/PRNewswire/ -- ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC ("ArcLight"), GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Pte Ltd ("GIC") announced today they have agreed to become partners in five Georgia natural gas-fired power plants that together make up the largest fully independent power producer in the southeastern United States. The GE unit and GIC will each acquire 24.95 percent of the portfolio from an affiliate of ArcLight, now its sole owner. An affiliate of ArcLight will retain 50.10 percent.
Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The closing of the transaction remains subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and is expected to occur toward the end of the first quarter of 2011.
The plants, located throughout Georgia, comprise a combined cycle facility and four single-cycle peaking facilities, each of which is less than 10 years old. Together, they are capable of generating more than 2,500 megawatts of power, in several cases using GE gas-fired turbines. All five facilities, critical to the regional power supply and grid stability, are contracted under long-term agreements to investment-grade counterparties and are managed by Consolidated Asset Management Services, an ArcLight affiliate.
The portfolio comprises:
* Monroe – a 320-megawatt plant in Monroe, 50 miles east of Atlanta
* Walton – a 450-megawatt plant in Monroe, adjacent to the Monroe plant
* Washington – a 602-megawatt plant in Linton, 50 miles east of Macon
* Sandersville – a 640-megawatt plant in Sandersville, seven miles from the Washington plant
* Effingham – a 515-megawatt plant in Rincon, 20 miles north of Savannah
The portfolio is well positioned to benefit from the macroeconomic recovery and more stringent energy and carbon legislation as well as the boom in production of unconventional natural gas in the United States. In addition, the portfolio will support additional infrastructure investment in the region to meet the demand for power and accommodate the power supply reconfiguration expected to unfold over the next decade.
"Since the initial investment in this portfolio in 2007, ArcLight and CAMS have developed a strong track record of operational success and commercial reliability in a promising regional market," said Dan Revers, Managing Partner of ArcLight. "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with these two highly respected and valued-added investors, and we look forward to working closely with GE and GIC to maximize value across the portfolio and platform."
ArcLight has completed several transactions with GE Energy Financial Services, including the GE unit's lead lending of $98 million in senior secured credit facilities for the Sandersville power plant.
"This transaction enables us to deepen our relationship with ArcLight, establish ties with an important new partner, GIC, and work together on an attractive set of assets in a core focus area, thermal power generation," said Kevin Walsh, managing director and leader of Power and Renewables at GE Energy Financial Services.
"This is an attractive portfolio of contracted power generation facilities in a region experiencing an increasing demand for low carbon, efficient power. The completion of this transaction complements our growing portfolio of infrastructure investments in the US. We are delighted to have ArcLight and GE, who have extensive experience in owning and operating similar assets, as our partners in this deal," said Mr. Ang Eng Seng, Global Head of GIC's Infrastructure Group.
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Showing posts with label ge. Show all posts
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
ArcLight Acquires 640-MW Georgia Power Plant with $98 Million in Financing Led by GE Energy Financial Services
-(BUSINESS WIRE)--ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC, through its wholly-owned affiliate AL Sandersville Holdings, LLC, has acquired a 640-megawatt generation facility located in Sandersville, Georgia from KGen Power Corporation for $130 million. GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), closed financing as the lead lender of the $98 million in senior secured credit facilities partially financing the acquisition.
Built in 2002, using eight 80-megawatt GE simple-cycle gas turbines, the Sandersville plant supplies power into the southeastern power market, particularly Georgia, during periods of peak demand or supply volatility. Sandersville is strategically located near four other facilities in Georgia owned by ArcLight through its affiliate Mackinaw Power, LLC, which have an aggregate capacity of 1,887 megawatts. Combined with Sandersville, this portfolio represents a more than 2,500-megawatt strategic platform making it the second largest independent power producer in the state, with the capacity to meet the peak demand of a city with a population of 450,000.
“This asset is an important addition to our southeast gas power generation facility portfolio that is well positioned to benefit from the current macroeconomic recovery and pending energy and carbon legislation, as well as the unconventional gas boom in the US," said Dan Revers, Managing Partner of ArcLight.
