GE Recognized with Two Major Industry Awards for Advanced Power Generation Technology; H System Operating at Baglan Bay
ATLANTA--Jan. 7, 2004--GE Energy recently was honored with two major industry awards for its development of the H System(TM), the world's most advanced gas turbine combined-cycle technology, which has been installed at the Baglan Bay Power Station in South Wales.
On Dec. 12, the H System was named "most innovative commercial technology of the year" during the fifth annual Platts Global Energy Awards dinner in New York City. The awards were presented by Platts, a global leader in providing energy information, and co-sponsored by Business Week.
According to Platts, the award presented to GE recognizes "the hard-headed application of a marketable new technology in the pursuit of efficiency and increased shareholder value. GE Energy demonstrated its ability to dramatically increase power plant efficiency while reducing its emissions via the company's H System technology."
On Dec. 9, the Baglan Bay Power Station, the commercial launch site for the H System, was honored in the annual "Projects of the Year" competition sponsored by Power Engineering, a leading energy industry publication. GE received the award during the keynote session of Power-Gen International 2003 in Las Vegas. According to the competition rules, projects "must demonstrate technical excellence and outstanding economic, social and environmental benefits to power plant owners and their customers."
GE developed the H System as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Turbine System program. The technology features an innovative, closed-loop steam cooling system which permits the higher firing temperatures required for increased efficiency, while retaining combustion temperatures at levels consistent with low emissions. It is the world's first combined-cycle technology with the capability to achieve 60% thermal efficiency, a new standard for the global power industry.
The H System is one of the world's most powerful single-shaft combined-cycle systems, with a single GE 109H combined-cycle package rated at 480 megawatts, enough electricity for half a million average U.S. homes. During testing at the Baglan Bay site, the H System generated output of up to 530 megawatts at 44 degrees F for the U.K. national grid.
"We are extremely pleased to have our innovative technology recognized with these prestigious awards," said Mark Little, vice president of products for GE Energy. "As the commercial demonstration site for the H System, Baglan Bay is serving as a global showcase for combined-cycle power generation technology. GE will use performance data gathered at Baglan Bay to continue improving our technology and further enhancing the ability to help our customers worldwide meet their energy demands."
About GE Energy
GE Energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and management systems with 2002 revenues of nearly $23 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, distributed power and energy rental industries.
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