 140 units have been ordered to date, with the technology accumulating over 1.8 million operating hours.

The technology offers tremendous flexibility, ramping power output up and down quickly to help stabilize the grid as more variable renewable energy comes online. It also has the capability to burn up to 50 percent by volume of hydrogen when blended with natural gas, with a technology roadmap up to 100 percent.

Future plans include a combined cycle configuration with a post-combustion capture system aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 percent.