GE Power and Marubeni have signed an agreement to deploy GE’s Predix-based digital solutions at its Nakasode Clean Power Plant, a 100MW combined-cycle unit, located in Sodegaura-city, Chiba Prefecture. Installation will start in April 2017 and full operation is slated to begin in March 2018.
Tokyo-based Marubeni, a global international trading and investment company, owns and operates some of Japan’s largest power stations. The company said it is looking to leverage key insights and outcomes learned from using digital solutions at the Nakasode CCGT.
Through software, both partners are exploring ways to increase revenue and reduce costs. Consequentially, the agreement will also see GE software for predictive maintenance and operational efficiency being installed on two units of LM6000 PD gas turbine, steam turbine and BoP (balance of plant).
Hirohisa Miyata, Marubeni’s managing executive officer said: “We are considering applying these IoT technologies across our entire electric power business for power generation and retail business owned by Marubeni in England, Japan and Asian countries.
“By applying IoT technologies, we hope to achieve more efficient power generation, procurement of electricity, and revenue improvements in the future,” he added.
To further improve profitability, the Japanese company will also be incorporating GE’s Business Optimization (BO) software solutions globally. When implemented, this software will enable Marubeni to leverage predictive analytics to improve decision making around power trading, fuel purchases and portfolio management.
Wataru Horie, president of GE Power Japan underlined the “significant role” of Maurubeni in the global power sector; hence “we believe our digital technologies can help strengthen their competitiveness as a power producer to deliver electricity more efficiently to its customers.”