GE Energy Financial Services’ affiliate, GE Capital Markets, Inc., acted as sole lead arranger. Siemens Financial Services, Inc. joined GE Energy Financial Services in providing the $98 million in credit facilities comprised of a $78 million term loan and a $20 million letter of credit. Additional financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
“This transaction demonstrates GE Energy Financial Services’ deep expertise in power markets across the United States to provide debt financing for customers throughout the energy sector,” said Matt O’Connor, Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group at GE Energy Financial Services. “We applied our energy expertise to assess the southeastern power market which allowed us to structure and lead arrange this financing in a way that helps ArcLight grow and continue meeting power demand in the region.”
With approximately 50 dedicated professionals focused on debt products and services, GE Energy Financial Services provides structured, project and acquisition debt, revolving credit facilities, and corporate loans. The GE unit has a debt portfolio of nearly $7 billion, spanning power, oilfield services, pipelines, gas storage, refining, exploration and production, mining and fuel distribution. GE Capital Markets, Inc. provides arranging and syndication for many of these facilities.
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Built in 2002, using eight 80-megawatt GE simple-cycle gas turbines, the Sandersville plant supplies power into the southeastern power market, particularly Georgia, during periods of peak demand or supply volatility. Sandersville is strategically located near four other facilities in Georgia owned by ArcLight through its affiliate Mackinaw Power, LLC, which have an aggregate capacity of 1,887 megawatts. Combined with Sandersville, this portfolio represents a more than 2,500-megawatt strategic platform making it the second largest independent power producer in the state, with the capacity to meet the peak demand of a city with a population of 450,000.
“This asset is an important addition to our southeast gas power generation facility portfolio that is well positioned to benefit from the current macroeconomic recovery and pending energy and carbon legislation, as well as the unconventional gas boom in the US," said Dan Revers, Managing Partner of ArcLight.
GE Energy Financial Services’ affiliate, GE Capital Markets, Inc., acted as sole lead arranger. Siemens Financial Services, Inc. joined GE Energy Financial Services in providing the $98 million in credit facilities comprised of a $78 million term loan and a $20 million letter of credit. Additional financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
“This transaction demonstrates GE Energy Financial Services’ deep expertise in power markets across the United States to provide debt financing for customers throughout the energy sector,” said Matt O’Connor, Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group at GE Energy Financial Services. “We applied our energy expertise to assess the southeastern power market which allowed us to structure and lead arrange this financing in a way that helps ArcLight grow and continue meeting power demand in the region.”
With approximately 50 dedicated professionals focused on debt products and services, GE Energy Financial Services provides structured, project and acquisition debt, revolving credit facilities, and corporate loans. The GE unit has a debt portfolio of nearly $7 billion, spanning power, oilfield services, pipelines, gas storage, refining, exploration and production, mining and fuel distribution. GE Capital Markets, Inc. provides arranging and syndication for many of these facilities.
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Saturday, January 9, 2010
GE Smart Home-Energy Panel Tells Consumers What’s Happening with Their Power Profile
(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE (NYSE: GE) is introducing an in-home, multi-function energy information panel that will give consumers insight and control to help them manage energy usage and understand costs. The sleek, touch-screen panel will wirelessly connect to a household’s smart meter, appliances and thermostats, via ZigBee® or Wi-Fi®, to gather information, manage usage and deliver the real-time knowledge that empowers smarter energy choices.
“As part of our smart grid suite of offerings, the panels will empower consumers to better manage their energy usage based on real-time information. The panels will connect consumers with the knowledge they need to be better energy stewards and take charge of their energy use and carbon footprint.”
The panels are the result of a development effort between GE and OpenPeak, Inc., a leading communications technology developer. The device looks like a tabletop picture frame and can be placed virtually anywhere within a home. The panels are available to consumers through their utilities today. Functionality is dependent on the utility’s selection of applications.
With information from GE smart meters combined with dynamic pricing programs* from utilities , the panel will tell consumers the best times to perform high-energy-consumption tasks, such as drying clothes, running pool pumps and washing dishes. The panels even will be able to be programmed to control smart appliances, thermostats and heating and cooling devices—reacting to pricing and demand changes instantly. Over time, the device will act as an energy consultant, trending data and making recommendations to better manage energy use.
"Information is power. Give consumers more information about their energy usage and they’ll find ways to make better decisions,” said Bob Gilligan, vice president—transmission and distribution for GE Energy. “As part of our smart grid suite of offerings, the panels will empower consumers to better manage their energy usage based on real-time information. The panels will connect consumers with the knowledge they need to be better energy stewards and take charge of their energy use and carbon footprint.”
