GE Wins Largest Gas Turbine Combined-Cycle Order in India
Contracts over $750 Million for 2,400-Megawatt Samalkot Power Plant Expansion
SAMALKOT, India--Reliance Power Ltd. of India has selected GE's (NYSE: GE) flexible, efficient power generation technology for a 2,400-megawatt expansion of the Samalkot power plant in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. This will represent the largest gas turbine combined-cycle project in India's history and will help the country meet its continuing demand for reliable electricity to support its rapidly growing economy.
Under contracts totaling over $750 million, GE will supply six Frame 9FA gas turbines, three D-11 steam turbines, training and long-term services for the project. GE's 9FA combined-cycle technology is proven in applications worldwide. In a combined-cycle configuration, exhaust gas from a gas turbine-generator is converted to steam, which is used to drive a steam turbine-generator, enabling the plant to produce additional power without an increase in fuel consumption. The new plant is expected to enter simple-cycle (gas turbines only) service in the first half of 2012 and combined-cycle (gas and steam turbines) in the second half of that year.
"We are delighted to begin this strategic long-term partnership with a world leader like GE," said J .P. Chalsani, CEO, Reliance Power. "With the combination of resources and knowledge of GE and Reliance Power, we are confident of creating a new record for project execution and are hopeful of commissioning the project on a super fast-track basis, substantially adding to capacity addition in the 11th plan."
India is the sixth largest energy consumer in the world. The country's demand for natural gas has been growing at a rate of 6.5 percent for the last 10 years, and that pace is expected to continue or even to increase.
"Our flexible advanced, gas-fired combined-cycle technology will enable Reliance Power to produce large amounts of electricity and fuel India's growing economy," said Paul Browning, vice president-thermal products for GE Power & Water. "We are committed to supplying technology that can help India produce the energy it needs to sustain its dynamic economic growth and help support continued improvements for its citizens."
The primary fuel for the 9FA combined-cycle blocks at the Samalkot plant expansion will be natural gas, which is one of the cleaner fossil fuels used for power generation.
In addition to supplying equipment, GE also has signed a 15-year contractual service agreement (CSA) for the Samalkot project. GE currently is managing CSAs for customers at more than 700 sites covering 2,000 turbines worldwide. Benefits to customers may include performance guarantees, predictable maintenance costs and access to GE's technology and global experience.
Reliance Power is India's largest integrated private sector power utility company. The company is involved with generation, transmission, distribution and trading of power and distributes over 5,000 megawatts of power.
The 9FA is part of GE's family of Frame F turbines. More than 1,000 GE F-technology gas turbines have been installed worldwide and have compiled more than 32 million operating hours. GE's F-class turbines offer flexible fuel handing that accommodates a wide range of fuels including natural gas, distillate oil, high hydrogen syngas and naphtha.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $40 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy - GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas - work together to provide integrated product and service solutions 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.
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