HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE’s (NYSE: GE) newest aeroderivative gas turbine technology has been selected for a new, independent power plant (IPP) that will help meet an urgent need for more electricity in the rapidly growing East Kalimantan region of Indonesia. The project also supports the Indonesian government’s initiative to increase the overall supply of reliable power for the country, where approximately one-third of the population has no access to electricity.
GE will supply two 41-megawatt LM6000-PG aeroderivative units to PT Kartanegara Energi Perkasa (KEP), owner of the Senipah Power Plant, located 70 kilometers from Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. This will be the first installation of the technology in Asia and the second in the world, following a project at Turlock, Calif., which recently was commissioned. Building on the success of the LM6000 product line, the LM6000-PG offers increased power output, operating flexibility and efficiency, among other key features.
Today, approximately 70 million Indonesians are without electricity. To close this gap, the Indonesian government plans to connect an additional 1.3 million households per year to the grid, through the year 2025. As a shorter-term goal, the government is working to reach a 65 percent electrification ratio across the country by the end of this year.
To meet the electricity demand, expected to grow by more than 9 percent a year for the next several years, Indonesia plans to develop an additional 35.7 gigawatts of power capacity by 2018. Much of this capacity will be achieved through Indonesia’s “Fast Track” power plant development program and through IPP developments such as Senipah.
“In East Kalimantan, which is experiencing rapid growth, the availability of a reliable electricity supply can be a catalyst for the development of new industries, housing and other commercial enterprises. The availability of gas in the Senipah region makes electricity production very cost-competitive. In addition, the project aligns with one of the power plan targets set by the government, which is to have all of the new IPP plants in Indonesia based on non-oil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, geothermal, hydro and solar,” said Retired General Luhut B. Pandjaitan, majority owner of PT KEP.
In simple-cycle operation, the Senipah facility will generate 82 megawatts of power, with a plant availability of 85 percent. KEP plans to upgrade the Senipah plant from simple cycle to a combined-cycle operation in the next phase of development, scheduled for 2013, which will enable the facility to deliver even higher power output and efficiency.
“After a full evaluation, PT KEP determined that GE’s LM6000-PG was the best technology fit for the Senipah project. The enhanced LM6000-PG illustrates our commitment to meet our customers’ growing requirements by pushing the limits of gas power and performance. With its high availability and reliability, this technology ensures that the Senipah plant will meet its availability and other performance targets, bringing much-needed power to the people of Indonesia,” said Darryl Wilson, president and CEO—aeroderivative gas turbines for GE Power & Water.
The LM6000-PG offers a 25 percent power increase in simple-cycle operation and an 18 percent boost in exhaust energy for cogeneration applications. The new machine also reduces carbon emissions by 6,500 tons over the course of a typical operating year—the same emissions reduction that can be achieved by removing 2,500 cars from the road annually.
GE plans to ship the two LM6000-PG units to the Senipah site in April of 2012, with commercial operation expected by November of 2012.
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GE also serves the energy sector by providing technology and service solutions that are based on a commitment to quality and innovation. The company continues to invest in new technology solutions and grow through strategic acquisitions to strengthen its local presence and better serve customers around the world. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Management and GE Oil & Gas—work together with more than 90,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; as well as other alternative fuels and new grid modernization technologies to meet 21st century energy needs.