Clarke Energy to Supply GE’s Jenbacher Gas Engines to Power New Algerian ‘Mega Mosque’
ALGIERS, ALGERIA—August 30, 2018—GE’s Distributed Power business (NYSE: GE) today announced U.K.-based Clarke Energy, GE’s authorized Channel Partner of Jenbacher gas engines in Algeria, has been selected by the developers of the new Djamaâ el Djazaïr mosque (the Great Mosque of Algiers), to supply four of GE’s J320 Jenbacher gas engines for a trigeneration plant. The facility will provide the mosque with reliable, efficient and lower-carbon power, heating and cooling.
The natural gas-fueled trigeneration plant will supply 4.25 megawatts (MW) of electricity, 4.3 MW of heat in the winter and 3.5 MW to produce 6 MW of chilled water in the summer at the planned mosque, which also is known as the Mohammadia Mega Mosque. Mohammadia is located near the capital city of Algiers.
The mosque is owned by the Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs. The facility will be the third largest mosque in the Arabic world—after the Mecca and Medina sites—and will feature a minaret (mosque tower) over 265 meters tall, making it the world’s largest. Clarke Energy secured an agreement with Turkish subcontractor AE Arma-Elektropanç to supply four Jenbacher J320 gas engines for the project. During the hot Algerian summer months, the gas engines’ heat will be converted into cooling water by three absorption chillers. The cold water will be used in the building’s air conditioning systems. In the winter, the system will use the engine heat to warm the complex.
The new mosque is being built as a cultural and religious center and symbolizes the bright future of urban development in Algeria.
“Key factors in us selecting Clarke Energy to supply GE’s Jenbacher gas engines for this project were its local support network and established presence in Algeria and GE’s proven global track record for numerous successful Jenbacher gas engine trigeneration projects,” said Murat Alkim, deputy general manager of AE Arma-Elektropanc.
The project underscores the growing industrial demand for advanced trigeneration technologies, including in the commercial and residential building sectors.
“We are excited to support the development of the Djamaâ el Djazaïr mosque by supplying GE’s Jenbacher gas engine trigeneration technology, which will allow the mosque to generate its own power, heat and cooling for the complex without depending on the local grid,” said Jamie Clarke, chief executive officer of Clarke Energy. “GE’s CHP (combined heat and power) technologies will deliver important reliability, energy efficiency and environmental benefits for this flagship international project.”
GE’s J320 units have been delivered to the mosque site and are expected to enter operation at the end of 2018, in conjunction with the opening of the mosque.
“GE’s proven Jenbacher gas engine trigeneration technology is an attractive technical and commercial solution for a growing number of industrial and community energy challenges,” said Leon van Vuuren, general manager, global sales and commercial operations for GE’s Distributed Power business. “We are excited to showcase the advantages of our trigeneration technology for the development of the new Djamaâ el Djazaïr mosque.”
The mosque complex includes a multimedia library, a research center, meeting rooms, a prayer room able to accommodate almost 35,000 people, the minaret, a Quran school, residential facilities and a museum.
Join the conversation at our GE Hewar blog: http://middleeast.geblogs.com/.
About the Djamaâ el Djazaïr Mosque
The Mohammadia Mega Mosque, also known as the Djamaâ el Djazaïr mosque, will be built on a 218,525 m² (54 acres or 21.8ha) site located east of the present historical center in the Mohammadia area near the Bay of Algeria. It will be the third largest mosque in the world after the Mecca and Medina mosques. The main attraction of the mosque will be its 265-meter minaret.
A YouTube video of the mosque can be viewed here (in Arabic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knHOtib1Vsg
About Clarke Energy
Clarke Energy, a Kohler Company, is a leader in the engineering design, installation and long-term maintenance of gas engine-based power plants. The company is authorized sales and service provider for GE’s Jenbacher gas engines in 25 countries. Clarke Energy employs over 1,100 staff and has over 6,300 MWe of Jenbacher generation equipment installed globally.
Clarke Energy in North Africa
GE’s Jenbacher gas engines have been distributed by Clarke Energy in North Africa since 2008 when it started operation in Tunisia. In 2011, the company commenced operations in Algeria. There are currently 60 MW of GE’s Jenbacher gas engines across Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco on a range of applications including captive power for industry, flare gas and biogas from waste, sewage and landfill sites. Clarke Energy’s growing North African team employs over 22 people. www.clarke-energy.com
Follow Clarke Energy on Twitter @ClarkeEnergy and on LinkedIn or Facebook.
About GE’s Distributed Power business
GE’s Distributed Power business, which includes the Jenbacher and Waukesha product lines, is a leading provider of engines, power equipment and services focused on power generation and gas compression at or near the point of use. Distributed Power offers a diverse product portfolio that includes highly efficient, fuel-flexible, industrial gas engines generating 200 kW to 10 MW of power for numerous industries globally. In addition, the business provides life cycle support for more than 48,000 gas engines worldwide to help you meet your business challenges and success metrics—anywhere and anytime. Backed by our service providers in more than 100 countries, GE‘s global service network connects with you locally for rapid response to your service needs. GE’s Distributed Power business is headquartered in Jenbach, Austria.
About GE Power
GE Power is a world energy leader providing equipment, solutions and services across the energy value chain from generation to consumption. Operating in more than 180 countries, our technology produces a third of the world’s electricity, equips 90 percent of power transmission utilities worldwide, and our software manages more than forty percent of the world’s energy. Through relentless innovation and continuous partnership with our customers, we are developing the energy technologies of the future and improving the power networks we depend on today. For more information please visit www.ge.com/power, and follow GE Power on Twitter and on LinkedIn.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s digital industrial company and changes the industry with connected, responsive and predictive software-controlled machines and solutions. GE is organized around a global knowledge sharing system, “GE Store”, which allows all business units to access the same technologies, markets, structures and intellectual property and share them with one another. Every invention promotes other innovations and applications across multiple business units. With people, services, technology and scale, GE offers customers better results, as we speak the language of the industry. www.ge.com
United Technologies Unveils All-Digital Innovation Showcase at Farnborough Airshow
FARNBOROUGH, England — United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) today launched the company’s first-ever, all-digital innovation showcase at the Farnborough International Airshow. The showcase, entitled “Innovating an Extraordinary Future,” uses immersive video, digital touch-screen technology and augmented reality with 3D-printed models, to enable visitors to learn about more than 50 product and service offerings in a multi-sensory experience.
As part of the show, United Technologies’ two leading aerospace companies, Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems, expect to make more than 25 announcements that span product and system contract orders, customer adoption of innovative intelligence platforms, expansion of MRO capabilities, and R&D investments in autonomous flight technology and a new aerospace intelligence lab.
While at the show, United Technologies’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gregory J. Hayes, shared his thoughts about four key trends influencing the future of aerospace. “Digital technologies, data intelligence, advanced manufacturing techniques and more electric technologies for aircraft systems and propulsion are redefining the aerospace industry,” said Hayes. “We are witnessing an unprecedented level of innovation happening at a pace and scale that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The aerospace companies that will be most successful are those that can provide customers with smart, intelligent systems that optimize performance, enable predictability and reliability, and improve cost efficiency.”
“Innovating an Extraordinary Future” All-Digital Showcase
Visitors to United Technologies’ chalet and innovation showcase will be greeted by a floor-to-ceiling video wall projecting inspirational images of aerospace technology in action. They can learn more about specific products and systems offered by Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems by simply touching one of six, interactive multi-media pillars. These free-standing, digital learning hubs provide detailed information, videos, and 360-degree models of UTC’s latest aerospace offerings, including jet engines, military ejection seats and more.
Enthusiasts who want to drill down into an aircraft’s inner systems can participate in a UTC augmented reality experience. Participants are given specially-loaded iPads and encouraged to use the device as a viewer as they walk around 3D-printed aircraft models. Touching on a series of designated “hot spots” located on the aircraft will then transport the viewer into the inner workings of the plane’s systems. UTC designed the experience to emphasize the increasingly digitally-connected systems that are redefining the aerospace industry today.
