GE Energy Upgrades Control System at Nuclear Power Plant in Spain


ATLANTA, GA.-December 18, 2006-In order to decrease downtime and improve reliability, IBERDROLA, S.A. has signed a contract with GE Energy for a digital control and instrumentation upgrade at its Cofrentes Nuclear Power Station in Valencia, Spain.
GE Energy will supply an integrated Mark(TM) VI digital control system, Bently Nevada(TM) 3500 condition monitoring hardware and System 1® optimization software to replace the existing analog turbine control system, turbine supervisory instrument system and reactor pressure and steam bypass control system. The new triple mode redundant digital controls will deliver improved levels of reliability, eliminating a single point of failures and providing 100 percent on-line repair capabilities, which result in decreased turbine downtime and increased operator confidence.

The Cofrentes Nuclear Power Station consists of a 1085-megawatt boiling water reactor developed and installed by GE Energy. GE Energy also supplied the steam turbine-generator.

"The Mark VI control upgrade will help increase the efficiency of Cofrentes," commented Ramon Tarrega, plant modernization manager, Cofrentes Nuclear Power Station. "This also lays the foundation for future digital control system upgrades by creating a common plant-wide platform that extends to digital upgrades on safety systems"

"GE Energy's integrated instrumentation and control solution will help the Cofrentes Nuclear Power Station service its customers with increased reliability," said Daniel Heintzelman, president of GE Energy's services business. "The team approach of GE Energy's nuclear and optimization and control businesses demonstrates our ability to provide overall instrumentation and control solutions to the nuclear industry."
One of Spain's leading electric utilities, IBERDROLA, S.A. serves 10 million customers and owns hydroelectric, fossil-fueled, nuclear and renewable power generation facilities in Spain with a capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

GE Energy's optimization and control group helps industrial customers in the power generation, oil and gas and process industries through products and services that maximize the economic performance of operating assets. Its solutions include digital and mechanical control solutions, mechanical condition monitoring and plant asset management expertise, fuel management and plant performance optimization technologies, harsh environment sensing and comprehensive services and training.

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 2005 revenue of $16.5 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.

For more information, contact:
Serena Levy
GE Energy
+1 678 844 5423
serena.levy@ge.com

Gina DeRossi or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786-6488
gina.derossi@mastopr.com
howard.masto@ge.com

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