GE Energy has won an order worth E530 million from French utility EDF to supply six advanced-technology, Frame 9FB gas turbine-generators and associated services for the utility's electrical power production facilities in France and elsewhere in Europe.
The new machines will be featured in combined cycle power plants, helping address Europe’s growing power requirements. In addition to the supply of the gas turbines, the scope of the agreements with GE include contractual services providing maintenance services and spare parts for 12 years.
Ricardo Cordoba, president of GE Energy for western Europe and northern Africa, said: The performance of GE’s F technology, proven in more than 20 million hours of operation worldwide, was a key factor in securing this significant order from EDF. The 9FB gas turbine, the latest evolution of GE’s F-class technology, offers in excess of 58% efficiency in combined-cycle operation and helps meet today’s pressing environmental challenges.
The new contracts with EDF will contribute to GE Energy’s rapid growth in Europe. As power producers increasingly turn to today’s cleaner and more efficient gas turbine technology to meet their growing capacity requirements, we are seeing a record level of activity for our Belfort facilities. By the end of this year, we expect to ship more than 80 gas turbines from Belfort, a 25% increase compared to last year.
The six Frame 9FB units will be installed in the EDF group’s production facilities in France and in some European subsidiaries. EDF has signed options to purchase additional gas turbines and services from GE. If those options are exercised, the total value of EDF’s agreements with GE could exceed E900 million.