In addition to energy management, GE’s smart panels also will connect with Internet news, sports, music, weather services, social networks like facebook® and instant messaging. This multi-functionality helps make the panels a focal point for household information.
“Combining other useful information and entertainment applications with energy management information increases the frequency of consumer interactions with the device,” said Dan Gittleman, CEO of OpenPeak. “And frequent consumer engagement means a greater number of opportunities to communicate important energy consumption and conservation information.”
Consumers who opt in to the social networking aspect of the panel will be able to compare their consumption to neighborhood and city averages, seeing how they stack up against like households. Those comparisons may inspire increased conservation and modified behavior for some homes.
Through industry collaborations, GE will deliver one of the broadest portfolio offerings of carbon-smart technologies in the industry to modernize electrical systems from the power plant to the consumer. From smarter appliances and technologies for plug-in hybrid vehicles, to providing renewable technologies and smart meters, GE’s innovation and leadership is delivering integrated, large-scale smart grid deployments, leveraging technology synergies and delivering results. www.itsyoursmartgrid.com.
*Dynamic pricing and time of use (TOU) programs provide for variable pricing of energy based on the time of day. Dynamic pricing and TOU programs are provided by the utility and may or may not be available in your area. Availability of dynamic pricing programs in a particular market is dependent upon the utility serving that market.
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“As part of our smart grid suite of offerings, the panels will empower consumers to better manage their energy usage based on real-time information. The panels will connect consumers with the knowledge they need to be better energy stewards and take charge of their energy use and carbon footprint.”
The panels are the result of a development effort between GE and OpenPeak, Inc., a leading communications technology developer. The device looks like a tabletop picture frame and can be placed virtually anywhere within a home. The panels are available to consumers through their utilities today. Functionality is dependent on the utility’s selection of applications.
With information from GE smart meters combined with dynamic pricing programs* from utilities , the panel will tell consumers the best times to perform high-energy-consumption tasks, such as drying clothes, running pool pumps and washing dishes. The panels even will be able to be programmed to control smart appliances, thermostats and heating and cooling devices—reacting to pricing and demand changes instantly. Over time, the device will act as an energy consultant, trending data and making recommendations to better manage energy use.
"Information is power. Give consumers more information about their energy usage and they’ll find ways to make better decisions,” said Bob Gilligan, vice president—transmission and distribution for GE Energy. “As part of our smart grid suite of offerings, the panels will empower consumers to better manage their energy usage based on real-time information. The panels will connect consumers with the knowledge they need to be better energy stewards and take charge of their energy use and carbon footprint.”
In addition to energy management, GE’s smart panels also will connect with Internet news, sports, music, weather services, social networks like facebook® and instant messaging. This multi-functionality helps make the panels a focal point for household information.
“Combining other useful information and entertainment applications with energy management information increases the frequency of consumer interactions with the device,” said Dan Gittleman, CEO of OpenPeak. “And frequent consumer engagement means a greater number of opportunities to communicate important energy consumption and conservation information.”
Consumers who opt in to the social networking aspect of the panel will be able to compare their consumption to neighborhood and city averages, seeing how they stack up against like households. Those comparisons may inspire increased conservation and modified behavior for some homes.
Through industry collaborations, GE will deliver one of the broadest portfolio offerings of carbon-smart technologies in the industry to modernize electrical systems from the power plant to the consumer. From smarter appliances and technologies for plug-in hybrid vehicles, to providing renewable technologies and smart meters, GE’s innovation and leadership is delivering integrated, large-scale smart grid deployments, leveraging technology synergies and delivering results. www.itsyoursmartgrid.com.
*Dynamic pricing and time of use (TOU) programs provide for variable pricing of energy based on the time of day. Dynamic pricing and TOU programs are provided by the utility and may or may not be available in your area. Availability of dynamic pricing programs in a particular market is dependent upon the utility serving that market.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
GE Announces Latest Advancements to Leading Gas Turbine
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Using next generation gas turbine technology to increase output and efficiency, GE Energy today introduced its upgraded Frame 7FA gas turbine to meet growing performance requirements for power plant operators. The upgraded turbine is designed to help power plant operators reduce their total cost of ownership and environmental impact by allowing them to use less fuel to generate power.
