- Announces Plans for Diesel Offering, Currently in Test and Planned to be Shipped Later This Year
- GE's Distributed Power Providing Communities and Industries with More Reliable, Local Energy Solutions
- Introduction Builds on GE's Commitment to Help Promote Economic Development throughout Continent, Including Power Africa Initiative
GE Power & Water (NYSE: GE) today formally introduced its new Distributed Power business for Africa, building on GE's corporate commitment to help address the continent's need for more reliable, local energy supplies that can promote greater economic development and security in urban and rural areas.
GE unveiled its new Distributed Power business for Africa and its plans for entry into the diesel space during an event in Lagos, Nigeria, a country where distributed power technologies are becoming increasingly popular for supporting local industrial production. The Distributed Power business focuses on power generation at or near the point of use, on or off the grid.
"In areas of Africa where traditional grid service is poor or does not exist, we are seeing more customers seeking to install distributed power technologies that can help ensure that homes and businesses have more reliable supplies of electricity," said Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE's Distributed Power. "GE's Distributed Power is committed to helping customers throughout Africa use more of their own domestic energy resources, which in turn enhances the economic security of the region for future generations."
GE said it is currently in test with its 2.6-MW 616 diesel engine, the first high-speed diesel engine model for power generation that GE will introduce as part of a larger initiative to further expand the company's footprint in distributed power applications that use reciprocating engine technology. The 616, which GE plans to ship later this year, has been designed for higher efficiency, more reliability and technology excellence and is a derivative of Distributed Power's Jenbacher J616 gas engine design and the P616 locomotive diesel engine from GE Transportation. The 616 diesel brings together medium-speed engine fuel economy with high-speed engine CAPEX, aiming to improve customer total life cycle cost.
GE is constantly evaluating opportunities to develop and introduce new reciprocating engine platforms and expand the company's existing platforms into new applications as the global energy sector shifts to faster, more affordable and efficient on-site power. GE has more than 100 years of cross-business experience in advanced gas and diesel reciprocating engine technologies.
The announcement comes on the heels of President Obama's announcement of the Power Africa initiative, which seeks to drive growth in Africa by increasing access to reliable, affordable and sustainable power and by helping to ensure responsible, transparent and effective management of energy resources on the continent. In support of Power Africa, GE is committed to working with governments and private partners to help bring online about 5 GW of new, affordable energy in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. GE intends to provide technology based on a variety of fuel sources as appropriate for each project, including solar, wind and natural gas, to deliver the power and support partners in arranging financing for these projects.
Distributed Power's product portfolio includes GE's aeroderivative gas turbines and reciprocating engines, which generate 100 kilowatts to 100 MW of power for numerous industries globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Distributed Power employs about 5,000 people around the world.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar, biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world's most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water's six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE's largest industrial business.
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