Bangkok--10 Oct--Total Quality PR
- Breakthrough Technology Achieves Greater Part-Load Efficiency than Any Other Gas Turbine of Its Kind
- GE’s New Unit Provides a Single, Economical Solution for the Needs of Nearly Every Market Condition
- FlexAero LMS100-PB will Help Power the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games
GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that its newest FlexAero* LMS100-PB technology is now available for customers in the Far East. The LMS100-PB is a 100-megawatt (MW) aeroderivative gas turbine that can operate independently from the power grid, outperforms other machines in its class in all weather conditions and requires no water for emission control, making it an outstanding solution for delivering power in the world’s most challenging places. In March 2012, GE announced that OGK-3 had selected two FlexAero LMS100-PB units to help power the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Today’s announcement was made at Power-Gen Asia, which is being held October 3 - 5 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Global power demand is soaring. In the next 25 years, 1.6 billion people will get access to power for the first time. Two-thirds of that growth will happen in the developing world, where independent, distributed power technology is ideal.
Aging energy infrastructures have a growing need for high-efficiency, low-emissions technologies that can stabilize the grid and respond rapidly to changes in demand. GE’s newest energy technology combines power, flexibility and performance, providing the highest levels of fuel efficiency at the most critical times. The FlexAero LMS100-PB achieves greater part-load efficiency than any other gas turbine of its kind.
“Continuing on our successful launch at Russia Power last year, we chose to make this year’s important announcement at Power-Gen Asia as this technology’s reliability and flexibility are well-suited for our customers in this region,” said Darryl Wilson, president and CEO—aeroderivative gas turbines for GE Power & Water. “GE’s proven technology that will power the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi is now available for our Far East customers to use to power their homes and industries.”
GE’s ecomagination*-qualified FlexAero LMS100-PB—the world’s first externally intercooled aeroderivative gas turbine—can perform under any conditions and in all applications. Given its capabilities, the FlexAero LMS100-PB is ideally suited for grid stability applications and enabling optimum utilization of existing power generation assets.
At 100 MW, the FlexAero LMS100-PB is right sized to lay the groundwork for future growth. For many customers, the option to combine several LMS100 turbines offers greater flexibility and decision-making power than using one large power block. Customers can build their plant for greater power as demand grows—or they can shut down one or two of their turbines when demand is reduced.
“GE’s revolutionary FlexAero LMS100-PB provides a single, economical solution for nearly every market condition. With unparalleled efficiency, a 10-minute start time and grid-firming flexibility, our FlexAero LMS100-PB is the ideal solution for power generation planners and developers,” added Wilson. “A combination of frame and aeroderivative gas turbine technologies, this powerful machine represents the most extensive collaboration of design and manufacturing expertise in the history of GE—delivering more than 100 MW with industry-leading efficiency of 44 percent.”
The FlexAero LMS100-PB is engineered to:
- Serve a rapidly-growing market of independent, distributed power producers—Distributed power, which GE defines as the production power at, or near, point of use, allows businesses and communities—no matter where they are located—to access efficient, reliable power, on or off the grid. Distributed power technology, like the FlexAero LMS100-PB, brings certainty to uncertain situations, allowing businesses and communities to become their own energy supplier and ensure they have the power they need, when they need it.
- Deliver reliable, high-efficiency power in the toughest weather conditions—When other technologies underperform in extreme temperatures, the FlexAero LMS100-PB is able to maintain exceptional fuel efficiency and performance due to its innovative patented intercooler system. This ensures reliable power for customers in some of the world’s toughest climates, from Russia to California, without compromising on important environmental standards.
- Lead the industry in part-load efficiency—Gas turbines have different levels of fuel efficiency depending on how much power they generate. Most gas turbines are designed to demonstrate the best fuel efficiency at 100 percent or base load and then quickly lose efficiency as they ramp down to part load. The FlexAero LMS100-PB achieves greater part-load efficiency than any other gas turbine of its kind. In fact, when operating at part load, the FlexAero LMS100-PB maintains 36 percent efficiency—equivalent to most competitive technology at full load. For every one percentage point of efficiency gained, customers save up to $112 per hour of operation, or nearly $850,000 savings per year[1].
? Ensure a stable power grid to meet peak demand and prevent blackouts and brownouts—When connected to the grid, the FlexAero LMS100-PB can start in just 10 minutes and is able to ramp up and down at a rate of 50 MW per minute, enabling it to meet fluctuations in demand in real time. This operational flexibility makes it a perfect source of dependable power for cities and industries, which need to manage frequent spikes in energy demand.
- Significantly reduce environmental impact—The LMS100-PB is engineered with dry low emissions technology, allowing it to operate without the need for water for emissions abatement, which allows customers to save more than 98 million liters per turbine per year while reducing CO2 emissions by 20 percent more than its nearest competitor.
"Offering superior value unavailable in other 80-160 MW gas turbines through high part-power efficiency, cycling capability without maintenance impact, dispatch reliability, turndown capability and low emissions, the FlexAero LMS100-PB gives operators confidence they can meet customer and business needs at any time, day or night,” added Wilson.
The two OGK-3 units for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, which will run on natural gas, are scheduled to be generating power in the fourth quarter of 2013.
The FlexAero LMS100-PB joins GE’s rapidly growing FlexEfficiency portfolio of advanced power conversion products, which combine exceptional operational flexibility and fuel efficiency. On September 26, GE unveiled its new FlexEfficiency 60 power generation portfolio engineered to harness natural gas and enable greater use of renewable energy. The FlexEfficiency 60 portfolio combines record-breaking efficiency, which will reduce emissions and save money (compared to prior GE configurations), along with unprecedented flexibility, which will enable utilities to deliver power quickly when it is needed and to ramp down when it is not, balancing the grid cost-effectively. In September 2011, GE announced its FlexAero* LM6000-PH, a highly efficient 50-MW gas turbine, as the solution for businesses and communities around the globe who need power, fast.
GE’s aeroderivative business, headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, brings power to businesses and communities around the world by modifying highly reliable GE aviation engines to burn natural gas and/or biofuels for efficient, reliable energy. These jet engine-based power generation units, which range from 18-100 MW, help energy companies take advantage of the growing trend to use abundant, cleaner-burning natural gas to power a cleaner, more productive world.
GE’s aeroderivative gas turbines are an important part of GE’s diverse array of innovative distributed power solutions that range from 100 kW to 100 MW and give businesses and communities around the world the ability to generate reliable and efficient power—whether on or off the grid—to help address their energy and environmental priorities.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Numerous products are qualified under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better. Power & Water’s seven business units include Aeroderivative Gas Turbines; Gas Engines; Nuclear Energy; Power Generation Services; Renewable Energy; Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.
Follow GE Power & Water and its Aeroderivative business and ecomagination on Twitter @GE_PowerWater, @GE_Aero and @ecomagination.
*Trademark of the General Electric Company.
[1] Based on 6,000 rubles/1,000 m3 price of gas and approximately 7,600 hours of annual operation.