ATLANTA--GE Energy (NYSE: GE) announced today it has acquired high-pressure feeder pump technology from Stamet Inc.---an investment that is expected to accelerate GE's offering of a cleaner coal solution using sub-bituminous coals, such as Powder River Basin (PRB) coal.
GE is currently a leader in cleaner coal, or integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), technology for plants using eastern bituminous coal or petroleum coke as fuel.
Stamet is a technology development company specializing in the commercialization of its proprietary rotary solids pump, which feeds coal and other materials into atmospheric and pressurized applications. For low rank coal applications, the Stamet pump is intended to be an alternative to GE's water slurry feed system. GE expects to integrate the newly acquired technology with its commercially proven gasification technology that is offered today for use in utility, refining and industrial applications for the production of power, hydrogen and chemicals.
"The acquisition of Stamet's technology demonstrates GE's continued commitment to gasification technology," said John Lavelle, general manager of GE Energy's gasification business. "Stamet has spent more than a decade developing the pump technology, and this acquisition will significantly accelerate the expansion of GE's IGCC product offering in the U.S. and globally with a sub-bituminous solution that is consistent with the reference plant previously launched for eastern bituminous coals."
"GE is actively integrating this pump technology into a total plant solution, and we are looking forward to working with customers to launch this technology," said Monte Atwell, general manager of technology for GE Energy's gasification business. "We believe our upcoming IGCC solution for low rank coals will combine the advantages of our existing IGCC technology, providing the benefits of fuel flexibility, lower overall cost, higher efficiency and higher reliability while using a dry feed system."
GE's gasification technology is currently capable of operating on a range of bituminous coals and petroleum coke blends, with full performance guarantees that delivers a cleaner alternative to pulverized coal at a competitive cost. GE plans to offer a comparable solution for sub-bituminous coals, such as PRB.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2006 revenue of $19.5 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
About Stamet
Stamet was founded in 1987 and has operated since then with the single purpose of commercializing the revolutionary Stamet solids pump feeding system. There are currently about 300 atmospheric pressure Stamet feeders installed in the U.S. power industry and hundreds more used in other material feeding applications worldwide.
Contact
GE Energy, Atlanta
Erika Anderson, +1 518-385-0933
[email protected]
or
Masto Public Relations
Ken Darling or Howard Masto, +1 518-786-6488
[email protected]
[email protected]
Britta Kons
GE Healthcare Global Services
[email protected]
1-203-400-1892