New Contract Wins Reflect the Future of Aerospace
Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems announced a series of contract wins, R&D investments and service expansions prior to and at the show. The announcements reflect increased customer demand for products and services that leverage new technologies to improve operational performance and efficiency for their fleets. Below are a few highlights:
2018 News Highlights from Pratt & Whitney
Increased GTF Adoption: More than 400 Pratt & Whitney GTF engine selections were announced in the first half of 2018, including JetBlue’s announcement last week for 60 A220-300 aircraft. Other milestones included the entry into service of Embraer’s E2 jet, with launch customer Wideroe, and six airlines celebrated the very first A320neo family aircraft delivery.
Expansion of FAST™ for Predictive Analytics: Pratt & Whitney continues to expand the availability of its FAST™ solution for predictive and preventive maintenance on a growing number of aircraft platforms for hundreds of customers in general aviation, business jets, helicopters and regional airlines. The FAST solution provides near-real-time, high-density, full-flight data after each mission for more than 2,000 Pratt & Whitney Canada engines. The company has also begun introduction of its revolutionary new Oil Analysis Technology under its Digital Engine Services suite. This innovative technology provides high visibility into the health and operation of the engine without intrusive inspections.
New Data Capture Offering: On the military side, Pratt & Whitney announced the launch of Digital Depot. This multi-year initiative seeks to capture detailed data from engine shop visits to drive cost-optimized maintenance work scope, feed accurate forecasts for parts availability, and inform future design improvements for even greater reliability and time on wing. Digital Depot is projected to reduce turnaround time by 30 percent, which can result in lower cost, less inventory and fewer spare engines.
“Pratt & Whitney has invested in digital tools that help design, produce and maintain our full range of engines from general aviation, to the world’s only fifth generation fighter jet engine and Geared Turbofan for commercial aviation,” said Pratt & Whitney President, Robert F. Leduc. “Digital will be a key investment area for us going forward, as we continue the Pratt & Whitney heritage of redefining engine technology through innovations that deliver real customer value.”
UTC Aerospace Systems Announcements Reinforce the Power of Data (Show-related announcements)
Rapid Deployment of InteliSight Platform: UTC Aerospace Systems announced a compact form of its InteliSight platform, which seamlessly accesses and transmits valuable aircraft data. The new form factor reduces the installation time of the Aircraft Interface Device (AID) and Tablet Interface Management (TIM®) by 90 percent, enabling operators to rapidly connect their entire fleet to the airline’s network and begin receiving valuable data feeds within days vs. months.
Predictive Analytics for Aircraft Maintenance: All Nippon Airways (ANA) has selected to pilot UTC Aerospace Systems’ Ascentia platform, a prognostics and health management solution launched earlier this year, which builds on the InteliSight platform by converting data streams into predictive analytics. Through the provision of near real-time analysis of full-flight data, ANA will be able to receive proactive maintenance recommendations that reduce unscheduled maintenance and service interruptions, and optimize shop visits for its fleet of 63 Boeing 787s.
New Innovation Lab for Intelligent and Connected Aircraft: UTC Aerospace Systems announced the opening of a new Intelligent Aircraft Technologies Lab based in Rockford, Illinois. The lab will accelerate the development of more intelligent and connected aircraft systems, and will initially focus on the implementation of health monitoring solutions for generators, air compressors, fans and motor controllers.
Autonomous Flight Support: UTC Aerospace Systems is making a multi-million dollar investment in the development of a next-gen vehicle management computer (VMC). It will enable fly-by-wire technology and autonomous flight for new and retrofit applications in civil and military aircraft. The VMC will feature triple multi-core processors, high-speed communications and open architecture for use in high-redundancy flight critical applications. The company expects to announce its first customer within a year and begin deliveries in 2022.
“Data will underpin and be the transformative force of advancements in intelligent aerospace,” said Dave Gitlin, President of UTC Aerospace Systems. “From the application of analytics for proactive fleet monitoring and enhanced maintenance support to furthering the path of autonomous flight, actionable data is the way toward intelligent flight for our customers.”
About United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs. To learn more about UTC, visit the website or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC
USAF and NSF announce partnership in science and engineering research
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and National Science Foundation (NSF) Director France Córdova signed a Letter of Intent May 9, 2018, creating a new partnership for collaboration on scientific and engineering research to bolster national security.
The Letter of Intent initiates a strategic partnership focused on research in four areas of common interest: space operations and geosciences, advanced material sciences, information and data sciences, and workforce and processes.
“We are looking forward to deepening our ties with the National Science Foundation,” Wilson said. “We will simultaneously benefit from the research done together with a focus on the areas most vital to the future of the U.S. Air Force and the security of our Nation.”
The partnership is designed to create a pathway between the basic research supported by NSF and the technologies needed to support the Air Force of tomorrow. Common areas of interest will drive cooperation at every level of research, including basic research, applied research and advanced technology development.
“Ensuring national security through innovation in science and engineering was part of the National Science Foundation’s founding mission nearly seven decades ago, and it remains one of our highest priorities today,” Córdova said. “We look forward to partnering with the Air Force on this collaborative venture and using our combined resources to innovate for the benefit of the nation.”
This partnership reflects White House priorities including strong national security and efficient government operations.
“Rebuilding America’s defense capabilities has been a top priority of the Trump Administration since inauguration. A big part of that is translating fundamental discoveries into breakthroughs that make the country safer and drive the U.S. economy,” said Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the President for technology policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “This partnership between two of America’s R&D powerhouses — the Air Force and the National Science Foundation — will ensure that taxpayer funding of basic research is made more efficient, accelerates the development of advanced technologies for both civilian and military use, and fosters job creation and economic growth into the future.”
The letter states that “The Air Force will benefit from greater access to NSF’s considerably larger basic research program and community of researchers. The NSF will benefit with a direct pathway for the technical maturation of many of its research efforts and products, with increased relevance afforded by its direct support of the Nation’s defense posture.”
In anticipation of the signing, the two organizations have already had initial discussions on topics ranging from the convergence of artificial intelligence, data and materials, to placements for fellows from NSF’s Graduate Research Intern Program.
The letter is available online.
-NSF-
GE Signed a Large Supply Agreement for Jenbacher Gas Engines in Russia
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSSIA GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that it has signed a supply agreement with GreenTech Energy Company (GTE), one of GE’s authorized Channel Partners for Jenbacher* gas engines in Russia, for 21 Jenbacher gas engines—10 J320 units, 10 J420 units and one J316 unit—with a total capacity of 26 megawatts (MW) to be delivered by year-end 2018. To date, it is one of the largest GE contracts to supply Jenbacher engines for the Russian market. The contract was signed during the customer technical seminar organized together with GTE on April 10 and 11 in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s Ural.
Packages branded “GreenTechPower” will be manufactured by GTE at a new facility in St. Petersburg. Combined heat and power (CHP) units with single capacity going from 1 MW to 1.5 MW on the base of GE’s Jenbacher gas engines will be used to help increase cleaner power generation at or near the point of use in the food and beverage, glass, agriculture and chemical processes industries.
CHP provides thermal power and electrical generation in a single systems. Efficiencies with GE’s Jenbacher CHP solutions can reach 90 percent or more with CHP. That’s more than 40 percent higher than with thermal energy alone. These systems help commercial and industrial businesses, municipalities and a wide range of energy-intensive institutions get the most out of their facilities. GTE’s CHP packages based on GE’s Jenbacher gas engines are space effective and do not require construction of a separate building, which is accelerating the plant’s commissioning.
GTE has recently received the “Distributed Power Generation – Great Achievements” award in the category of “Best Distributed Power 5 MW and above Project” from the Distributed Power Association of Russia for GTE’s installation of a CHP plant for a greenhouse owned by UMMC-Agro in the Sverdlovsk district (Russia’s Ural Region).
