Tula power station

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Tula power station (Central CC Tula (Francisco Pérez Ríos)) is an operating power station of at least 890-megawatts (MW) in Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, Mexico with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Francisco Pérez Ríos.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Tula power station Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, Mexico 20.059619, -99.277394 (exact)[1]

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit Norte, Unit RPNorte, Unit RPSur, Unit Sur, Unit Tula II: 20.059619, -99.277394

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology CHP Start year Retired year
Unit 1 mothballed[2][3] fossil liquids - fuel oil, fossil gas - natural gas[4][5][3] 330[6][7] steam turbine[8][9][6] 1978[10]
Unit 2 mothballed[2][3] fossil liquids - fuel oil, fossil gas - natural gas[4][5][3] 330[6][7] steam turbine[8][9][6] 1975[9]
Unit 3 operating[2][3] fossil liquids - fuel oil, fossil gas - natural gas[4][5][3] 323[6][7] steam turbine[8][9][6] 1978[10]
Unit 4 mothballed[2][3] fossil liquids - fuel oil, fossil gas - natural gas[4][5][3] 322[6][7] steam turbine[8][9][6] 1978[10]
Unit 5 mothballed[2][11] fossil liquids - fuel oil, fossil gas - natural gas[4][5][3] 300[6][7] steam turbine[8][9][6] 1978[10]
Unit Norte retired[2][12] fossil gas - natural gas[13] 245[14][10][12][13] combined cycle[14][15][13] 1995[14] 2020[12]
Unit RPNorte operating[12] fossil gas - natural gas[6] 284[12] combined cycle[15][12] 2020[12]
Unit RPSur operating[12] fossil gas - natural gas[6] 283[12] combined cycle[15][12] 2020[12]
Unit Sur retired[2][12] fossil gas - natural gas[13] 244[14][10][12][13] combined cycle[14][15][13] 1995[14] 2020[12]
Unit Tula II pre-permit[16][17] fossil gas - natural gas[18] 403[16] combined cycle[16][18][17] 2026[17]

CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Unit 1 Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit 2 Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit 3 Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit 4 Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit 5 Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit Norte Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit RPNorte Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit RPSur Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit Sur Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE
Unit Tula II Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE [100%] Comisión Federal de Electricidad EPE

Background

The Tula power station is one of central Mexico's largest natural gas plants, with a mix of steam turbine units and combined cycle units.

Steam turbine units

The plant began commercial operations in 1975[19][20] with five steam turbine units of roughly 300 MW each[21]. Multiple sources have listed the combined capacity of these turbines as 1605 MW[22][23], implying a per-unit capacity of 321 MW.

In recent years, with the addition of new combined cycle units, four of the original steam units appear to have been mothballed. In an April 2022 report, Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) indicated that steam units 1, 2, 4 and 5 were non-operational, implying that unit 3 was the only one currently in service.[24] In May 2021 the news website Reforma reported that upon completion of the new Tula II combined cycle unit, unit 5 would be the only one of the five original steam units to remain in service, on a "cold reserve" (emergency backup) basis, with fuel oil as the likely fuel source.[25]

Combined cycle units

The plant's first two combined cycle blocks began operating in the early 1980s.[23][26][27] Original capacities for these first two blocks, known as Norte and Sur, were listed as 244 and 238 MW, respectively[26]; total capacity of these original CC units was eventually increased to 489 MW.[28][23][26]

Starting in 2012[29], the Mexican government announced plans to increase the plant's capacity to 550 MW by replacing the plant's four older gas-fired units with two new gas-fired units[30] of 275 MW each.[31] Implementation of the new combined cycle units was repeatedly delayed, but CFE announced in its 2020 annual report that the new units were placed in commercial service on November 28, 2020, with a combined capacity of 566 MW.[32] The status of the re-powered units remained somewhat ambiguous as of April 2022, when CFE's newly released 2021 annual report recorded the re-powering operation as only 98.15% complete as of December 2021 but reported that works should be finished in March 2022.[33]

An additional 450 MW combined cycle unit known as Tula II has been proposed for the same site. CFE published an environmental impact report for Tula II in December 2020.[34] It has been estimated that construction of the plant would take between 32 months[34] and three years[25], but as of December 2022 there was no clear indication that construction had begun.

Environmental impact

Excess natural gas being burned by the Tula refinery next to the Tula power station. Source: Reuters/Henry Romero

The five older units of the Tula power station have been criticized as being among the most polluting in Mexico due to their use of fuel oil as a primary fuel source; a May 2020 article in El Economista labeled the plant "Mexico's Chernobyl," noting that it accounted for 56% of particulate emissions under 2.5 microns (PM2.5), 75% of sulfur oxides emissions, and 43% of nitrogen oxides emissions in the Valle de México and Tula region.[35]