The continuing evolution of GE’s gas turbine technology supports a growing industry trend toward the use of natural gas. A recent report by the Colorado School of Mines indicated that following recent discoveries, the United States now has 1,800 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the equivalent of 320 billion barrels of oil—more than Saudi Arabia’s 264 billion barrels. That available supply, coupled with the current low cost and the fact that natural gas emits less carbon than other fossil fuels, has spurred many power generators to consider switching from other fuels to gas.
A typical power plant operating two new 7FA gas turbines with a single steam turbine in combined cycle configuration would achieve a fuel cost savings of more than $2.1 million per year at a natural gas price of $6 per MMBtu when compared to a similar plant with an earlier version of the 7FA for equivalent net plant output. This updated plant would also avoid the emission of more than 19,000 metric tons of CO2 per year compared to the earlier version, an improvement equivalent to the CO2 emissions of approximately 3,800 cars on U.S. roads.
“Investing in the needs of tomorrow with R&D and technology is at the foundation of GE and helps us to maintain a competitive advantage in the power generation arena,” said Steve Bolze, president of GE Energy’s Power & Water business. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to GE’s leadership in advanced gas turbine technology that helps deliver power more efficiently and flexibly to our customers without compromising their high standards for operational excellence.”
“Since its introduction, our F technology has consistently set industry standards for reliability and efficiency,” said Rick Stanley, vice president of engineering for GE Energy. “The 7FA upgrade underscores our commitment to continue refining the technology to meet the evolving needs of today’s customers.”
“GE is focused on delivering products and services that help our customers save significant operating costs while simultaneously slashing emissions and fuel consumption. We have amassed technological advances from across our expansive portfolio of power generating and aviation turbines and delivered them in this upgraded 7FA turbine,” said John Reinker, general manager of gas turbine and combined cycle products for GE Energy. “Of the 1,000 plus GE F-technology gas turbines shipped worldwide, more than 70% are 7FA units—and the advances now available for the 7FA will ensure that it continues to be the industry's workhorse advanced technology turbine.”
Many companies have already evaluated the new gas turbine technology. Some of the first new 7FA turbines are planned for the proposed Oakley Generating Station in Oakley, Calif. The plant, which is projected to generate 586 megawatts of power, is being developed by Radback Energy, Inc., and is expected to be transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) after it enters commercial operation.
The new turbine is a part of GE’s ecomagination portfolio, due to the increase in net plant efficiency and higher output delivered by this machine compared to all earlier 7FA models, which should result in less fuel consumption and lower emissions on a megawatt per hour basis than delivered by previous 7FA models.
Key regions for the upgraded, 60-hertz 7FA will include North America, Latin America, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The upgraded 7FA will begin shipping in early 2012 and will be manufactured at GE Energy’s gas turbine facility in Greenville, S.C.
GE ecomagination certification
The ecomagination Product Review (EPR) process provides a third-party verification of claims, quantifying operating and environmental performance benefits that accrue to GE’s customers by using ecomagination products relative to baselines such as competitors' best products, the installed base of products and regulatory standards. These ecomagination claims can be found in GE's printed materials and advertisements and on the Web at www.ge.com/ecomagination. Ecomagination products are re-certified regularly to help ensure that claims remain accurate.
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The continuing evolution of GE’s gas turbine technology supports a growing industry trend toward the use of natural gas. A recent report by the Colorado School of Mines indicated that following recent discoveries, the United States now has 1,800 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the equivalent of 320 billion barrels of oil—more than Saudi Arabia’s 264 billion barrels. That available supply, coupled with the current low cost and the fact that natural gas emits less carbon than other fossil fuels, has spurred many power generators to consider switching from other fuels to gas.
A typical power plant operating two new 7FA gas turbines with a single steam turbine in combined cycle configuration would achieve a fuel cost savings of more than $2.1 million per year at a natural gas price of $6 per MMBtu when compared to a similar plant with an earlier version of the 7FA for equivalent net plant output. This updated plant would also avoid the emission of more than 19,000 metric tons of CO2 per year compared to the earlier version, an improvement equivalent to the CO2 emissions of approximately 3,800 cars on U.S. roads.
