Press Release

MHPS, NTE Energy Open Second Clean Power Plant In Three Months

Lake Mary, Florida (August 28, 2018) — Officials from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas joined with NTE Energy executives today to mark the formal start of operations at a new North Carolina clean power plant featuring MHPS technology.

MHPS executives helped cut the ribbon on NTE Energy’s $500 million Kings Mountain Energy Center (KMEC); located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, the 475 MW natural gas-fired plant will provide cleaner, more affordable electricity to more than 400,000 homes using MHPS’s advanced-class gas turbine technology. Owned and operated by NTE Carolinas LLC, KMEC begins operations three months after NTE Energy opened its Middletown (Ohio) Energy Center, which also features MHPS technology.

“Together, NTE and MHPS are bringing a change in power to the United States,” said Paul Browning, president and CEO of MHPS Americas. “MHPS’s proven, advanced-class gas turbine technology is the perfect partner to North Carolina’s growing power resources.”

NTE Energy CEO Seth Shortlidge agreed. “We’re excited to partner with MHPS Americas as the gas turbine supplier for the Kings Mountain Energy Center,” Shortlidge said. “This advanced-class gas turbine provides much needed efficient and reliable power generation to the region.”

Browning noted that the Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems G-Series gas turbine was the industry’s first advanced-class gas turbine. The global G-Series fleet has surpassed 4 million operating hours (equivalent to 500 years of operation) while achieving an industry-leading reliability of 99.22 percent.  MHPS manufactured the gas turbine for KMEC at Savannah Machinery Works (SMW), an ultra-modern manufacturing facility located in Savannah, Georgia.

KMEC also uses MHPS’s TOMONI™ artificial intelligence. “The use of AI allows for more flexible operation that complements renewable power,” Browning said, “and provides advanced analytics and machine learning that greatly reduce unplanned maintenance.”

“And as one of the most efficient and clean power plants in North Carolina,” NTE Energy’s Shortlidge said, “KMEC brings long-term added benefits to the community: In addition to providing affordable energy, the facility is providing dozens of new jobs and an expanded tax base.”

“We look forward to providing this low-cost power solution to our customers,” said Shortlidge, “and to being a part of the local community for many years to come.”