French state-controlled utility group Electricite de
France SA (EDF.FR) said Thursday it signed an agreement with GE Energy, a unit
of General Electric Co (GE), to co-develop a gas turbine.
MAIN FACTS:
- The combined gas turbine, which will be produced
starting from 2015, will be the first next-generation combined cycle turbine,
said EDF, in a statement.
- The new turbine will reach 61% efficiency and
maximum load in less than 30 minutes, thus helping respond to an increasing
fluctuation in production needs.
- The project is part of the modernization of EDF's
thermal power plants, which targets an installed capacity of 200 GW by 2020.
- EDF says the new project will allow both companies
"to consolidate their already strong links".
- GE
Energy has provided EDF with around 120 combustion turbines for its power
plants over the past 40 years.