“Investing in the needs of tomorrow with R&D and technology is at the foundation of GE and helps us to maintain a competitive advantage in the power generation arena,” said Steve Bolze, president of GE Energy’s Power & Water business. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to GE’s leadership in advanced gas turbine technology that helps deliver power more efficiently and flexibly to our customers without compromising their high standards for operational excellence.”
“Since its introduction, our F technology has consistently set industry standards for reliability and efficiency,” said Rick Stanley, vice president of engineering for GE Energy. “The 7FA upgrade underscores our commitment to continue refining the technology to meet the evolving needs of today’s customers.”
“GE is focused on delivering products and services that help our customers save significant operating costs while simultaneously slashing emissions and fuel consumption. We have amassed technological advances from across our expansive portfolio of power generating and aviation turbines and delivered them in this upgraded 7FA turbine,” said John Reinker, general manager of gas turbine and combined cycle products for GE Energy. “Of the 1,000 plus GE F-technology gas turbines shipped worldwide, more than 70% are 7FA units—and the advances now available for the 7FA will ensure that it continues to be the industry's workhorse advanced technology turbine.”
Many companies have already evaluated the new gas turbine technology. Some of the first new 7FA turbines are planned for the proposed Oakley Generating Station in Oakley, Calif. The plant, which is projected to generate 586 megawatts of power, is being developed by Radback Energy, Inc., and is expected to be transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) after it enters commercial operation.
The new turbine is a part of GE’s ecomagination portfolio, due to the increase in net plant efficiency and higher output delivered by this machine compared to all earlier 7FA models, which should result in less fuel consumption and lower emissions on a megawatt per hour basis than delivered by previous 7FA models.
Key regions for the upgraded, 60-hertz 7FA will include North America, Latin America, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The upgraded 7FA will begin shipping in early 2012 and will be manufactured at GE Energy’s gas turbine facility in Greenville, S.C.
GE ecomagination certification
The ecomagination Product Review (EPR) process provides a third-party verification of claims, quantifying operating and environmental performance benefits that accrue to GE’s customers by using ecomagination products relative to baselines such as competitors' best products, the installed base of products and regulatory standards. These ecomagination claims can be found in GE's printed materials and advertisements and on the Web at www.ge.com/ecomagination. Ecomagination products are re-certified regularly to help ensure that claims remain accurate.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Global Wind Industry Milestone: GE Energy Ships its 10,000th 1.5-Megawatt Wind Turbine
(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Energy today announced the shipment of its 10,000th 1.5-megawatt wind turbine, a global wind industry milestone. Over the past decade, GE’s 1.5-megawatt machines have been installed in 19 countries and have accumulated more than 130 million operating hours, producing more than 78,000 gigawatt-hours of cleaner, wind-generated electricity.
The 10,000th unit was shipped to FPL Energy, the largest U.S. generator of wind power, for the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center located in North Dakota. The milestone shipment was announced during a press conference today in Orlando.
GE’s fleet of 10,000 1.5-megawatt machines can power more than five million homes and produce more than 50 million megawatt-hours annually. Compared to other power generation sources, this represents a savings of more than 27 million tons of CO2 emissions each year, the equivalent of removing more than five million U.S. cars from the road.
“We’re very pleased to share this milestone celebration with FPL Energy,” said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. “Like GE, FPL Energy is firmly committed to increasing the supply and quality of wind power as a vital step on the road to energy security and energy independence for our country.”
“GE Energy is an industry leader and a valued partner,” said Mike O’Sullivan, senior vice president of FPL Energy. “Having a reliable supply of wind turbines to meet our customers’ growing demand for clean and renewable wind energy has been an important ingredient in the growth and success of our wind business.”
Offering proven performance and reliability, GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is the most widely used megawatt-class wind turbine in the world and is recognized as the industry workhorse. This machine has been proven in nearly every wind regime, terrain and climate worldwide. GE continues to invest in technology improvements that will build upon the vast experience gained from a 10,000+ unit installed base. These investments continue to drive even higher levels of wind turbine reliability and efficiency.
Since entering the wind business in 2002, GE has continued to advance the performance and reliability of the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine through GE-designed technology including pitch systems, blades and gearboxes; improved component robustness; and better diagnostic capabilities and controls. The result is continuous improvement in overall fleet availability to a level over 98% for units commissioned since 2007.
GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine platform continues to evolve and benefits from GE’s core power generation expertise. The XLE model of the 1.5-megawatt class turbine offers a 15% increase in swept area, resulting in greater energy output.
