GE and EDF report that on 17 December 2015, “first fire” was achieved at EDF’s Bouchain combined cycle plant in France, a key milestone in commissioning of the first production unit of GE’s new 9HA.01 all-air-cooled H class gas turbine.
The 9HA.01 machine was started up, operated on natural gas, and was accelerated to full speed. It was also demonstrated that all gas turbine systems and software are functioning properly.
“First fire" and full speed, no load operation are important milestones in the overall installation and commissioning of the combined cycle power plant, GE notes, indicating that the facility is nearing completion.
The 9HA.01 gas turbine in Bouchain is expected to enter commercial service in mid-2016.
January 2015 saw completion of successful validation trials of the 9HA.01 test unit at GE’s variable-speed, variable-load, non- grid-connected test facility in Greenville, SC, USA.
In May, the first 9HA.01 production unit was completed at GE’s gas turbine manufacturing facility in Belfort, France and in June this first 9HA.01 for commercial deployment was transported from Belfort to Bouchain.
As of end 2015, GE says its had received orders for 25 HA gas turbines. Including these orders, GE says the HA has been what it calls "technically selected" for projects in 12 countries, including Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States, France, Russia, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Argentina, amounting to a total backlog, ordered and planned, of some 78 units.
(Originally published in MPS January 2016)