GE Milestone: 100th Aero “Power Plant On Wheels” Rolls Off The Line

GE (NYSE: GE) today celebrated the production of its 100 ^th trailer-mounted TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine, a cornerstone in delivering fast, flexible, reliable power generation anywhere at any time.

Known throughout the industry as GE’s “power plant on wheels,” GE introduced the TM2500 a little more than a decade ago. The milestone unit rolled off the production line at GE’s facility in Veresegyház, Hungary, where GE manufactures all 50-hertz TM2500 packages. GE’s Jacintoport manufacturing facility located outside of Houston, Texas, assembles 60-hertz power generation packages.

“Fast, efficient, reliable power generation—those are hallmarks of the TM2500, and today we celebrate an important milestone as these products are meeting customer demand for fast, temporary or emergency power generation,” said Darryl Wilson, president and CEO—aeroderivative gas turbines for GE Power & Water, who made the announcement during GE’s customers’ User Conference.

“Today, customers in 22 countries are reaping the benefits of TM2500’s temporary and permanent power needs,” Wilson said. “This unit, one of 16 packaged in our Hungary facility, will join a growing fleet that is well suited for providing a base load bridge to permanent power or for generating backup power supporting natural disaster relief, plant shutdowns or equipment maintenance. It also can play a vital role in helping customers overcome generation constraints such as hydropower shortages.”

The TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine has a rich legacy. It is the portable version of the LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine, which has been the backbone of the global fleet since it was unveiled in 1969. Today’s newest version, the TM2500+, was enhanced in 2010 to provide more power output, in a more compact footprint—two trailers instead of four—with improved interconnection designed for faster installation and set-up. It can provide up to 31 megawatts of power generation in only days, due to its unique roll-on, roll-off capabilities for air, ship or road transportation.

The TM2500+ offers multi-fuel flexibility operating on either natural gas or liquid distillate fuels and is easily converted from 50 hertz to 60 hertz. It can reach full power in less than 10 minutes and is capable of achieving nitrous oxide (NO _x) emissions down to 25 ppm with water injection. Operating on natural gas at ISO baseload conditions, the TM2500+ has an efficiency of 37 percent at 60 Hz and 35 percent at 50 Hz with water injection for NO _x control.

The enhanced TM2500+ recently received ecomagination™-qualification for its ability to help power cities and industries during environmental, economic and emergency power challenges. The TM2500+ provides customers with faster, more flexible distributed power generation by combining high efficiency, better fuel gas consumption and fuel flexibility, coupled with lower emissions in both the 50 and 60 hertz segments. Ecomagination is GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better.

“The TM2500+ is a key member of GE’s recently introduced PowerXpand™ Portfolio, which features several GE technologies designed for customers looking to address temporary power needs or searching for permanent power ’in a pinch,’“ Wilson added. “Our growing PowerXpand Portfolio also includes the Jenbacher J320 containerized gas engine generator set and the V250/V228 diesel engine generator sets – allowing GE to deliver rapid power solutions that are reliable, whenever and wherever it is needed.”

A recent project in Greece illustrates how the TM2500+ is working to solve the rapid power needs of customers around the globe. Greece’s EXPO Power systems purchased a TM2500+ gas turbine-generator set to meet the summer peak power needs of the Rhodes, Greece electricity grid. The Rhodes TM2500+ was commissioned within 11 days of arrival on-site and was ready to provide a fast, permanent source of power generation.

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