With digital transformation at its core, GE’s Distributed Power business gives companies and communities around the world the ability to focus on cleaner power generation and gas compression at or near the point of use, anytime and on or off the grid. GE offers a diverse product portfolio that includes highly efficient, fuel-flexible, industrial gas engines generating 200 kilowatts to 10 MW of power for numerous industries globally. GE’s highly efficient gas engines feature advanced fuel-flexibility capabilities that can run on multiple types of gases. Today, more than 48,000 of GE’s gas engines have been delivered around the world, with a total power capacity of more than 64 gigawatts (GW). About 700 gas engines are deploying 1.1 GW of power in Russia.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Russia/CIS
GE has been working in Russia for nearly 100 years, bringing global expertise and localizing advanced technology with its strategic partners across power, oil and gas, transportation and healthcare to solve some of the region’s biggest infrastructure challenges and improve people’s lives. More than 1,900 GE employees work in Russia/CIS, which has regional headquarters in Moscow. For more information, visit the company’s official website – www.ge.ru.
About GreenTech Energy
“GreenTech Energy” (GTE) has been implementing integrated power projects based on GE’s Jenbacher gas engines for more than six years. By now, the company has installed in Russia more than 70 engines with a total capacity of more than 200 MW. Installed solutions allow our customers to reduce the energy cost and thereby improve competitiveness and business profitability. GTE is currently serving more than 100 engines in various regions of Russia. Our team is providing support at all construction stages—from expert advice and project design to commissioning and after-sales service—that ensure the plant’s reliability throughout the equipment’s life cycle. www.gte.su
Department of Defense Participates in the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo
The Department of Defense is participating in the 5th USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo, on Apr 5-8 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC. The expo is designed to inspire the next generation of inventors, creators and innovators. It is a free, family-friendly expo that allows kids and adults to participate in thousands of exhibits, experiments, and stage shows.
The DoD will again be a premier supporter at the 2018 USA Science and Engineering Festival. The Department of Defense (DoD) has been participating in the USA Science and Engineering Festival since 2012. “We’re excited to participate in our fourth USA Science & Engineering Festival and to showcase the many talented STEM professionals within the DoD and their accomplishments,” says Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati, director, Laboratories Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
The hours of operations are Apr 7 from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. and Apr 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grand finale of the Festival’s year-long science celebration is Apr 8. The Festival Expo features over 3,000 hands-on activities showcasing how STEM Can Take You into the deep blue, into cyberspace, inside the human body, into nature, into outer space and beyond! In all, the Festival Expo expects to draw more than 350,000 people.
Within the Defense Pavilion, the audience will have the opportunity to interact with STEM professionals and mentors within the DoD through a variety of activities including a “Ray Optics Laser System” demonstration, navigating a drone, taking a Virtual Reality Tour, and hearing Lightning Talks to learn about the experiences of DoD Scientist and Engineers.
The Festival features science celebrities, explorers, astronauts, physicists, inventors, and experts in fields like oceanography, climatology, robotics, medical research, neuroscience, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and more. Participating celebrities include:
o TV host and Ocean Explorer Danni Washington
o Explosive Science’s Dr. Kate Biberdorf
o World Champion of Magic Jason Latimer
o America’s Science Teacher Steve Spangler
o Fox TV Xploration Outer Space host, Emily Callandrelli
Featured Lightning talks include:
o “The Engineering Path Less Traveled”
o “Why Do We Have Scientist and Engineers”
o “Do DoD Technologies Behave the Way They are Portrayed in Popular Games?”
The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the nation’s largest science festival and was developed to ignite the next generation’s interest in pursuing careers in science and engineering.
To learn more, visit http://dodstem.us/stem-programs/events-map
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Science Tech Special
MISSION
The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide a lethal Joint Force to defend the security of our country and sustain American influence abroad.
GE Signs Service Agreement for GE 9HA.02 Technology at 1,440-Megawatt Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Malaysia
JOHOR, MALAYSIA—GE’s Power Services business (NYSE: GE) today announced it signed a multiyear agreement (MYA) with Southern Power Generation Sdn Bhd (SPG) for its new Track 4A plant, a 1,440-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle power plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. Under the terms of the 21-year agreement, GE will provide services solutions for the first two GE 9HA.02 gas turbines to be installed in the country and deploy its Predix* Asset Performance Management (APM) software to help improve asset visibility, reliability and availability of SPG’s plant, contributing to long-term energy security needs in the country.
GE will utilize its Fleet360* platform of gas plant solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, GE will provide a full spectrum of digital solutions and plant improvement services, major inspections on the 9HA.02 gas turbines, along with technical advisory services.
“With the largest base of installed gas turbines in Malaysia, GE has grown hand in hand with the country’s power development needs,” said Ramesh Singaram, president of GE Power APAC. “We have been doing business in the country for more than 40 years and will continue to help drive improved efficiencies and business outcomes for our customers like Southern Power Generation. I am pleased that our combined services and digital capabilities will help support long-term maintenance and performance for the first HA-based power plant in the country, ensuring more reliable and flexible power generation for the country. We thank Southern Power Generation for their trust in GE.”
The agreement also includes GE’s Predix APM suite of digital solutions. APM improves asset visibility, reliability and availability and reduces operating and maintenance costs: data processed by the APM solution can help balance maintenance costs, improve inspection intervals and provide invaluable insights into operational risks. Data collected from sensors throughout the facility will be monitored 24/7 at GE’s Monitoring & Diagnostics (M&D) Center in Kuala Lumpur.
The services deal follows the success of achieving the financial closure for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with SPG in October 2017, marking the growing fleet of GE’s largest gas turbine platform to a total of over 70 units of the HA-platform gas turbines ordered to date. This plant will be jointly constructed through the collaboration with a Taiwanese EPC partner, CTCI Corporation. It will consist of two generating blocks, each equipped with a 9HA.02 gas turbine, generator and heat recovery steam generator from GE. GE has invested almost $2 billion in the development of HA technology. HA power plants provide a combination of high efficiency and superior operational flexibility, leading the industry in total life cycle value. Globally, a total of more than 20 units of HA are running in the field, clocking in more than 70,000 operating hours with an average combined-cycle net efficiency of greater than 62 percent at ISO conditions.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Power
GE Power is a world energy leader that provides technology, solutions and services across the entire energy value chain from the point of generation to consumption. We are transforming the electricity industry by uniting all the resources and scale of the world’s first Digital Industrial company. Our customers operate in more than 150 countries, and together we power more than a third of the world to illuminate cities, build economies and connect the world.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.gepower.com. Follow GE Power on Twitter @GE_Power and on LinkedIn at GE Power.
About GE’s Power Services Business
GE’s Power Services business, headquartered in Baden, Switzerland, delivers world-class solutions for our customers across total plant assets and their operational lifetimes. This organization supports 2,800+ customers worldwide with an installed base of 28,000+ power generation assets, which includes other OEMs, and taps into the Industrial Internet to improve the performance of our solutions over the entire life cycle through the power of software and big data analytics.
GE to Provide Full Propulsion System Solution to the Chilean Navy’s Icebreaker
TALCAHUANO, CHILE—March 1, 2018—GE’s Marine Solutions (NYSE: GE) was chosen by ASMAR Shipyards to provide the complete scope of an integrated marine propulsion system for the Chilean Navy’s new Antarctic icebreaking Polar Class vessel. It will replace the retired icebreaker to continue the navy’s Antarctic expedition for search and rescue missions, scientific research, logistic support and resupplying bases in the Chilean Antarctic Territory.
The 110-meter long vessel will have GE’s full marine propulsion system to power and propel the vessel, including diesel electric propulsion, GE’s International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Tier 3-compliant diesel engine, a complete propulsion shaft line and propeller, a tunnel thruster, SeaStream* Dynamic Positioning (DP) and vessel automation system.
The vessel has received Lloyd’s Register PC 5 polar class notation, reflecting the strong icebreaking capability of the vessel. In fact, with an installed power of 14.5 megawatts, it will be capable of breaking 1 meter of ice at 3 knots.
“The ice-going capabilities require the machinery onboard the vessel, such as the main propulsion, to be highly robust to ensure the safety and the survivability of the vessel. That is not all. Given the vessel’s specific mission profile, we are also looking for clean propulsion technology that will meet the requirement of the highly stringent environment regulations in the Antarctic area. GE’s one-stop solution is the answer to all these challenges,” said Lieutenant Commander Jorge Maldonado, project manager for the Chilean Navy.
