GE Energy bolsters Irish grid

GE Energy will provide two gas turbine-generator sets and additional equipment for a 150MW co-generation plant, to be built near Limerick, Ireland.

The plant will provide power and process steam for an aluminium refining facility owned by Aughinish Alumina. It will also provide power for the Irish grid.

GE Energy will supply two Frame 6FA gas turbines with dual fuel capabilities and advanced Dry Low NOx emissions systems and two 50Hz GE 6FA generators. The company will also provide the turbine control centre, liquid fuel off-base system, gas-turbine CO2 protection, washing skid, technical assistance, supervision and training, and performance tests.

The 75MW Frame 6FA is the medium-sized gas turbine on GE’s F technology fleet and boasts high exhaust energy and robust design.

The two gas turbines will be shipped from GE’s manufacturing site in Belfort, France to the project site in September and October 2004. The new plant should be ready by December 2005, when Aughinish Alumina hopes to reduce its use of the site’s older oil-fired boilers and therefore reduce emissions.

SNC-Lavalin Constructors, a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin Group, is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project.