Eshkol Power Station

Eshkol Power Station
Location of Eshkol Power Station in Israel
Country	Israel
Location	Ashdod
Coordinates	31°50′50.95″N 34°39′43.02″E / 31.8474861°N 34.6619500°ECoordinates: 31°50′50.95″N 34°39′43.02″E / 31.8474861°N 34.6619500°E
Status	Peak
Owner(s)	IEC
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Natural gas
Type	Open cycle gas turbine
Combined cycle?	partial
Power generation
Nameplate capacity	1,449 MW

The Eshkol Power Station is a power station supplying electrical power to the Shephelah region in Israel. It is located in north industrial zone of Ashdod near the mouth of the Lakhish River, close to the port of Ashdod which provided the plant with fuel oil prior to its conversion to use natural gas. The power station is also close to the sea since its cooling system uses sea water.

Like other significant power stations in Israel, Eshkol Power Station belongs to Israel Electric Corporation. It is the third biggest power plant in Israel in terms of production ability, providing 7.3 percent of electricity production by IEC.

The power station was named after Levi Eshkol, former Prime Minister of Israel.

History

In 1953, following an Israeli Government decision, surveyors and designers arrived at the desolate dunes to choose a site to build a new power station in the south of the country. Its builders lived in the regional settlements Rehovot and Gedera.

The building of the Eshkol power station was completed in 1958 and included 3 units: 2 units of 50 MW, and one unit of 45 MW.

Electricity generating

Eshkol Power Station in 1963

Originally steam only, today Eshkol is multi unit power station. Eshkol was the first (2004)^[1][2] power station in Israel to produce electricity from natural gas.

Unit	Fuel	Capacity [MW]
Steam	fuel oil	150
Steam - Dual Purpose	fuel oil and natural gas	912
Gas Turbines	Jet Engines	10
Combined Cycle[3]	mixed	377
Total		1449.[4]

• Natural Gaz Consumption - 223 tonnes per hour.
• Fuel Oil Consumption - 36 tonnes per hour.
• Cooling Water consumption - 186 tonnes per hour.

There is also sea water desalination plant based on steam turbine.

One of the small private electricity producers is also located in Ashdod. It is operated under IEC supervision.

References

1. Fuels. IEC.
2. First stage of gas-operated power station completed. Israel21c.org.
3. Basic Activities and Developments in 2005. Dun's 100 – 2006 Israel's Largest Enterprises.
4. Installed Capacity. IEC (2009)