GE’s marine IMO Tier 3 diesel engine reduces key emissions up to 70 percent and enables in-engine compliance with IMO Tier 3 emissions standards. It also provides a significantly less complex solution compared to urea-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, as it does not require any additional on-board SCR equipment or storage provisions for urea as well as no dockside support infrastructure for urea storage and processing.
Moreover, GE’s mariner-friendly Ecomagination* qualified SeaStream DP system, in the “Energy-Efficiency” mode, can generate fuel savings up to 10 percent or more, with an associated nitrous oxide reduction up to 20 percent, depending on environmental factors and the operational profile.
“This project is a prime example that demonstrates the value of a full-system solution. GE will be responsible for manufacturing and procuring all equipment and integrating it into a system to achieve improved reliability, de-risking the project. Our cutting-edge clean technology also stands out as a key differentiator to enable a cleaner marine environment, building a vessel that is fit for its mission,” said Andy McKeran, general manager, GE’s Marine Solutions.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. To learn more, please visit www.ge.com.
About GE’s Marine Solutions
GE’s Marine Solutions is dedicated to power and propulsion systems for customers in the workboat, merchant, offshore and naval industries. Smart engineering coupled with software analytics, we provide customers with data-driven efficiency. Connecting the physical and digital worlds, GE helps power, propel, position and predict the marine industry for operational excellence. www.gemarinesolutions.com
GE Hitachi and Holtec Announce Cooperation to Accelerate Commercialization of SMR-160 Small Modular Reactor
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), Holtec International and SMR Inventec, LLC (SMR, LLC), today announced a collaboration to advance the SMR‐160, a single loop, 160 MWe pressurized light water reactor based on existing light water technologies.
In a Memorandum of Understanding, the companies have agreed to enter into a procompetitive collaboration to progress the SMR-160 which SMR, LLC intends to develop, design, license, commercialize, deploy and service globally. The cooperation will initially include nuclear fuel development supported by GNF and control rod drive mechanisms designed by GEH, and may later extend to other areas.
“We are excited to leverage the experience and capabilities of world class nuclear companies like GEH and GNF as we bring our game changing SMR-160 technology to global markets,” said Holtec President and CEO Dr. Kris Singh. “SMR-160 has prioritized safety in its design, to produce a right-sized, passively safe and cost-effective solution for carbon-free energy. This collaboration will ensure the SMR-160 supply chain, to deliver and fabricate critical SMR-160 technologies and components, including at our new Advanced Manufacturing Division in Camden, New Jersey.”
“With more than half a century of experience and a solid global track record in the nuclear power business we look forward to providing engineering expertise and technical capability to help advance the development of the SMR-160,” GEH President and CEO Jay Wileman said. “Our combined strengths allow us to accelerate commercialization of this technology.”
On January 31, SMR, LCC submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy with support from GEH and GNF, among others, in response to funding opportunity announcement DE-FOA-0001817. The “Integral and Separate Effects Test Program for the Investigation and Validation of Passive Safety System Performance of SMRs” project would yield a uniquely configurable set of testing platforms to demonstrate passive safety system performance, accelerate the SMR-160 and other small modular reactor designs to market and help license these designs with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and international regulators. GEH and GNF will support phenomena assessments, scaling analyses, safety analysis system code assessment and benchmarking and identification of recommended experimental tests.
“We believe that our experience with boiling water reactor fuel lends itself quite well to the design features of the SMR-160,” said Amir Vexler, CEO of GNF. “We’ve been manufacturing boiling water reactor fuel at our Wilmington, North Carolina facility for nearly 50 years and we look forward to the possibility of making SMR-160 fuel here too.”
About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety. Follow GEH on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About GNF
Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) is a world-leading supplier of boiling water reactor fuel and fuel-related engineering services. GNF is a GE-led joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd. and operates primarily through Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC in Wilmington, N.C., and Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd. in Kurihama, Japan.
About Holtec International, Inc.
Holtec International, headquartered Jupiter, FL, is a world leader in nuclear technologies with ongoing projects in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Ukraine, China, Korea, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland. The Company is carrying out some of the most challenging nuclear projects around the world including the defueling of Chernobyl’s shuttered reactors. The equipment and systems supplied by Holtec to its worldwide clients are largely based on the Company’s own patents and proprietary technologies. The Company is the largest exporter of capital nuclear equipment in the US and is recognized as the operator of manufacturing plants in three states with an excellent record of safety. Please visit www.holtecinternational.com for more information.
About SMR, LLC
Based in Camden, NJ, SMR, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holtec International. SMR, LLC’s mission includes establishing business alliances and securing regulatory acceptance of operating SMR-160 small modular reactors in global power markets, with existing and expanding corporate manufacturing facilities – and with associated direct benefit to US and local economies. As its name implies, the SMR-160 is a small modular reactor with 160 MW(e) net electric output that will provide safe, dependable, carbon-free power to US and world energy markets, while creating thousands of well-paying U.S. engineering and manufacturing jobs, growing this nation’s economy. SMR-160 offers safe, secure, clean power to energy consumers, through a product solution optimized for safety and security, minimum land use, and affordability. Planned for operation by 2026, SMR-160 offers unique and innovative solutions for achieving real enhancements in safety, operations, and performance compared to existing power plant options.
Leeward Renewable Energy and GE Complete Repowering and Financing For Sweetwater 1 & 2 Wind Farms
Dallas, TX — Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC (“Leeward”) and GE (NYSE: GE) today announced the successful completion of the repowering of the combined capacity 136 MW Sweetwater 1 & 2 wind farms in Nolan County, Texas. GE Renewable Energy is the wind turbine provider for the project and GE Energy Financial Services provided tax equity financing.
The Sweetwater 1 & 2 repowering program enhances performance by replacing major existing components and providing a material increase in annual energy production. Through the repowering project, the companies installed state-of-the-art technology at the facilities to increase the sites’ efficiency, reduce costs and extend the life of some of Leeward’s oldest operating assets. Sweetwater 1 & 2 wind facilities have been in operation since 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Greg Wolf, Leeward’s Chief Executive Officer said “Leeward is pleased to be one of the early leaders in wind project repowering, bringing new technology to our proven sites for the benefit of customers and communities. GE brought new technology and deep project finance experience to make this repowering project work. With the passage of U.S. tax reform to continue to allow clean, low-cost wind investments, we look forward to continuing to partner with GE to grow and upgrade our portfolio.”
Pete McCabe, President & CEO of GE’s Onshore Wind Business, said “GE’s repower offering for Sweetwater 1 & 2 enabled us to provide Leeward with increased reliability and availability for these turbines. We are delighted to collaborate with customers and bring new life and performance to existing assets, unleashing the potential of wind sites for years to come.”
GE Renewable Energy also provides operations and maintenance for the Sweetwater sites. This move by Leeward away from the “self-perform” O&M model is in alignment with Leeward’s financial and operational metrics for long term success.
“Partnering with Leeward on this project expands and continues our leadership in providing financing solutions for the U.S. wind repowering market. We look forward to working alongside Leeward and other GE customers in the future to bring innovative financing structures to wind projects,” said Kevin Walsh, Managing Director and Head of U.S. Renewables at GE Energy Financial Services.
The repowering of Sweetwater 1 & 2 was completed on December 29, 2017.
About Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC
Dallas-based Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed to own, operate, develop and acquire a diversified portfolio of renewable energy assets. Leeward maintains ownership and operating interests in 19 wind farms comprising 1,720 megawatts across the United States.
For more information about Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC, visit www.leewardenergy.com.
About GE Renewable Energy
GE Renewable Energy is a 10 billion-dollar start-up that brings together one of the broadest product and service portfolios of the renewable energy industry. Combining onshore and offshore wind, hydro and innovative technologies such as concentrated solar power and more recently turbine blades, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts capacity globally to make the world work better and cleaner. With more than 22,000 employees present in more than 55 countries, GE Renewable Energy is backed by the resources of the world’s first digital industrial company. Our goal is to demonstrate to the rest of the world that nobody should ever have to choose between affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
Follow us @GErenewables and www.gerenewableenergy.com.
