Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said it has started testing the turbines at the M-Station expansion project in Jebel Ali, which is the newest and largest electricity generation and water desalination plant in the UAE.

Testing includes an initial operation of turbines and power generators and connecting them to the grid, said a statement from the Dubai utility.

These tests are essential to ensure the quality and reliability of the units while connected to the grid. Tests are scheduled to continue until the completion of the Dh1.47-billion ($400 million) expansion project in the fourth quarter of 2018, it stated.

The project’s team currently focuses on preparations and operational readiness to assess the station’s readiness. After the completion of the initial tests, Dewa will start testing the pilot operation of the plant.

A plan has been devised to conduct these tests according to the best practices, and based on accumulated experience in this field, to achieve maximum reliability, efficiency and safety.

The plan aims to reduce commission costs in three areas: rationalising fuel consumption, regulating interruptions, and reducing heat rate, said the statement.

Managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said the Jebel Ali M-Station expansion project supports Dewa’s efforts to enhance the infrastructure and improve its services as per the highest international standards, and also support its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility.

According to him, these tests are conducted in four main stages: initial operational launch, operational tests, reliability tests, and performance tests.

"These tests aim to achieve the project’s objectives by ensuring the conformity of its technical specifications. When completed, the project will increase the station’s total capacity to 2,885 MW," noted Al Tayer.

The expansion project includes the provision of new power generating units adding a further 700 MW to the installed generating capacity of M-Station besides the addition of two dual-fuel gas turbine generators, two heat recovery steam boilers, and one steam turbine with 90 per cent of fuel efficiency, said the top official.

This will increase the plant’s thermal efficiency from 82.4 per cent to 85.8 per cent, which is one of the highest thermal-efficiency rates in the world, he added.-TradeArabia News Service