GE (NYSE: GE) will supply three 9FB gas turbines for the 1,378-megawatt (MW) Datang Gaojing combined-cycle cogeneration power plant under construction in Beijing, marking the debut of this technology in China. The new facility will help meet surging electricity demand in the Chinese capital while also meeting the ambitious environmental targets of China's Five-Year Plan.

In addition to the 9FB gas turbines, GE will supply related equipment and services to GE business partner and licensing associate Harbin Electric Corporation, which is building the plant for owner and operator China Datang Corporation. The GE 9FB technology will provide over 1.3 GW of power and when combined with Harbin's district heating solution for winter operation, at greater than 59 percent at ISO conditions, it is expected to be one of the most fuel-efficient Chinese power plants to date. GE expects to ship the equipment starting in October 2012, and the plant will begin commercial operation in stages beginning in October 2013.

In addition to increasing the region's electrical capacity, the Datang Gaojing plant supports the Chinese government's strategy to replace and supplement coal-fired plants with cleaner natural gas-fired, gas turbine combined-cycle power plants. Compared to China's existing electrical grid, this plant will release 99 percent less SOx, 88 percent less NOx and 49 percent less CO2 per unit of electrical output. The electricity generated by the Datang Gaojing plant will help support load management, and the heat recovered from the turbines' exhaust will provide district heating.

"One of the most important challenges in China today is to increase the country's electrical capacity, and to do so using cleaner, more-efficient technologies," said Walter Wang, GM, thermal enterprise commercial for GE Power & Water. "GE invests heavily to develop the energy technologies needed to accomplish this and is proud to have been selected for this important, high-profile project. The GE 9FB gas turbine provides high levels of performance, reliability, net plant efficiency and operational flexibility to meet the exacting demands of our customer and the needs of the population in the area served."

The GE 9FB gas turbine is the company's advanced 50-Hz air-cooled gas turbine. Along with other well-proven gas turbines in GE's portfolio, it is well suited for use in regions where fuel costs and supplies are critical. Its high operational efficiency allows customers to decrease the net cost of generating electricity, and its flexibility and reliability enable it to be used in a variety of baseload and cycling applications. To date, GE is the largest supplier of heavy-duty gas turbines to China with an installed capacity of more than 15,000 MW.

The 9FB is ecomagination-qualified. Ecomagination is GE's commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better.

Established in 1949, Harbin Electric Corporation was the first power equipment enterprise China, with more than 60 years of history. It has become the biggest production and export base for power generation equipment, warship driving devices and complete sets of power equipment in China.