About GE Energy Financial Services
A strategic GE Capital business, GE Energy Financial Services is a global energy investor that provides financial solutions that help meet the world’s energy needs. Drawing on its technical know-how, financial strength and strong risk management, GE Energy Financial Services invests in long-lived and capital-intensive projects and companies. The firm has 35+ years of experience managing energy assets through multiple economic cycles, and a global portfolio that spans conventional and renewable power, and oil and gas infrastructure projects.
GE Brings Asset Performance Management Software to Alco Bio Fuel for Future-Proofing Refinery Field Operations
PARIS—GE Power (NYSE: GE) was selected by Alco Bio Fuel, one of Belgium’s major biorefineries, to deploy its Predix*-based Asset Performance Management (APM) solution to future-proof the refinery’s power-generation unit’s refinery field operations. The service contract will last for 10 years, and GE will also be responsible for providing on-site service support.
When an electric rotating machine (ERM), such as the generator in the power-generation unit, fails, the consequence can be significant. Digital transformation is a necessary and inevitable step to improve operational efficiency and reduce risks of power outages.
Traditionally, vibration sensors are used to detect failures in rotating machines, but their ability is limited to detecting mechanical failures only, neglecting common electrical failures. Industry advancements in big data analytics and new software applications such as GE’s Predix-based APM solution, combined with new sensing techniques, have enabled new ways to more effectively monitor and fine-tune the performance of an ERM.
GE’s APM solution, powered by Predix, the application development platform for the Industrial Internet, connects, monitors and provides predictive analytics to the generator inside the plant. When deployed, it will collect data from electric sensors built into the generator asset.
The APM application analyzes streams of data with key intelligence about the health and performance of the generator asset while searching for signs of mechanical or electrical anomalies, which may lead to potential failure or inefficiency. These insights can, in turn, help operators to fine-tune parameters of the generator to improve its performance. More importantly, it will allow operators to solve potential problems before they occur, reducing costly unplanned downtime, mitigating risk and improving productivity. The data-driven operation method will also enable predictive maintenance, which means fixing machines before failures arise, without wasting time servicing them on a fixed schedule, and it will reduce excessive maintenance costs.
“The need for production efficiency has opened up new opportunities to use digital technologies to accelerate field automation and improve plant productivity. Enabling this shift to data-based intelligence to reap additional value should be the focused strategy for companies to sustain their competitiveness. We are pleased to work with Alco Bio Fuel to digitally transform their way of operations,” said Azeez Mohammed, president & CEO, GE’s Power Conversion business.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. To learn more, please visit www.ge.com.
About GE Power
GE Power is a world energy leader that provides technology, solutions and services across the entire energy value chain from the point of generation to consumption. We are transforming the electricity industry by uniting all the resources and scale of the world’s first Digital Industrial company. Our customers operate in more than 150 countries, and together we power more than a third of the world to illuminate cities, build economies and connect the world.
GE Renewable Energy Receives Full Maintenance contract for Alsleben Wind Farm in Germany
Salzbergen, – GE Renewable Energy today announced it was awarded a Full Maintenance contract for the Alsleben wind farm in Germany by Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung (DEW21), a subsidiary of the municipal utility of the city of Dortmund in North Rhine-Westphalia, who currently operates the site and its 36 turbines.
The agreement includes the implementation of remote monitoring and regular maintenance intervals as well as the preventive maintenance and replacement of large components when needed. GE Renewable Energy will be responsible for the full maintenance of the facilities over a period of nine years. The agreement was tendered by DEW21 in the framework of a European procurement procedure.
The Alsleben wind farm is located in in Saxony-Anhalt and has a total power output capacity of 54MW. The site comprises 36 of GE’s 1.5sl wind turbines and is the largest wind installment with GE turbines in Germany.
Matthias von der Malsburg, Head of Sales for GE’s Onshore Wind Services in Germany said “We are proud to provide servicing for the Alsleben wind farm. GE has more than 20 years of expertise building and servicing onshore wind turbines in Europe and we are determined to use the knowledge collected as the OEM along the way to best serve DEW21 with preventive maintenance and replacement of large components.
Maik Löhr, Head of Renewable Energies at DEW21 said “In the long-standing partnership since 2010, GE has proven to be a reliable and competent partner for us and once again won the best price / performance ratio in the current tender. We look forward to continuing our cooperation.”
GE Renewable Energy recently introduced its 4.8-158 onshore wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 158 meters. With GE’s largest rotor and innovative blade design, the 4.8-158 is expected to significantly improve annual energy yield and will reduce the cost of electricity to customers at low to medium wind speeds.
About GE Renewable Energy
GE Renewable Energy is a 10 billion Dollar start-up that brings together one of the broadest product and service portfolios of the renewable energy industry. Combining onshore and offshore wind, hydro and innovative technologies such as concentrated solar powerand more recently turbine blades, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts capacity globally to make the world work better and cleaner. With mora than 22,000 employees present in more than 55 countries, GE Renewable Energy is backed by the resources of the world’s first digital industrial company. Our goal is to demonstrate to the rest of the world that nobody should ever have to choose between affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
Follow us @GERenewables and www.gerenewableenergy.com.
AEP Promotes Weaver to Vice President, Operations and Performance Transformation
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 27, 2017 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has named Ashley M. Weaver vice president, Operations and Performance Transformation, with responsibility for leading the company’s continuous improvement efforts, effective Jan. 3, 2018. She will replace Barbara D. Radous, senior vice president, who is retiring from the company.
“Ashley has been instrumental in driving process improvements throughout the company in her role as director of Operations and Performance Transformation for the past five years. She brings broad knowledge of AEP’s business operations, extensive experience in process engineering and project management, and a collaborative leadership style that will allow us to build upon our efforts to improve our business,” said David M. Feinberg, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary.
“Barbara has made many outstanding contributions as part of AEP’s management team, including her focus on continuous improvement and identifying sustainable cost saving opportunities to position the company for continued success. We wish Barbara and her family the best in her retirement,” Feinberg said.
Weaver, 38, has served as director of Operations and Performance Transformation since 2012. She joined AEP in 2005 as project administrator in Generation Engineering Projects & Field Services and has held project manager roles in Generation and Transmission. She also served as alternative fuels manager in the Fuels, Emissions and Logistics group where she was responsible for renewable fuel co-firing and led the natural gas refueling evaluation of AEP’s coal-fueled power plants.
Prior to joining AEP, Weaver held various process engineering and project engineering positions at Lucent Technologies and Andrew Corporation. Weaver holds a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a master’s degree in business administration from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She currently is chair of the EEI Continuous Improvement group and serves as chair of the board of directors for Girls on the Run of Central Ohio.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 33,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,200 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.
Powering Iraq from North to South: Ministry of Electricity and GE Sign $400 Million Contract to Build 14 Electric Substations
Baghdad, Iraq; The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity (MoE) has signed an agreement worth over $400 million with GE Power (NYSE: GE) to develop 14 electric substations on a turnkey basis and supply critical equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers and other outdoor equipment to rehabilitate existing substations and bring much-needed power to areas facing significant electricity shortages across the country. The project represents a strategic milestone for GE to develop electric substations in Iraq, and will also see the Company support the MoE to secure funding through various financial institutions, including export credit agencies and commercial banks.
Mussab al-Mudaris, spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity said, “The agreement represents a major milestone in our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s power transmission sector, through a comprehensive grid project across the nation. Our focus remains on providing our people with the most reliable and advanced technology to meet their daily needs, and to accomplish this we need strong partners in this journey of development and reconstruction. GE has the technology, global capabilities and local presence to ensure the successful and sustainable execution of the project.”
GE will develop the substations to connect power plants spread across the governorates of Ninawa, Salah Al Din, Al Anbar, Karbala, Baghdad, Qadisiyyah and Basra to the national grid. Several of the locations, in conflict-affected areas, are continuing to recover and are in immediate need of reliable power infrastructure.
GE Power has previously provided power generation equipment for some of the power plants that the substations will be connected to, including the three gigawatt Basmaya Power Plant. The current agreement includes 4 substations critical to distributing power from the facility, which is also being equipped with eight of GE’s 9FA gas turbines, four GE C7 steam turbines and GE’s leading digital industrial applications.
