European energy company Gaz de France has selected GE Energy's latest F-class technology for a new combined cycle power plant that will produce 430MW of power for the Brittany region in France.
Under a turnkey contract of approximately E250 million, GE will supply a Frame 9FB gas turbine-generator and a type 109A high-efficiency advanced technology (HEAT) steam turbine for the new facility, to be located in the municipality of Montoir de Bretagne, on the banks of the Loire river.
Designed to be one of the world’s most advanced, air-cooled 50-hertz gas turbines, the 9FB is the latest evolution of GE’s F-class technology, which has been proven in more than 20 million hours of operation worldwide. Operating on natural gas, the 9FB-based combined-cycle system at Montoir de Bretagne will surpass 57% thermal efficiency.
The 9FB gas turbine will be manufactured at GE’s Belfort, France facility, the largest heavy duty gas turbine manufacturing plant in the country, while the steam turbine and generator will be manufactured in Schenectady, New York. The equipment is scheduled to be shipped during summer 2008, with the plant expected to begin commercial operation at the end of December 2009.
Ricardo Cordoba, vice president of energy sales for GE Energy, said: This important project for the region marks the beginning of a new relationship between Gaz de France and GE. It will be the first large GE combined-cycle system to be installed in France.