GE launches Global Powering Efficiency Centre of Excellence

• 7 years ago (2017-03-08)
• David Flin

Coal 297

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GE has announced the launch of its new global Powering Efficiency Centre of Excellence (COE), which aims to boost the efficiency of both new and existing coal-fired power plants and significantly reduce their emissions. The COE is headquartered in Baden, Switzerland, and GE said that it will create integrated solutions as well as provide vision and oversight around the world. Regional teams will focus on engineering capabilities and local execution.

GE carried out a study which showed that CO2 emissions from the world’s steam fleet could be reduced by 11 per cent if existing hardware and software solutions are fully applied. Coal-fired power generation provides about 40 per cent of the world’s electricity, and generates about 75 per cent of the electricity sectors carbon emissions.

Michael Rechsteiner, Executive Sponsor of the global COE and Vice President of Product Lines for GE’s Power Services, said: “By bringing together the combined experience of a cross-business group of experts from GE’s Power Services, Steam Power Systems, Global Research Center, and Global Growth organisations, we are showing operators how they can achieve emissions compliance and increased efficiency with their new and existing coal-fired power plants. The installed base of coal assets will not disappear overnight, and while GE supports the increased use of renewable energy sources, we also realise the need for flexible and efficient coal solutions to help to reduce emissions and bring reliable energy supplies to power producers. GE has a suite of steam upgrades and emission management technologies that, when combined with our digital technologies, can increase efficiencies on average by 4 per cent.”