Mohammed Mohaisen, President and CEO of GE Power’s Grid Solutions business in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey said, “A holistic approach to national infrastructure building is vital, from the provision of technical expertise to working with partners, such as Export Credit Agencies, in securing long-term financial solutions. This agreement is a continuation of our firm commitment to driving industry and infrastructure forward in Iraq, working with the Ministry of Electricity in finding sustainable and effective solutions to some of the country’s most pressing issues.”
The current agreement builds on GE’s significant legacy of contributions towards strengthening Iraq’s power sector. This includes establishing captive power plants to provide power for industrial use, converting power plants from simple cycle to combined cycle configuration, multi-year services to improve the reliability and efficiency of operations, upgrades solutions to increase the output and efficiency of the existing installed power generation asset base and the implementation of digital industrial solutions to monitor, analyze, enhance and predict equipment health.
GE has three offices in the country – in Baghdad, Erbil and Basra – and the company continues to deliver advanced technology and expertise for the development of critical energy, healthcare and transportation infrastructure in the country. Today, GE-built technologies generate up to 50 percent of Iraq’s power and GE employs about 300 people in the country, more than 95 percent of whom are Iraqi nationals.
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About GE:
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Power:
GE Power is a world energy leader that provides technology, solutions and services across the entire energy value chain from the point of generation to consumption. We are transforming the electricity industry by uniting all the resources and scale of the world’s first Digital Industrial company. Our customers operate in more than 150 countries, and together we power more than a third of the world to illuminate cities, build economies and connect the world.
John Deere Introduces Extended Boom Option for 800MH-Series Tracked Harvesters
MOLINE, Ill. – John Deere is excited to announce a new extended stick boom option for the 800MH-Series tracked harvesters. With a design based on customer feedback, the new extended boom stick offers a longer reach option, enabling operators to minimize the number of cut trails.
“With the addition of the extended stick boom option, we are able to meet the needs of customers who require a longer reach, helping them to be more efficient in the woods while meeting local regulations,” said Jim O’Halloran, product marketing manager for John Deere Tracked Harvesters and Feller Bunchers. “With the extended boom, operators are able to harvest larger areas, reducing the frequency of required movement of the machine. This not only benefits the surrounding terrain, but also improves the efficiency of the machine.”
Designed for use with smaller attachments, the new extended stick boom option reaches 32.5 feet (9.9 meters). Additionally, the extended option features a narrow boom tip, allowing the operator to reach past standing timber in thinning applications. This also helps operators minimize damage to the trees being harvested.
To learn more about the new extended boom stick offering, as well as the John Deere 800MH-Series tracked harvesters, please visit your local John Deere Forestry dealer or www.deere.com/en/tracked-harvesters/.
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land – those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity.
GE’s Hardware and Digital Upgrades Help Increase Efficiency and Output at Azito Power Plant in the Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST—To improve performance and provide valuable insights and visibility into plant and turbine operations, GE’s Power Services business (NYSE: GE) today announced it has signed an agreement with Azito Energie S.A. (Azito) to upgrade two gas turbines at the company’s combined-cycle power plant. GE’s hardware upgrade and Operations Optimization digital solutions will help increase power output by up to 30 megawatts (MW) and will equip Azito with the insights it needs to increase efficiency and improve operations at the power plant. The project, located in the Yopougon district of the Ivory Coast, marks GE’s first GT13E2 MXL2 gas turbine upgrade order in sub-Saharan Africa.
“As the electricity sector has undergone significant reform in the Ivory Coast, new regulations have helped foster a more welcoming environment to help Ivorians gain access to electricity,” said Luc Aye, managing director of Azito Energie. “At the center of this agreement with GE is our commitment to provide the people of the Ivory Coast with access to more reliable electricity. With GE’s upgrade package and digital solutions, we will produce more power, improve the efficiency of the plant and reduce our carbon footprint.”
In addition to increasing power output by up to 30 MW, upgrades on the turbines are expected to deliver a combined-cycle efficiency increase, resulting in significant fuel savings and reduced CO2 emissions. GE’s solutions will also extend inspection intervals for the gas turbines, reducing maintenance and repair expenses—which, in turn, will reduce overall plant costs and result in improving profitability.
“With the Azito power plant producing more than a third of the electricity in the Ivory Coast, these improvements will have a wide-reaching impact on the country’s energy landscape” said Elisee Sezan, general manager, GE’s Power Services business for sub-Saharan Africa. “Until two decades ago, the country was heavily reliant upon hydroelectric power and fell into an energy crisis when the electricity output from its dams was drastically reduced due to droughts. With this project, we look forward to supporting Azito Energie in its efforts to help the Ivory Coast achieve its strategic energy objectives to increase existing plants’ efficiency and double the installed capacity it had in early 2013 by 2020.”
The installation of GE’s Predix*-based Operations Optimization solution will provide numerous operational benefits at the Azito plant. Slated for installation in mid-2018, the software will equip Azito with deep insights and key performance indicator (KPI)-based analytics to help improve overall plant performance. It delivers enterprise data visibility across power plant and fleet-wide footprints, providing a holistic understanding of operational decisions. The solution also can provide operational benefits such as:
Improved reliability and availability via enhanced predictivity.
More accurate performance monitoring and forecasting.
Dispatch enhancement via improved visibility into plant capability.
Lower production costs and asset generation forecasting for improved asset dispatch.
“With GE’s Operations Optimization software, Azito will be able to improve productivity across its worldwide fleet with fact-based actions that align to KPIs,” said Narendra Asnani, executive sales director, GE’s Power Services business for sub-Saharan Africa. “It will also enable them to tackle operational issues, meet business demand, align people and systems and reach true plant capacity while reducing cost and downtime.”
GE is a historical player and a pioneer in the Ivory Coast, particularly in the power sector. For example, the first-ever gas turbines (Vridi, 1984), the first independent power production project (Ciprel, 1994) and the first combined-cycle power plants in the country (Azito and Ciprel, 2015) all run mainly on GE technology.
In 2015, the company demonstrated its commitment to help bolster the Ivorian power sector to meet future demand increases and challenges with the signing of a cross-sector memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Ivory Coast. In the MoU, GE agreed to support the country in attaining its infrastructure development goals, which include adding 1 gigawatt of power to the Ivorian national grid.
About Azito Energie S.A
Azito Energie S.A. develops, owns, and operates the Azito power plant that produces electricity using natural gas resources in Ivory Coast. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. As of November 1, 2010, Azito Energie S.A. is owned by Globeleq Generation Limited and Industrial Promotion Services (West Africa). Azito Operations and Management (Azito O&M), a subsidiary of Globeleq, is operating and maintaining the plant under an operation and maintenance agreement between Azito O&M and Azito Energie.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Power
GE Power is a world energy leader that provides technology, solutions and services across the entire energy value chain from the point of generation to consumption. We are transforming the electricity industry by uniting all the resources and scale of the world’s first Digital Industrial company. Our customers operate in more than 150 countries, and together we power more than a third of the world to illuminate cities, build economies and connect the world.
GE to Install Advanced Wind Turbines for 150 MW Clean Power Project in Pakistan’s Jhimpir Corridor
PAKISTAN, Karachi, August 28, 2017: GE recently signed an agreement with Tricon Boston Consulting Private Limited (TBCPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by Sapphire Textile Mills Limited, for the provision and installation of the largest 150 MW wind project in Jhimpir, Pakistan. Under this agreement, GE will provide 87 GE 1.7-103 wind turbines to the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, Power China, for implementation in the Gharo-Keti Bandar Wind Corridor in Jhimpir, Sindh. GE will also provide 10 years of operations and maintenance services as part of the contract.
GE’s 1.7-103 high-performing wind turbine may provide up to a 30 percent increase in annual energy production (AEP) compared to its predecessor, with an increase in blade swept area that allows for greater energy capture and improved project economics for wind developers and operators. GE has been providing advanced wind turbines for the development of wind power plants in the Jhimpir corridor in Thatta district, adding more power to the national grid. The new wind farm further underlines the tremendous potential of Pakistan in leveraging wind power.
