GE Energy to Ship Its 100th Frame 6FA Gas Turbine
28 April 2009
Technology Has Compiled Over Two Million Hours of Operation in 30 Countries
BELFORT, FRANCE - April 28, 2009 - Marking the latest global milestone for its advanced technology, F-class gas turbines, GE Energy is preparing to ship its 100th Frame 6FA gas turbine. The mid-sized member of the F-technology fleet is well known for its fuel flexibility and operational capabilities. The Frame 6FA gas turbine has compiled more than two million hours of commercial service in 30 countries worldwide.
Designed for both 50- and 60-hertz applications, the 6FA is a 70-megawatt class machine. Its output range, high exhaust energy, full packaging and robust design make the 6FA well suited for a wide range of applications, from cogeneration and district heating to pure power generation in combined cycle and integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) modes.
The 100th 6FA will be installed at a combined heat and power project in the city of Kurgan in the south Ural area of Russia. Plans are for the plant to provide electricity and thermal energy generation to support the social and economic development of the region.
"The shipment of the 100th Frame 6FA gas turbine demonstrates the continued success of our F-technology and the acceptance of the 6FA by customers here in Europe and worldwide," said Ricardo Cordoba, GE Energy's president for Western Europe and Northern Africa. "Scaled down from our Frame 7FA gas turbine, the 6FA is a classic example of GE's philosophy of evolving our gas turbine models to meet the changing needs of our customers around the world."
The versatility of the 6FA is illustrated by several recent projects in Europe, including the expansion of a cogeneration plant at an oil refinery in Spain and the extension of a combined-cycle power plant in Spain's Canary Islands.
The shipment of the 100th 6FA follows other industry milestones reached by GE's F-technology fleet, including:
o More than 20 million hours of commercial operation in power plants worldwide. This landmark was achieved in 2007; since then, the total has grown to more than 26 million hours, making GE the clear leader in advanced gas turbine technology experience.
o Shipment of the 1,000th F-technology gas turbine for a project in Saudi Arabia. Today, GE's F-class gas turbines operate in 45 countries around the world.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of $29.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
For more information contact:
Mary Gibson
GE Energy
t: +1 770 729 6359
e: Mary1.Gibson@ge.com
Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
t: +1 518 786 6488
e: kenneth.darling@ge.com
Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
t: + 1 518 786 6488
e: howard.masto@ge.com
