Breitener is converting its UTE Mattos and UTE Fran heavy fuel-oil plants to use natural gas, which produces fewer emissions compared to heavy fuel-oil. The power company will then install 46 of GE’s low-emission Jenbacher gas engine generator sets—23 units at each plant site— to generate a combined 120MW for the Amazon city of Manaus.
The natural gas will be delivered by a new pipeline connecting the oil and gas fields of Urucu in northern Brazil with the city of Manaus, enhancing Brazil’s domestic energy security.
Wagner Silva, CEO of Breitener Energetica, said: “Brazil is facing a daunting challenge of minimizing the impacts of energy production while also meeting the demands for electricity in growing cities like Manaus.
“Our project with GE underscores our ongoing support of Brazil’s goals to reduce the country’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions by replacing older power stations with advanced generation technology equipped with modern exhaust controls.”
Breitener cited GE’s expanded gas engine manufacturing center in Jenbach, Austria, for having the engine production capacity needed to meet the power company’s delivery and construction schedules. GE is scheduled to deliver the first four gen-sets in April 2010. Installation will begin as soon as the units arrive at the site.
Rafael Santana, Latin American region executive of GE Energy, said: “GE is excited to support Breitener’s power plant replacement project, which will offer the city of Manaus a cleaner, more reliable supply of energy by utilizing the region’s own natural gas resources.
“Our fuel-flexible Jenbacher gas engines are designed to help Brazil and other countries overcome their urgent local energy security and clean-air challenges in order to promote local economic growth.”
