Advanced turbine cuts fuel use, emissions

subscribe

General Electric Co's Energy unit said its latest turbine design for natural gas-fired power plants will consume less fuel and emit less carbon dioxide than existing GE turbines.

GE Energy is introducing an upgraded Frame 7FA gas turbine to help power plant operators reduce costs and emissions, the company said in a release.

U.S. utilities are expected to build more gas-fired plants in the next decade due to increasing gas supply and the uncertainty of costs tied to proposed carbon legislation.

A typical combined-cycle plant using two new 7FA gas turbines with a single steam turbine would save $2.1 million per year at a gas price of $6 per million British thermal units, the company said, compared to a plant with GE's existing 7FA turbine.

The more efficient plant would also avoid emissions of 19,000 metric tons of CO2 annually compared to the earlier version, GE said, the equivalent of the heat-trapping emissions of nearly 3,800 cars.

"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 products for GE Energy.

Natural gas power plants emit only about half the CO2 of traditional coal-fired plants. CO2 is the primary gas blamed for global warming.

GE said it will manufacture the upgraded 7FA turbine in Greenville, South Carolina, and begin shipments in early 2012.

Some of the first new 7FA turbines will be used at the proposed 586-megawatt Oakley Generating Station in Oakley, California. The plant is being developed by Radback Energy and is expected to be transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Co after reaching commercial operation, GE said.

Related News

firefighter

California faces huge power cuts as wildfires rage

LOS ANGELES - Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) already faces an investigation by regulators after cutting supplies to 970,000 homes and businesses.

It announced that another 650,000 properties would face precautionary shut-offs.

Wildfires fanned by the strong winds are raging in two parts of the state.

Thousands of residents near the wealthy Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles have been told to evacuate because of a wildfire that began early on Monday.

Further north in Sonoma County, a larger fire has forced 180,000 people from their homes.

California's governor has declared a state-wide emergency.

 

What about the power cuts?

On Monday regulators announced a formal inquiry into whether…

READ MORE
U.A.E. Becomes First Arab Nation to Open a Nuclear Power Plant

U.A.E. Becomes First Arab Nation to Open a Nuclear Power Plant

READ MORE

PGE logo

Poland’s largest power group opts to back wind over nuclear

READ MORE

uk electricity prices force

Energy UK - Switching surge continues

READ MORE

ukrainians-find-new-energy-solutions-to-overcome-winter-blackouts

Ukrainians Find New Energy Solutions to Overcome Winter Blackouts

READ MORE