The Tula power station has been found guilty of violating environmental safeguards meant to prevent the emissions of deadly pollutants.[36][37]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. "CCC Tula · Hidalgo, Mexico". Google Maps.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125102527/https://infosen.senado.gob.mx/sgsp/gaceta/65/1/2022-05-11-1/assets/documentos/CFE_Informe_Anual_2021.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125110720/https://app.cfe.mx/Aplicaciones/OTROS/Boletines/boletin?i=2149. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125094728/https://energiaadebate.com/electricidad-cfe-retomaria-construccion-del-gasoducto-ramal-tula/. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125094646/https://www.congresocdmx.gob.mx/media/documentos/385a18b6356bf0f3b74cf9acfc5ffafcf45f5a16.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125141327/https://igavim.org/Documentos%20Generados/Documentos%20Generales/2022%20PermisosCREhasta2021.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125102427/https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/54139/PRODESEN_FINAL_INTEGRADO_04_agosto_Indice_OK.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125113643/https://idoc.tips/central-termoelectrica-de-tula-pdf-free.html. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125113518/http://sil.gobernacion.gob.mx/Archivos/Documentos/2015/09/asun_3274977_20150929_1443551858.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125102714/https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/258363/ANEXO_D.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20240125110704/https://www.reforma.com/aplicacioneslibre/preacceso/articulo/default.aspx?__rval=1&urlredirect=https://www.reforma.com/sostiene-combustoleo-termoelectrica-de-tula/ar2188974?referer=--7d616165662f3a3a6262623b727a7a7279703b767a783a--/. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125102729/https://infosen.senado.gob.mx/sgsp/gaceta/64/3/2021-05-06-1/assets/documentos/CFE_Informe_Anual_2020.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125103643/https://globalenergyobservatory.org/form.php?pid=5801. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125103730/http://www.ptolomeo.unam.mx:8080/jspui/bitstream/132.248.52.100/12731/1/TESIS.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125113627/https://www.grupocobra.com/proyecto/montaje-central-ciclo-combinado-tula/. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125141014/https://www.cfe.mx/finanzas/reportes-financieros/Informe%20Anual%20Documentos/Informe%20Anual%20Portal.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125110610/https://www.cfe.mx/finanzas/Documents/Plan%20de%20Negocios%20CFE%202021.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. 18.0 18.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125094618/https://apps1.semarnat.gob.mx:8443/dgiraDocs/documentos/hgo/estudios/2020/13HI2020E0061.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. Romero Sánchez, Eduardo. "Central Termoeléctrica de Tula". Instituto Politécnico Nacional Esime Azcapotzalco * edoc.pub. Retrieved 2022-12-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. "Con punto de acuerdo, por el que se exhorta al titular de la SENER a poner en marcha un programa de actualización de la Central Termoeléctrica Francisco Pérez Ríos" (PDF). Diputado Fernando Quetzalcóatl Moctezuma Pereda, Cámara de Diputados, Congreso de la Unión. September 29, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. "Proposición con Punto de Acuerdo por el que este Honorable Congreso de la Ciudad de México Solicita al Titular de la Comisión Ambiental de la Megalópolis a Implementar Diversas Acciones a Fin de Iniciar la Reconversión a Gas Natural de la Central Termoeléctrica "Francisco Pérez Ríos" Ubicada en el Municipio de Allende, Hidalgo" (PDF). Diputado Mauricio Tabe Echartea, Congreso de la Ciudad de México. July 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. "CFE retomaría construcción del gasoducto Ramal Tula". Energía a Debate. May 29, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Metodología, Criterios y Términos para Contratos Legados" (PDF). Secretaría de Energía - Subsecretaría de Electricidad - Gobierno de México. August 31, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  24. "Informe Anual 2021 (p 28)" (PDF). CFE. April 22, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. 25.0 25.1 "Sostiene combustóleo termoeléctrica de Tula". Reforma. May 24, 2021.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 Sánchez Liévano, Guillermo (May 2017). "Repotenciación de una central de ciclo combinado con tecnología IGCC (p 15)" (PDF). Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Facultad De Ingeniería.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. "Tula (Francisco Perez Rios) CCGT Power Plant Mexico". Global Energy Observatory. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  28. "PowerPlantsAllGE100MW_NorthAmerica_201708.xlsx". North American Cooperation on Energy Information (NACEI). August 1, 2017. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  29. "0216 CFE: Repotenciación y Modernización de Central de Ciclo Combinado Tula Paquetes 1 y 2". Proyectos México (in español). April 20, 2017. Retrieved 2022-12-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. "PRODESEN 2019-2033: Programa de Ampliación y Modernización de la Red Nacional de Transmisión y Redes Generales de Distribución del Mercado Eléctrico Mayorista (p 34)" (PDF). CENACE. June 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. "Remodelación de la Central Termoeléctrica de Ciclo Combinado en Tula de Allende". Grupo Cobra. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  32. "Informe Anual 2020 (pp 53, 56)" (PDF). CFE. April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. "Informe Anual 2021 (p 228)" (PDF). CFE. April 22, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. 34.0 34.1 "Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, Modalidad Regional - Proyecto CC Tula II Fase I (pp 7, 16)" (PDF). CFE. December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. "Termoeléctrica de Tula, el Chernóbil mexicano". El Economista. May 15, 2020.
  36. Garcia, David Alire (2020-08-07). "Exclusive: Mexico power plant violated environmental law, documents show". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  37. "Incumple la CFE norma ambiental en la termoeléctrica de Tula". Criterio Hidalgo (in español). 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2022-04-22.

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of gas-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.