The GE Brief: September 29, 2021

How GE’s Speedy Gas Turbines Are Helping California Power Into A More Sustainable Future

California is no stranger to the effects of climate change. As the state transitions to more renewable energy, it is getting help from GE Gas Power’s aeroderivative gas turbines. These turbines are modified jet engines, they run on natural gas and they can generate power on demand within minutes. Read more about GE’s plans in the Golden State.

CFM Notches Nearly $1 Billion Deal With China’s Air Travel

Speaking of jet engines, a new agreement between China’s Air Travel and jet engine-maker CFM International will help the airline expand its growing fleet. Valued at $992 million at U.S. list price, the 12-year, rate-per-flight-hour agreement will “support the smooth operation of [Air Travel’s Airbus] A320neo aircraft to be introduced in the future.” These more efficient, single-aisle passenger jets use CFM’s LEAP-1A engines, and the deal also includes the purchase of LEAP-1A engine spares. Find out more here.

The Apollo Program For Decarbonization

Reflecting on his first visit to NASA and on the Apollo program, GE Aviation CEO John Slattery, above, wrote in Aviation Week that “the commercial aviation industry today similarly stands at a point of inflection. Collectively, we have committed to the goal of decarbonizing commercial flight by 2050, even as we work to develop a clear path to realizing that ambition.” Said Slattery: “As with the Apollo program, bold action is required. Incrementalism and marketing hype won’t cut it. We need a vast, collective effort to develop and mature a range of capabilities and technologies that will dramatically accelerate our progress.” Read the whole piece here.

Bonus: GE executive Tom Paine led NASA during the historic first moon landing. His story is here. GE test pilot Elliot See Jr. joined the space program with Neil Armstrong. That story is here.

Precision Health: 3 Deals Under Culp Outline GE’s Vision For The Future Of Healthcare

Last week’s announcement that GE had entered into a deal to acquire the advanced surgical visualization company BK Medical marked the third healthcare acquisition the company has made under the leadership of chairman and CEO Larry Culp, all of them tied to precision health. Read about the three deals and GE’s vision for precision health here.

GE Hitachi Agreement With Polish And Canadian Partners Paves The Way For New Nuclear Tech

Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) could play an important role in worldwide decarbonization efforts, and Canada aims to be a global leader in this technology. Last week a memorandum of understanding between GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, which develops SMR technology, and partners in Poland and Canada paved the way for those two countries to collaborate on a fuel supply chain for reactors in Poland. Learn more here.

 — Quote Of The Day —

“We are helping the state of California meet its renewables and carbon mandates while providing reliability to the electrical system when renewable resources are not sufficient to meet the state’s electricity demands.”
— Eric Gray, Americas CEO, GE Gas Power

Quote: GE Reports. Images: Getty Images, CFM International, GE Aviation, GE Healthcare, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.