ABB is to supply an automation solution for a power plant conversion project in Mexico, the firm announced this week.
The 320 MW Topolobampo plant (pictured) in Sinaloa state is operated by the state-owned Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), which plans to convert it to dual-fuel mode and run it largely on gas, rather than heavy fuel oil.
The automation solution will replace an existing ABB system, the company said.
ABB’s scope of supply includes a Symphony Plus distributed control system comprising controls, protection and supervision for the plant, human-machine interface (HMI), engineering workstations, video walls and Optimax plant performance monitoring.
The firm will also supply control and protection for an existing ABB gas-insulated substation; soot blower controls and auxiliary systems; and additional process instrumentation, including transmitters, position switches and analyzers.
As part of Mexico’s climate initiative, CFE aims to substitute gas for fuel oil in a number of its plants.
Plans for two new gas-fired plants, Topolobampo II and III, were scuttled in October and November respectively when CFE threw out bids for a total of 1440 MW due to higher-than-expected annual capacity charges.
