ATLANTA--12 February 2009-- Hydro-Québec, one of the largest electric utilities in North America, has selected GE Energy to perform a turbine island refurbishment that will extend the reliable operating life of the 675-megawatt Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station, a major supplier of electricity for Montreal and Québec City in Canada.
Located in Bécancour on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Gentilly-2 provides approximately three percent of all power for the province of Quebec and is a key contributor to the stability of Hydro-Québec's power grid. Hydro-Québec has estimated that the refurbishment will extend the plant's operation to 2040.
Under contracts valued at more than US$120 million, GE Energy will replace and enhance key steam turbine and generator components, repair and align the turbine generator foundation and install a new control system.
"Hydro-Québec's investment in the refurbishment of the Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station shows the critical value of the plant as part of the future of power generation in Québec and Canada," said Trevor Bailey, general manager, steam product line for GE Energy. "GE has been selected to extend the operating life of this unit due to GE's extensive steam turbine generator and nuclear plant knowledge."
Specifically, the work to be performed by GE Energy for the upgrade will include:
The engineering and procurement phase of the generating station refurbishment is under way, with the construction work to start in 2011. The plant is expected to return to commercial service in 2012.
GE Energy has worked with Hydro-Quebec since the Gentilly-2 nuclear generating unit was commissioned in 1983, providing technical direction and support throughout this period. GE Energy is a world leader in the design and manufacture of nuclear steam turbines, generators and controls as well as being a full service provider of installation and services for these products.
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 2008 revenue of $29.3 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 GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
GE has operated in Canada for over 100 years, beginning with the manufacturing facility in Peterborough, Ontario founded by Thomas Edison in 1892. Today, GE Canada has 15 major manufacturing facilities, with sales and services locations and 9,000 employees.
Kim Warburton
GE Global Growth Organization
[email protected]
+1 905 8585678
+ 1416 5618316
Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
1-518-786-6488
Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
1-518-786-6488
Kristin Schwarz
GE Corporate
[email protected]
+001 646 682 5601
GE news
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
business unit
tags