More than 250MW of emergency backup generation will be added to the South Australian grid in a move to prevent future blackouts.
GE, with APR Energy, today announced its TM2500 mobile gas turbine generator sets will be used to provide new generation capacity ahead of summer in South Australia.
The announcement follows an agreement between GE’s fast power alliance partner APR Energy with the South Australian Government to bring GE’s technology to the region.
The agreement includes nine GE TM2500 units that can provide more than 250MW of power to South Australia once commissioned.
The mobile and trailer-mounted TM2500 can be commissioned in days, and can ramp up to full power within minutes to support grid security during periods of high electricity demand.
“This is an important day for South Australia and GE is proud to be bringing its state-of-the-art technology to support the state,” GE Australia president and CEO Geoff Culbert said.
“South Australia is already a world-leader in renewable energy generation and our technology will complement these efforts.
“GE’s TM2500 units are a power plant on wheels. They are a proven technology that will provide secure and reliable power to South Australian businesses and households.”
The turbines will be connected to the South Australia grid at substations in Edinburgh and Lonsdale.
The full turnkey project includes all installation, operations and maintenance, as well as transformation from 11kV to 66kV.
“Ensuring that the people of South Australia have this critically needed power quickly will play an important role in mitigating the risk of blackouts and the need for load-shedding during the peak summer months,” APR Energy chairman John Campion said.
Premier Jay Weatherill said the project was another important step in South Australia taking charge of its own energy future.
“This solution will deliver long-term back-up generation for South Australia before this summer,” he said.
“Importantly, this solution will deliver more generation capacity than originally planned, while emitting less carbon pollution than Torrens Island Power Station.”
The TM2500 units offer significant flexibility compared with other baseload generation options currently available.
Each TM2500 unit can generate more than 30MW of electricity and can be started progressively as demand increases, ensuring generation capacity can be efficiently delivered when required.
APR Energy, which renewed its strategic alliance with GE earlier this year, will lead responsibility for developing the new generation capacity for SA Power Networks on behalf of the South Australian Government.
Being trailer-mounted, TM2500 units can be transported via land, sea or air and redeployed to other sites within an electricity grid.
The mobility offered by TM2500 units allows them to be redeployed to support future needs for grid stability and electricity demand.
TM2500 units also have the capability of generating electricity using gas and/or distillate liquid fuel thereby maximising fuel availability and supply options.