Dr. Manar Al Moneef, CEO of Renewable Energy at GE Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: “GE is committed to supporting the Pakistani government in meeting its goals of providing reliable power to improve the lives of the people of Pakistan. We want to increase and sustain Pakistan’s installed renewable energy capacity and annual wind additions. Wind power generation is an affordable & environmental-friendly solution, benefiting from a short implementation cycle delivering quick returns for the investment.”
The U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates Pakistan has over 132 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy capacity. The generation of clean wind energy also contributes to the goal of the Government of Pakistan under Vision 2025 to increase the percentage of indigenous sources of power generation to over 50 percent.
Nadeem Abdullah, CEO of Sapphire Wind Power Company Limited, said: “We are setting up the largest wind project which will feed the Pakistani national grid benefiting all sections of the community – households, cities, villages and industries. Pakistan has tremendous potential for wind energy, which is competitive with other generation technologies while having zero emissions. We are proud to be partnering with GE, a world leader in power generation technologies that continues to be a solid partner for us in our Group’s existing thermal and wind generation projects.”
GE Renewable Energy is one of the world’s leading wind turbine suppliers, with more than 30,000 wind turbines installed globally. A long-term partner in supporting Pakistan’s socio-economic growth, GE technologies today generate more than 25 percent of the country’s electricity.
Sarim Sheikh, President & CEO of GE Pakistan, Iran & Afghanistan, said: “The demand for energy is increasing in Pakistan and is expected to grow in the coming years. Wind energy is a clean and low cost renewable resource available in the country and the potential, for the use of alternative technologies, is yet to be fully explored. Wind power provides an opportunity to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel and, with wind output highest during summer months, provides the perfect complement to Pakistan’s energy needs when there is peak demand in the grid.”
About GE Renewable Energy:
GE Renewable Energy is a $10 billion start-up that brings together one of the broadest product and service portfolios of the renewable energy industry. Combining onshore and offshore wind, hydro and innovative technologies such as concentrated solar power and more recently turbine blades, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts capacity globally to make the world work better and cleaner. With more than 22,000 employees present in more than 60 countries, GE Renewable Energy is backed by the resources of the world’s first digital industrial company. Our goal is to demonstrate to the rest of the world that nobody should ever have to choose between affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
Whirlpool Corporation’s Jeff Fettig to step down as CEO; remains Chairman of the Board
BENTON HARBOR, Mich.– Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool Corporation’s Chairman and CEO since 2004, will step down as CEO and continue in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Whirlpool Corporation Board of Directors has elected Marc Bitzer, the company’s current President and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Fettig as CEO. These changes will become effective October 1.
Marc Bitzer, COO and Jeff Fettig, CEO of Whirlpool Corporation
“On behalf of the Whirlpool Board of Directors, we are very pleased to appoint Marc as our next CEO, the 8th CEO in our 106-year history,” said Jeff M. Fettig. “Marc has a deep understanding of our business throughout the world and has personally led our operations and delivered strong results during his 18-year tenure at Whirlpool. As we prepare for the future, I am very confident that Marc is uniquely qualified to lead our company in continued success.”
Fettig (age 60) will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board. “My primary role is to support Whirlpool, Marc and our leadership team in this planned CEO transition. I am effectively stepping away from our day-to-day management after 36 years of service and the last 13 as CEO,” said Fettig. “As a company, we have achieved significant milestones during this time through the great work of Whirlpool people throughout the world. Going forward, I believe we have more opportunities than ever before in our 106-year history. I know Marc, and our Whirlpool leadership team, will continue to achieve great things for our company in the years ahead.
“For me, the opportunity to lead Whirlpool during the past two decades has been both an honor and a privilege. I am very proud of the great people here and in their dedication to our company, which has led to the success that we have all achieved.”
Bitzer (age 52) was named President and Chief Operating Officer and elected to the Whirlpool Corporation Board of Directors in October 2015. Prior to this assignment, he served as Vice Chairman, which included overall leadership of Whirlpool North America and Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Bitzer joined Whirlpool Europe in 1999 as Vice President, Bauknecht brand group. He became Senior Vice President of Marketing Sales and Services for Whirlpool Europe in 2000 and was named President of Whirlpool Europe in January 2006. Between 2009 and 2013, he went on to serve as President of Whirlpool North America and President of the company’s U.S. operations. Before joining Whirlpool Europe, Bitzer worked for eight years at the Boston Consulting Group in Munich and Toronto and was named Vice President of that organization in 1999.
Bitzer earned both his MBA and doctorate degrees from the St. Gallen Graduate School of Business, Economics and law in Switzerland.
“I want to thank the Whirlpool Board of Directors and especially Jeff Fettig for their confidence in appointing me to this position,” said Bitzer. “The foundation of success built by Jeff and so many within this company affords us an exciting future to exceed the needs and aspirations of our customers, expand shareholder value and create a unique and fast-paced workplace that people continually are proud to call Whirlpool Corporation.”
Fettig is credited with the successful growth of the company both organically and through strategic acquisitions that increased sales by 75 percent — from $12 billion in 2003 to $21 billion in 2016. The company’s acquisition of Maytag Corporation in 2006 and of Indesit Co. SpA in 2014 added the prestigious brands of Jenn-Air, Maytag, Amana and Indesit creating an industry-leading portfolio that targets more than 90% of global consumers with seven brands garnering more than $1 billion in annual sales. Whirlpool’s market value during Fettig’s tenure increased from $5 billion to more than $14 billion, and the company’s annual dividend increased from $1.36 per share to $4.40 per share.
Fettig joined Whirlpool in 1981 as an Operations Associate. He held a number of managerial positions in operations, sales, planning and product development before being promoted to Vice President of Marketing for the KitchenAid appliance group in July 1989. In October 1990, he was named Vice President of Marketing for the Phillips Whirlpool Appliance Group of Whirlpool Europe BV, the company’s European subsidiary. He was named Vice President of Group Marketing and Sales for the company’s North America Appliance group in October 1992. In 1994, he was named an Executive Vice President of Whirlpool Corporation and President of Whirlpool Europe and Asia.
Fettig served as President and Chief Operating Officer and was first elected to the Whirlpool Board of Directors in June 1999. He became Whirlpool Corporation’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in July 2004.
A native of Tipton, Indiana, Fettig holds a Bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from Indiana University.
Fettig serves as the lead director of the Dow Chemical Board of Directors and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Kohler Company. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Indiana University Foundation and on the Board of Governors for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He also is a member of the Business Leaders for Michigan and the Business Roundtable.
Jeff Fettig bio: http://whirlpoolcorp.com/project/jeff-m-fettig/
Marc Bitzer bio: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/project/marc-bitzer/
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 93,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2016. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.
GE Showcases Future of Energy and Industry at Expo-2017 in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 21, 2017 — Following the opening last week of Expo-2017 in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, also known as the world’s fair, over 100 top officials, senior business executives, and global thought leaders came together for an interactive discussion at Moving Forward, Fueling the Future. The GE-hosted forum focused on emerging trends and technologies in the energy and transportation industries, including the digital revolution that is radically reshaping the industrial world.
In the transportation industry, the discussion centered on the forward outlook of the region as an increasingly important trade hub connecting Europe and Asia, as well as the critical importance of digital in transforming the rail industry. At the event, the country’s national railway company KTZ signed an agreement to leverage GE Transportation’s digital solutions including Trip Optimizer and Smart Intermodal Terminal to lower fuel costs, optimize power distribution, and increase terminal productivity.
“GE’s long-standing relationship with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy is a testament to our commitment and innovation within the rail space,” said Jamie Miller, President & CEO, GE Transportation. “We are excited to expand our relationship and are confident in the value our digital solutions provide and excited to bring the most advanced digital rail solutions to the CIS region.”
In the oil & gas industry, senior business and government leaders joined a panel to discuss the country’s critical role in ensuring Eurasian energy security and the potential for new virtual pipeline and LNG technology to better leverage Kazakhstan’s abundant gas resources to support sustainable development.
