PARIS (Sept. 16, 2016)—GE announced it has received approval of its $1.9 billion contract for EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. Steam Power Systems, part of GE Power, will supply two conventional power islands that will deliver enough electricity to power approximately 6 million homes throughout the U.K.
The power conventional island includes the Arabelle steam turbine, generator and other critical equipment. This technology came to GE through last year’s Alstom acquisition.
Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power, said in a statement, “With the acquisition of Alstom Power & Grid we’re now able to offer a broader portfolio of technology solutions that provide reliable and efficient power for our customers. We are pleased to be working with EDF Energy on Hinkley Point C to help deliver on the U.K. government’s vision for energy security and economic development. We look forward to continuing to work with EDF to provide power to millions of homes across the region.”
Less than a year after COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, the U.K. has made a critical decision regarding its energy policy at a time when there is an even greater drive for low carbon energy technologies, according to GE’s statement. Since 2010, 20 percent of the U.K.’s electricity generation capacity has been shut down and by 2030, a further 35 percent is expected to close, including all but one nuclear power station. Nuclear provides dependable, CO2-free energy and, when complete, Hinkley Point C is expected deliver around 7 percent of the UK’s power generation capacity for 60 years, according to GE.
Andreas Lusch, president and CEO of GE’s Steam Power Systems, said, “Producing power that meets today’s greenhouse gas emission standards is a top priority. The Arabelle turbine represents six decades of nuclear steam turbine expertise and it’s the most powerful turbine in the world by output. We are pleased to continue to work with EDF Energy to deliver clean, reliable power that will bolster the U.K.’s energy infrastructure.”
Today, GE steam turbine technology operates in 50 percent of the world’s nuclear power plants with the ability to deliver more than 200 GW to the grid. The Arabelle is the largest turbine in operation for the past 10 years; it produces 2 percent more power output than a traditional configuration and has a 99.96 percent reliability rate, according to GE. Each turbine for Hinkley Point C has a gross generating capacity of 1,770 MW.
For more than six months, GE has been working closely with EDF Energy on Hinkley Point C as part of the Early Contractor Involvement agreement that includes activities such as safety classification studies, planning, civil works interfaces, pre-engineering and procurement planning. With the recent decision, GE continues to move forward with the next phase of design, engineering and manufacturing from GE’s Steam Power Systems Global Center of Excellence in Belfort, France. This phase also includes ramping up GE’s procurement activity with global suppliers, many based in the U.K.