The GE Brief: January 20, 2022
A Close Look At The Energy Transition
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, joined by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, toured GE Research’s campus in New York on Friday. GE Research often partners with the government, industry and academia on technology development. But Granholm’s Energy Department has no fewer than 61 programs with GE Research, including many projects focusing on the energy transition to fight climate change. GE Reports has the story here.
Hydropower Aids The Energy Transition
Avista Utilities’ Long Lake Hydropower Plant on the Spokane River in Washington state will use GE technology to generate power more efficiently, improve power transmission, enable energy trading and help facilitate the transition to more renewables. The 100-megawatt facility has the capacity to supply some 80,000 U.S. homes. The increase in the plant’s efficiency and performance will also help Avista meet the growing needs of the energy imbalance market to better serve its customers. Read the story here.
NASA’s Going Supersonic
NASA said in early January that the X-59 experimental supersonic jet built by Lockheed Martin and powered by GE's F414 engine “is set to start 2022 with critical ground testing as progress continues toward NASA’s target of the aircraft’s first flight later this year.” The story is here.
GE Digital’s New Leader
Scott Reese, an executive at Autodesk, will become chief executive officer of GE Digital effective Feb. 22. He replaces Patrick Byrne, who will continue at GE as CEO for the Onshore Wind business at GE Renewable Energy. GE Digital, which was launched in 2015, will become a critical part of the new energy company GE plans to spin off in 2024. “[Reese’s] deep software industry experience makes him the ideal fit to partner with our customers and the GE Digital team to accelerate the energy transition,” said Scott Strazik, CEO of GE’s global energy business portfolio. GE Reports has the story.
The 5 Coolest Things On Earth ?
1. Using mRNA technology to program immune cells to fight off overactive heart cells that can cause heart failure.
2. A genetically modified animal heart is transplanted into a human.
3. Growing kelp forests in the open ocean as a biofuel feedstock.
4. Bioengineers develop a way to regrow cartilage in arthritic joints.
5. Researchers 3D-print a functional, flexible OLED screen.
— Quote Of The Day —
“Visiting GE Research is like taking a trip into the future and being able to see firsthand what’s coming.”
— Vic Abate, chief technology officer, GE
Quote: GE Reports. Images: GE Research, Avista Utilities, Lockheed Martin, Getty Images.