“Rich in resources and a key trade corridor, Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asia region are hugely important to the global oil and gas industry, said Lorenzo Simonelli, President & CEO, GE Oil & Gas. ”This is the perfect place for a global discussion and we welcome the opportunity to continue collaborating with our partners in the region.”
As a global sponsor of the USA Pavilion, over 20,000 visitors over the past two weeks have had the opportunity for a hands-on experience at GE’s booth, which features an interactive electricity value network demonstration with a focus on the growing importance of renewables in the global energy mix. On the sidelines of the event, GE, Eni S.p.A., and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy signed an agreement to cooperate in developing renewable energy projects, in particular to evaluate the possibility of building a 50MW wind farm, as well as other potential projects aimed at helping the country achieve its strategic goals of sustainable development.
Following the conference’s conclusion, guests were invited on a tour of Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty (LKZ), a GE joint venture in Astana that manufactures high-efficiency, heavy-haul Evolution-series locomotives customized for the 1520mm-guage CIS market. The facility has produced 300 TE33A locomotives to-date, with dozens of units exported to neighboring Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.
“GE has been contributing to infrastructure development in Central Asia for 70 years. We’re happy to be supporting Kazakhstan as the host of Expo 2017 by providing a platform for open dialogue with our local partners about some of the most pressing challenges in the industrial world. Together, we’re taking concrete steps to reboot industrial productivity and help support the region’s long-term growth,” said Ron Pollett, Vice President, GE, and President & CEO, GE Russia/CIS.
Today’s announcements reaffirm GE’s long-term commitment to helping tackle some of the most challenging energy and transportation projects in Kazakhstan, as well as supporting the country as it embarks on the journey of digital transformation laid out in a 2017 address by President Nursultan Nazarbayev to harness the power of the Industrial Internet as an engine to accelerate growth.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Russia/CIS
GE has been working in Russia for nearly 100 years, bringing global expertise and localizing advanced technology with our strategic partners across power, oil & gas, transportation, and healthcare to solve some of the region’s biggest infrastructure challenges and improve people’s lives. Over 1,600 GE employees are working in Russia/CIS, with regional headquarters in Moscow. For more information, visit the company’s official website – www.ge.ru
GE announces order with AE Energia to bring fast, digital power to Angola
LUANDA, ANGOLA — —GE (NYSE: GE) today announced an order from AE Energia for fast, digital power in Angola. The order includes seven TM2500 mobile aeroderivative gas turbine generator sets, services agreements and digital solutions for PRODEL, the state-owned company responsible for power production. The TM2500 units will be installed in Namibe, Huila and Cuando Cubango provinces and will be capable of providing the remaining 200 megawatts (MW) of power for the government to achieve a targeted one gigawatt (GW) of electricity by end of 2018. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of AE Energia and GE’s ongoing work together at the Soyo 750 MW combined cycle power plant, as well as six units of GE’s 2016 TM2500 project in Angola being connected to the grid earlier in April.
“Our industry-leading TM2500 units deliver reliable and efficient power with speed, and with the addition of these seven units up to an additional 15 percent of the population of Angola can gain access to electricity,” said Scott Strazik, chief commercial officer of GE’s Gas Power Systems business. “We are very proud to help achieve this significant milestone and look forward to continuing to support Angola’s ambitious energy goals in the years to come.”
Angola’s national grid, built in the 1970’s, is now aging and in need of upgrade and rehabilitation as the grid is currently able to provide electricity to only about 30 percent of the population. The TM2500 generator set, which is trailer mounted and can be installed faster than traditional power plants, is ideally suited to meet Angola’s energy needs. Together, the seven units will be used for grid stability in existing plants as well as provide electricity to off-grid communities.
GE will provide the generating equipment, installation, commissioning, fuel treatment solution, spares and electrical balance of plant to PRODEL. The order’s multi-year service agreements for up to nine TM2500 generator sets will support optimum performance, efficiency and reliability of the equipment for a period of six years. The services agreements also include GE’s Predix* based Asset Performance Management (APM) software, which was deployed for the first time in aeroderative gas turbines with the Marubeni project in Japan in April 2017. GE’s APM software leverages data analytics to monitor power generation and transmission equipment health to predict potential failures and thereby reduce unplanned downtime by up to 5%, lower operations and maintenance costs, and lower operational risks.
AE Energia, a leading Angolan promoter, integrator and implementation partner, will oversee the project execution with GE in the region to ensure seamless execution in delivering to PRODEL. “AE Energia will collaborate with GE on the project execution and work on behalf of the Angolan government to connect the best global power company with the local private sector power company delivering capability in Angola,” said Ricardo Machado, CEO of AE Energia. Our goal is to ensure the country gets full value for money as we provide the local know how to support GE in every phase of this power project responding to the national priorities for the energy sector.”
GE and the Angola Ministry of Energy and Water signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2014 to achieve the country’s additional electric power generation capacity target of 2000 MW. Currently GE technology is responsible for approximately 50 percent of Angola’s electricity generation, and today’s announcement represents another phase of the implementation of the GE Power for Angola program. GE delivers across the entire energy ecosystem for Angola’s national development, from generation to transmission and distribution as well as long term service guarantees.
GE has been operating in Angola since 1967. Today, GE employs more than 500 people in Angola, in businesses spanning across key sectors including oil and gas, power, water and rail transportation.
*Predix is a trademark of General Electric Company
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Power
GE Power is a world leader in power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources. We are transforming the electricity industry with the digital power plant, the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbine, full balance of plant, upgrade and service solutions as well as our data-leveraging software. Our innovative technologies and digital offerings help make power more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable.
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GE and Southern California Edison Debut World’s First Battery-Gas Turbine Hybrid
California, USA – GE (NYSE: GE) and Southern California Edison (SCE), an Edison International (NYSE: EIX) company today unveiled the world’s first battery-gas turbine hybrid system in Norwalk, California. This is the first of two units that GE has delivered for SCE only months after announcing initial deployment plans of this innovative technology.
This system, called the LM6000 Hybrid Electric Gas Turbine (Hybrid EGT)* supports SCE’s increasing renewable energy capacity by providing quick start, fast ramping capabilities when they are needed. The unit integrates a 10 MW/ 4.3 MWh battery energy storage system capable of immediately providing power with GE’s proven 50MW LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine.
Among the speakers that attended the event were Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board (CARB), Jill Whynot, Deputy Executive Officer, Operations South Coast Air Quality Management (SCAQMD) and Tom Doughty, Vice President, California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
“The new system will help SCE better utilize the resources on the grid, provide enhanced reliability, reduce environmental impact, and reduce cost for our operations and for our customers,” said SCE President Ron Nichols. “This technology also allows us to continue to expand our use of solar, wind and other renewable resources.”
GE and SCE developed this system in response to changing energy needs in California. The state has committed to derive 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The Hybrid EGT helps balance variable energy supply and demand, including during evening hours when the sun sets and solar power production falls while electricity usage surges as customers return home and turn on lights and appliances.
At the heart of the Hybrid EGT is a groundbreaking control system which seamlessly blends output between the battery and the gas turbine. The energy storage capacity of the battery has been specifically designed to provide enough time coverage to allow the gas turbine to start and reach its designated power output. As a result, the system does not need to burn fuel and consume water in stand-by mode to be able to dispatch power immediately when demand surges.
“As the electrical grid network continues to evolve, with more intermittent renewables being added every day, products like the Hybrid EGT can help smooth out the delivery of electricity,” said Reinaldo Garcia, President and CEO of Grid Solutions from GE Energy Connections. “Storage and the ability to quickly push power to the grid also play a key role in emergency situations, dispatching energy immediately to the grid ensuring that we are able help keep the lights on for everyone.”
This innovative combination, along with new emission controls, provides enhanced flexibility in the operation of the peaker while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution by 60 percent. In addition, demineralized water consumption will be reduced by approximately 45 percent, saving two million gallons of water annually and increasing the life of the equipment.
Paul McElhinney, President & CEO for GE Power Services added, “We worked with SCE to address a very specific need, but this solution has applications that go far beyond. We look forward to working with customers to develop tailor-made solutions that will allow them greater flexibility when incorporating renewable energy and other quick power needs.”
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.
