GE Energy recently announced that it has worked with Reliance Power Ltd. to prepare the Samalkot Power Plant, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, for commissioning. Reliance had selected GE’s flexible, efficient power generation technology for a 2,400-megawatt expansion of the Samalkot Power Plant, representing the largest gas turbine combined-cycle project in India’s history. This project will help the country meet its continuing demand for reliable electricity and support its rapidly growing economy.GE accelerated the delivery of six gas turbines and deployed a large pool of specialized experts in field engineering, product services and quality engineering on a 24x7 basis to meet customer expectations for testing and commissioning at the power plant site.The fuel for the 9FA Gas Turbine combined-cycle blocks at the Samalkot Plant expansion will be natural gas, which is one of the cleaner fossil fuels used for power generation.
John Flannery, president and CEO, GE India commented, “Today the world is facing energy challenges like never before and the demand for efficient, reliable energy continues to grow. GE is continuing to ensure that all efforts are directed to delivering our customers in India more value while helping them meet their challenges. GE is committed and well positioned to support India’s power generation needs. With these gas turbines at the Samalkot site, Reliance is closer to its objectives of powering up the power-starved Southern region of India.”Under the contract, GE will supply six Frame 9FA Gas Turbines, three D-11 Steam Turbines, along with technical direction for installation, training and performance testing for the project. The expanded power plant will feature 24x7 remote monitoring and diagnostics at GE’s operation centers in Bangalore and Atlanta, USA.
In addition to supplying equipment, GE signed a 15-year contractual service agreement (CSA) for the Samalkot project that includes performance guarantees. GE’s CSAs are structured to provide customers with predictable maintenance costs, while ensuring a steady flow of revenue from power plant operations. GE currently has long-term agreements in place at more than 700 sites worldwide.GE’s 9FA combined-cycle technology is proven in applications worldwide. In a combined-cycle configuration, exhaust gas from a gas turbine-generator is converted to steam, which is used to drive a steam turbine-generator, enabling the plant to produce additional power without an increase in fuel consumption.The 9FA Gas Turbine is part of GE’s family of Frame F turbines. More than 1,080 GE F-technology gas turbines have been installed worldwide and have compiled more than 41 million operating hours. GE’s F-class turbines offer flexible fuel handing that accommodates a wide range of fuels including natural gas, distillate oil, high hydrogen syngas, and naphtha.
