GE (NYSE: GE) will supply five Frame 6FA gas turbine-generators for three power plants in China's Zhejiang Province that will help to meet the province's strong power needs. Designed for high efficiency and low emissions, all three projects support the provincial government's initiative to develop gas turbine cogeneration plants to replace less efficient coal-fired boilers in order to reduce environmental impact and increase energy efficiency in the region.

GE will provide two 6FA gas turbine-generators to Harbin Electric Corporation, the main equipment contractor for a combined-cycle power plant in Jiangshan county owned by Datang International Power Generation, Ltd. The plant will be a key energy supplier for the Jiangshan area. GE also will supply similar equipment for a facility in Quzhou city owned by Quzhou Puxing, a subsidiary of Wanxiang Group, which will supply power for the Quzhou Kecheng economic development zone. Each of these plants will produce up to 230 megawatts of power with a thermal efficiency of 53.5 percent in combined-cycle operation and up to approximately 80 percent in cogeneration mode. A typical coal-fired plant of similar size operates at efficiency levels around 30 percent.

In addition, GE will provide one 6FA gas turbine-generator for a power plant near Huzhou city owned by Amber Energy Co. Ltd. That plant, a key energy supplier for the Anji economic development zone, will have an output capacity of 115 megawatts.

When they enter commercial operation in December 2012, the three new plants will produce a total of approximately 575 megawatts of power in Zhejiang province, alleviating this year's power shortage of approximately 7000 megawatts and securing the process heating supply for related industries in the area. Natural gas from China's landmark West-to-East Pipeline II will be the primary fuel for each plant.

"Each project will meet the electricity and heating demands of the surrounding industrial areas and residential districts with limited environmental impact, compared with older technology plants," said Walter Wang, GM, thermal enterprise commercial for GE Power & Water. "With their midrange output, high efficiency, high exhaust energy for steam production and low emissions, our 6FA gas turbines are an excellent match for distributed energy applications such as these."

In a distributed energy project, electricity and heat are generated on-site, at or near the point of use. This is a highly reliable source of energy and eliminates the cost and the risk associated with distributing power from a centralized power plant over long distances.The 6FA gas turbine is a mid-sized version of GE's widely used 7FA and 9FA gas turbines. Designed for 50 or 60 hertz grids, the gear-driven 6FA gas turbine addresses mid-sized power block needs with high performance. Its output range, high exhaust energy, full packaging and robust design make the 6FA well suited for a wide range of distributed energy applications, including industrial cogeneration and district heating. More than 140 6FA gas turbines have been sold worldwide. The 6FA is ecomagination-qualified. Ecomagination is GE's commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better.