Delivering worldwide services technology and fast parts fulfillment is critical to maintaining reliable performance of the 1.5-megawatt fleet. GE’s customer support and remote monitoring centers in Schenectady, N.Y. and Salzbergen, Germany provide continuous monitoring and diagnostic services seven days a week. The mission of these centers is to increase equipment availability and reduce downtime and operational costs. In addition, GE has opened a parts operation center near Memphis, Tenn. with fleet-wide critical parts for overnight delivery, when needed.
As the penetration of wind-generated electricity grows, it is increasingly important that wind farms have the capability to contribute to power system stability. GE has developed several products for the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine that address this requirement, including Wind RIDE-THRU, which allows uninterrupted wind turbine operation through many types of grid disturbances.
“Since 2002, we have invested more than $800 million to drive reliable and efficient wind turbine technology,” said Abate. “Continuing this investment is part of our overall commitment to wind power, which will be an integral part of the world energy mix throughout the 21st century.”
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The 10,000th unit was shipped to FPL Energy, the largest U.S. generator of wind power, for the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center located in North Dakota. The milestone shipment was announced during a press conference today in Orlando.
GE’s fleet of 10,000 1.5-megawatt machines can power more than five million homes and produce more than 50 million megawatt-hours annually. Compared to other power generation sources, this represents a savings of more than 27 million tons of CO2 emissions each year, the equivalent of removing more than five million U.S. cars from the road.
“We’re very pleased to share this milestone celebration with FPL Energy,” said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. “Like GE, FPL Energy is firmly committed to increasing the supply and quality of wind power as a vital step on the road to energy security and energy independence for our country.”
“GE Energy is an industry leader and a valued partner,” said Mike O’Sullivan, senior vice president of FPL Energy. “Having a reliable supply of wind turbines to meet our customers’ growing demand for clean and renewable wind energy has been an important ingredient in the growth and success of our wind business.”
Offering proven performance and reliability, GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is the most widely used megawatt-class wind turbine in the world and is recognized as the industry workhorse. This machine has been proven in nearly every wind regime, terrain and climate worldwide. GE continues to invest in technology improvements that will build upon the vast experience gained from a 10,000+ unit installed base. These investments continue to drive even higher levels of wind turbine reliability and efficiency.
Since entering the wind business in 2002, GE has continued to advance the performance and reliability of the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine through GE-designed technology including pitch systems, blades and gearboxes; improved component robustness; and better diagnostic capabilities and controls. The result is continuous improvement in overall fleet availability to a level over 98% for units commissioned since 2007.
GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine platform continues to evolve and benefits from GE’s core power generation expertise. The XLE model of the 1.5-megawatt class turbine offers a 15% increase in swept area, resulting in greater energy output.
Delivering worldwide services technology and fast parts fulfillment is critical to maintaining reliable performance of the 1.5-megawatt fleet. GE’s customer support and remote monitoring centers in Schenectady, N.Y. and Salzbergen, Germany provide continuous monitoring and diagnostic services seven days a week. The mission of these centers is to increase equipment availability and reduce downtime and operational costs. In addition, GE has opened a parts operation center near Memphis, Tenn. with fleet-wide critical parts for overnight delivery, when needed.
As the penetration of wind-generated electricity grows, it is increasingly important that wind farms have the capability to contribute to power system stability. GE has developed several products for the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine that address this requirement, including Wind RIDE-THRU, which allows uninterrupted wind turbine operation through many types of grid disturbances.
“Since 2002, we have invested more than $800 million to drive reliable and efficient wind turbine technology,” said Abate. “Continuing this investment is part of our overall commitment to wind power, which will be an integral part of the world energy mix throughout the 21st century.”
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Friday, November 14, 2008
Cleaner Coal Technology Key to the World’s Energy Future
(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Energy and the University of Wyoming today announced an agreement to further cleaner coal technology, making coal-fired power generation more viable in America. Under the agreement, GE and the university will develop the High Plains Gasification Advanced Technology Center to accelerate the commercial use of cleaner coal technology.
In the United States, coal supplies more than 50 percent of the country’s current electricity generation and it plays an important role in meeting the nation’s energy needs. Coal is an abundant, low-cost, domestic, natural resource that continues to be a significant part of America’s energy mix.
