A milestone for gas-fired power and energy transition

GE Vernova has officially announced the commercial operation of the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plant invested by PV Power, with a total capacity of 1.6 gigawatts (GW). The project is located at Ong Keo Industrial Park, Dai Phuoc Commune, around 70 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City.

Nhon Trach 3 and 4 were built under an EPC contract by the Samsung C&T - Lilama consortium, marking the first time a power plant in Vietnam uses H-Class gas turbines and also the country’s first plant to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

According to the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), LNG continues to play a key role in Vietnam’s flexible power structure, with installed capacity projected to reach 22 GW by 2030, accounting for around 9.5-12.3% of the national power system.

The Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plant is expected to meet rising electricity demand in southern Vietnam, contributing to the country’s sustainable development goals.

The project marks a major milestone in expanding gas-fired power generation and accelerating the energy transition from coal to natural gas. By using high-efficiency natural gas, GE Vernova’s H-Class technology helps significantly reduce environmental impact, cutting carbon emissions by about 60% compared with coal-fired plants of similar capacity. It also supports faster integration of renewable energy by enhancing the reliability and stability of the national power grid.

A representative of PV Power noted that Vietnam’s energy transition requires solutions that balance capacity, efficiency and sustainability, which is why the company chose GE Vernova’s 9HA.02 gas turbine for the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 project.

“The advanced 9HA.02 gas turbine technology plays a pivotal role in our commitment to modern energy standards, enabling combined-cycle efficiency exceeding 63% among the most efficient power plants globally meeting stringent emissions standards and offering flexible fuel switching from LNG to 50% hydrogen blending, and ultimately to 100% hydrogen in the future. This ensures long-term alignment with Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target for decades to come,” the PV Power representative said.

A new chapter for Vietnam’s gas power sector

Under the project, GE Vernova supplies two power blocks, each exceeding 800 megawatts (MW), including the 9HA.02 gas turbine the highest-efficiency 50 Hz gas turbine in GE Vernova’s portfolio the STF-D650 steam turbine, W88 generator, and a Once Through Heat Recovery Steam Generator (OT HRSG), a core component of the advanced steam cycle that delivers higher combined-cycle efficiency. In addition, GE Vernova’s integrated Mark* VIe distributed control system (DCS) will help PV Power enhance monitoring, improve equipment reliability and availability, while reducing operation and maintenance costs.

Mr. Ramesh Singaram, President and CEO of GE Power’s Gas Power business for Asia-Pacific, commented: “Renewable energy is expected to grow rapidly in Vietnam, and high-efficiency gas power plants such as this project will supply electricity to major industrial zones in southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province, opening a new chapter for the country’s gas power sector. We are proud to deliver Vietnam’s first HA technology project, supporting national energy goals and sustainable economic growth.”

The Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plant developed by PV Power is Vietnam’s first project to use H-Class gas turbines and the first to operate on LNG fuel.

This new combined-cycle power plant using the 9HA.02 gas turbine is expected to enhance grid stability and reliability, while supporting renewable energy integration. With a capacity of 1.6 GW, it will help meet the growing electricity demand of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province.