‘We drew from our jet engine expertise for new grid tech'

General Electric's new ‘FlexEfficiency 50' technology promises to usher a new gas-turbine that will efficiently balance out the vagaries of electricity supplies from renewable sources such as wind and solar. GE Energy India's President and CEO, Mr Kishore Jayaraman, explains how. Excerpts from a recent interview:

The ‘FlexEfficiency' has been described as a breakthrough technology in more ways than one. Can you briefly run through the technology, in terms of the efficiency boost and operational flexibility that it offers vis-à-vis say a regular gas-based plant?

The ‘FlexEfficiency 50' Combined Cycle Power Plant is rated under ISO Conditions at 510 MW output at an efficiency of 61 per cent. It can run on natural gas or distillate oil to generate power. Conventional gas turbine-based power plants today are designed for base-load applications, whereas aero-derivative or reciprocating engine technologies are commonly deployed in peaking plants. These individual technologies are distinct in their design and operating and maintenance parameters.

However with the sheer diversity of power sources that feed in to today's grid or are being planned in the next 20 years, the gas-based power plant operators need to have technology that gives them the economics of a base-load operation and the flexibility of a peak power plant as required. GE's FE 50 is designed to deliver an unprecedented combination of both.

GE drew from the company's jet engine expertise to engineer a plant that will ramp up at a rate of more than 50 MW (megawatts) per minute, twice the rate of today's industry benchmarks. Operational flexibility at these levels will enable utilities to deliver power quickly when it is needed and to ramp down when it is not, balancing the grid cost-effectively and helping to deploy additional renewable power resources like wind and solar.

Does the prospect of integrating renewable technologies and natural gas in the same power plant find applicability in power projects across geographies, and specifically in the Indian context?

Much of today's power generation technology is serving yesterday's power grid. Institutions and individuals everywhere are looking for cost-effective ways to use solar, wind and gas energy on a large scale. For years we have been working to develop technology that can deliver breakthrough efficiency and deal head-on with the challenge of grid variability caused by renewable energy.

Specifically in India, we are already witnessing large-scale renewable deployment (wind) in Tamil Nadu, Maharastra and Gujarat whereas Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are planning for grid-connected solar projects that will be a significant portion of their State generation. Given that renewable power is infirm and PLF (plant load factor) is influenced by nature, combining these sources of generation with gas-based power judiciously can create a stable grid with a diverse mix of generation, bringing the total cost of power down for consumers in the long run.

There has been a recent recommendation made by a regulatory panel in India on the need to develop peaking stations near urban areas and industrial clusters. Does the technology find application in this context?

To our understanding, the Central Electricity Authority's recommendation for gas-based peaking power in urban and industrial load centres typically ask for power plants below 200 MW size. The GE FE50 has a nominal output rating of 510 MW and hence may not fit the specific requirements of urban/industrial peakers. For exclusive peak power requirements, GE's fleet of aero-derivative gas turbines would be optimally suited, and have the broadest operating experience across any OEM (original equipment manufacturer) globally for such applications. However the FE50 deployed in large base load conventional stations can supplement the requirement of peak demand on the grid by allowing these plants to cater to the peak demand seamlessly.

On the lines of GE's pact with Harbin Electric to support the introduction of FlexEfficiency in China, are there plans to rope in a local partner such as BHEL in India?

GE has a 25-year-long and successful relationship with BHEL in India. Today BHEL has capability to manufacture the latest generation advanced class gas turbines like the 9FA/FB in India, besides our “B” and “E” class technology. GE will continue to support BHEL with its latest technology innovations as the market needs in India evolve.

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