Wyoming is uniquely positioned in the nation’s energy landscape and has vast coal resources capable of supporting a substantial portion of the nation’s energy needs. The state produces approximately 40 percent of all of the coal used in the United States to generate electricity.
The new center will include a small-scale gasification system that will enable researchers from GE and the university to develop advanced gasification solutions for Powder River Basin and other Wyoming coals. The research is expected to expand the range of coals that can be used with GE’s integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) technology for power plants. The facility is expected to be operational by 2012.
To create a path forward for coal, future climate change policy will be needed to incentivize the deployment of already-available low carbon technology and to foster further improvements that will bring down the cost of carbon capture and sequestration.
“This project underscores the commitment of both the University of Wyoming and GE to work toward U.S. energy independence and plan for future energy needs,” said Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Energy’s Power & Water business. “We believe that our country’s energy and environmental policies should promote a balance of available, reliable, cleaner and low-cost energy. The use of cleaner coal technology helps create jobs, support economic growth and positively impacts the environment.”
GE is a world leader in IGCC technology and has been at the forefront of IGCC technology since the Coolwater project, a 120 MW technical demonstration IGCC project started in 1984. GE's IGCC technology also has operated at the 250 MW TECO Polk I station in Florida for more than 12 years. Today, GE offers a 630 MW IGCC reference plant that produces 75 percent less SOx, 33 percent less NOx, 40 percent less particulate matter, uses 30 percent less water and offers 90 percent mercury capture, compared to a traditional pulverized coal plant.
In addition to providing a cleaner alternative for power generation, IGCC is well-suited for carbon capture. Carbon capture technology is in use in GE’s industrial gasification applications around the world today. IGCC technology will offer cost and efficiency advantages for carbon capture and storage, once clear policies and regulations are in place to support storage and an economically viable value is established for carbon.
Although IGCC technology is relatively new, gasification is more than a century old. The process uses pressure, heat and steam to convert carbon-based materials like coal into a synthesis gas (syngas) that has a variety of uses including the production of chemicals or fertilizers and power generation.
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In the United States, coal supplies more than 50 percent of the country’s current electricity generation and it plays an important role in meeting the nation’s energy needs. Coal is an abundant, low-cost, domestic, natural resource that continues to be a significant part of America’s energy mix.
Wyoming is uniquely positioned in the nation’s energy landscape and has vast coal resources capable of supporting a substantial portion of the nation’s energy needs. The state produces approximately 40 percent of all of the coal used in the United States to generate electricity.
The new center will include a small-scale gasification system that will enable researchers from GE and the university to develop advanced gasification solutions for Powder River Basin and other Wyoming coals. The research is expected to expand the range of coals that can be used with GE’s integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) technology for power plants. The facility is expected to be operational by 2012.
To create a path forward for coal, future climate change policy will be needed to incentivize the deployment of already-available low carbon technology and to foster further improvements that will bring down the cost of carbon capture and sequestration.
“This project underscores the commitment of both the University of Wyoming and GE to work toward U.S. energy independence and plan for future energy needs,” said Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Energy’s Power & Water business. “We believe that our country’s energy and environmental policies should promote a balance of available, reliable, cleaner and low-cost energy. The use of cleaner coal technology helps create jobs, support economic growth and positively impacts the environment.”
GE is a world leader in IGCC technology and has been at the forefront of IGCC technology since the Coolwater project, a 120 MW technical demonstration IGCC project started in 1984. GE's IGCC technology also has operated at the 250 MW TECO Polk I station in Florida for more than 12 years. Today, GE offers a 630 MW IGCC reference plant that produces 75 percent less SOx, 33 percent less NOx, 40 percent less particulate matter, uses 30 percent less water and offers 90 percent mercury capture, compared to a traditional pulverized coal plant.
In addition to providing a cleaner alternative for power generation, IGCC is well-suited for carbon capture. Carbon capture technology is in use in GE’s industrial gasification applications around the world today. IGCC technology will offer cost and efficiency advantages for carbon capture and storage, once clear policies and regulations are in place to support storage and an economically viable value is established for carbon.
Although IGCC technology is relatively new, gasification is more than a century old. The process uses pressure, heat and steam to convert carbon-based materials like coal into a synthesis gas (syngas) that has a variety of uses including the production of chemicals or fertilizers and power generation.
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