GE ships advanced gas turbine equipment to Greece

The equipment will help the country's energy and environmental goals.

GE (NYSE:GE) has shipped advanced gas turbine combined-cycle equipment for the Megalopolis Power Plant in Central Peloponnesus, Greece. The combined-cycle package will replace four lignite-fired units at the site to help the country meet both its energy and environmental goals.

Last year, Terna S.A., an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm in Greece, awarded GE a $130 million contract to provide equipment and services for the project. The existing lignite units at the site are scheduled to be shut down due to their environmental impact. The new project, featuring a GE 209FB combined-cycle package, will provide additional power to the grid and help provide grid stability by insuring an adequate supply of new energy, while significantly reducing emissions compared to the lignite units.

“Power supply security, efficiency and lower emissions will be among the key benefits of the new Megalopolis power plant,” said Jannis Stefanatos, director of Power Generation Projects for Terna. “We’re very pleased to work with GE, a global leader in power plant technology, to help bring the people of this region of Greece a reliable supply of cleaner energy.”

Over the past 10 years, GE has supplied natural gas-fired technology for new power plants across Greece totaling approximately 3.5 gigawatts of additional power. “We are proud of the strong relationships we have developed in Greece, and the role that our technology continues to play in helping the country address its energy security and environmental challenges,” said Ricardo Cordoba, president of GE Energy Western Europe & North Africa.

GE’s contract for the new Megalopolis project includes the supply of two Frame 9FB gas turbines, one GE D11 steam turbine, three 330H generators and some additional services. Commercial operation is expected in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The plant will have a net output of more than 800 megawatts and will be one of the region’s most efficient power generation stations. GE’s Frame 9FB is one of the world’s most advanced, air-cooled 50-hertz gas turbines, offering operating flexibility along with high efficiency and reliability. To date, 52 of these gas turbines have been installed or committed for power plant projects around the globe. The 9FB is the largest member of GE’s fleet of F-class gas turbines, which has compiled more than 30 million hours of commercial service worldwide.