Reinforcing its position as a major supplier to Turkey's growing private power sector, GE (NYSE: GE) has secured contracts to supply equipment and services for a new gas-fired power plant in the Erzin district of southern Turkey.
Owned and operated by one of Turkey's leading energy investors, Akenerji, the Egemer Elektrik Uretim A.S. (Egemer) - Erzin combined-cycle gas turbine power plant will generate 900 megawatts, enough to meet 2.6 percent of Turkey's current electricity requirements. The power plant will add an incremental 1.6 percent to Turkey's installed generation capacity of 53 gigawatts.
For the Egemer Elektrik Uretim A.S. - Erzin gas-fired power plant, GE will supply two Frame 9FB Gas Turbines and three generators and also has signed a 12-year service agreement to provide planned and unplanned maintenance services to help ensure the long-term, reliable operation of the equipment.
The power plant will be capable of generating highly flexible and efficient electric power with the use of advanced technology. The plant will be equipped with an advanced combustion system to help maintain compliance with environmental emissions criteria to meet European standards.
"The growing Turkish economy is fueling the need for more electricity and much of that demand is being met through the private sector," said Ahmet Amit Dansman, CEO of Akenerji. "For success in this sector, it is important to work with suppliers like GE who can offer proven, reliable and efficient power generation technology."
After establishing a regional sales office in Istanbul in the early 1990s, GE has been very active in the Turkish power generation market. To date, GE has supplied equipment for power plants that are operating or under construction in Turkey totaling more than 10,000 megawatts. Those installations include heavy duty and aeroderivative gas turbines , steam turbines , Jenbacher gas engines and wind turbines .
The new Akenerji project is designed to provide greater levels of efficiency and flexibility while maintaining excellent environmental performance.
"This combined-cycle power plant will be one of the most efficient power stations in the region," said Ricardo Cordoba, regional president of GE Energy. "The 9FB Gas Turbines also will provide the enhanced startup and turndown flexibility needed for cyclic operation, which will be an important factor in the Turkish private power sector over the next several years."
The Egemer-Erzin gas-fired power plant is scheduled for commercial operation in the third quarter of 2014, boosting Akenerji's installed capacity in Turkey. Turkey's electricity demand is expected to increase at an annual rate averaging 6 percent between now and 2018; that demand already grew by 8 percent in 2011, compared to the previous year. The country's generating capacity is currently more than 50 gigawatts and is expected to grow to more than 80 gigawatts by 2020.