Southeast Asia’s power systems are entering a period of unprecedented expansion. Driven by industrialization, urbanisation and rising living standards, the region is expected to account for more than a quarter of global energy demand growth by 2035. Meeting this demand will require a diverse mix of energy sources, balancing solutions that are not only reliable, but also efficient, flexible and decarbonised.

Within this evolving mix, natural gas is already playing an important role. It is a major source of electricity in markets such as Singapore and Thailand, providing dependable generation while complementing the continued expansion of renewable energy. Implementing high-efficiency gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) technology also maximises the electricity generated from every unit of fuel, while providing a pathway towards lower-carbon and zero-carbon fuels in the future.

At the heart of Mitsubishi Power’s advanced GTCC systems is the J-Series Air-Cooled (JAC) gas turbine.

RAISING THE BAR FOR GAS TURBINE PERFORMANCE

The JAC model incorporates advanced aerodynamics, cooling design, combustion and materials technologies developed through decades of gas turbine engineering. GTCC plants equipped with JAC units can achieve power generation efficiency of more than 64% – among the highest levels available for large-frame gas turbines. Higher efficiency means less fuel is required to generate each unit of electricity.

Compared with coal-fired thermal power plants, GTCC facilities equipped with the JAC can also reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 65%, providing a practical pathway to less carbon-intensive power generation while maintaining reliable supply.

But efficiency is only valuable if it can be delivered reliably.

Mitsubishi Power subjects its advanced gas turbines to extensive validation at T-Point 2 in Takasago, Japan. At this grid-connected validation facility, technologies are tested under actual power plant operating conditions before wider commercial deployment. This rigorous R&D approach is reflected in the J-Series’ extensive operational track record: the global fleet – including JAC units – has accumulated more than 3.7 million hours of commercial operation across markets worldwide.

DESIGNED FOR TODAY'S FUELS – AND TOMORROW'S

The JAC has been engineered with the changing energy landscape in mind.

Mitsubishi Power has successfully demonstrated 30% hydrogen co-firing with a large-frame JAC gas turbine, with a target to reach 100% hydrogen firing after 2030. By replacing part of the natural gas fuel with hydrogen, operators have a pathway to progressively reduce carbon emissions as hydrogen supply chains develop.

This combination of performance and flexibility is already being deployed across Asia Pacific. Ten JAC gas turbines are operating across three GTCC power plants in Thailand with a combined output of nearly 7,000MW. The 600MW Keppel Sakra Cogen Plant – Singapore's first hydrogen-compatible combined cycle power plant – also began commercial operation in May 2026 and is powered by a JAC unit. New power projects compatible with the JAC model are under development in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

As electricity demand in Southeast Asia rises, the immediate challenge is ensuring that energy systems can deliver the reliability and scale that economies require. For power producers, the JAC offers a compelling proposition: highly efficient and proven gas-fired generation today, with the flexibility to evolve alongside the region’s energy systems tomorrow.