Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and GE Energy have signed final agreements to co-develop a "next generation" steam turbine for use in gas turbine combined-cycle power plants. The co-development effort will focus on the design of a new, advanced steam turbine, leaving each of the parties to separately manufacture and sell the co-developed steam turbine in support of its natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power generation products.
MHI and GE Energy first announced a memorandum of understanding for combined-cycle steam turbine co-development in January 2009. Development of a new, advanced steam turbine is viewed by both companies as a key step in meeting customer requirements for increased combined-cycle efficiency and performance worldwide.
The new steam turbine will enter commercial service coupled with the GE Frame FB and the MHI G-class gas turbine products in the 50Hz segment of the global power generation market. These gas turbine models are typically used for combined-cycle power plants in the range 850-1,000 MW.
Much of the current demand for steam turbines is driven by the strong global interest in natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power generation. Although a full range of technology options is required to meet the world's growing energy needs, steam turbines remain a backbone of the power generation industry, playing a part in generating more than 80% of the world's electricity.

The propulsion and power solutions specialist Tognum is now expanding its onsite energy business with an order for 40 MTU Onsite Energy power supply generator sets (gensets). The order comes from APR Energy, a global energy solutions provider. Initially APR shall use the gensets to deliver supplementary power for the utility grid in the Trujillo Province in northern Peru, on behalf of the Peruvian Energy Authority.
The gensets are powered by MTU’s Series 4000 diesel engines and are affixed within custom containers, facilitating their use as portable power modules. The scope of supply includes the gensets, as well as the associated switchgear. In addition, Tognum will provide APR with engineering and staff support during the installation phase between April and June 2009.
Trujillo is one of the largest cities in Peru. Power demands have increased significantly in recent years, a surge which has led to occasional shortages within the utility grid. APR’s power solution working with MTU Onsite Energy gensets is designed to offset these shortages, providing an installed power output of 60MW – enough energy to power an estimated 30,000 homes in the United States.
APR Energy – previously named Alstom Power Rentals – has completed numerous short, medium and long term power generation projects, among which fast-track temporary power projects in environments such as Sri Lanka, Mexico and Haiti – i.e., in countries where the infrastructure is not quite as fully developed as for example in Western industrial nations.

Siemens is to continue the expansion of local value creation in growth markets. The company is to expand its steam turbine production in the state of Gujarat for approximately EUR40 million. A new production facility with a surface area of 14,000 square meters is planned. Production capacity for high-efficiency industrial steam turbines will thus triple by 2010. In addition to the Indian market, the turbines will also be exported throughout Asia and Africa, where they will contribute to providing extensive power supply.
Industrial turbines with ratings up to 45 megawatts have to date been produced in Vadodara. The location is part of Siemens manufacturing network for industrial turbines, which is managed from Görlitz. Only recently the company inaugurated a new production facility in Görlitz to be able to better meet the demand for medium-size steam turbines. The additional production capacity in Vadodara will provide the basis for even better serving the markets in Asia and Africa. There are currently still high energy deficits in many emerging countries during peak load periods. However, adequate energy supply is a fundamental prerequisite for moving economic and social development forward in these countries.
High-efficiency industrial steam turbines are an important feature of Siemens environmental portfolio, with which the company posted revenue totaling almost EUR19 billion in fiscal 2008. That is equivalent to around a quarter of the company’s total revenue and makes Siemens the world’s leading green infrastructure provider. Industrial steam turbines are deployed above all in cogeneration plants, combined heat and power plants, and small combined cycle plants, which are among the most efficient forms of power and heat generation. Small and medium-size steam turbines are also deployed, for example, in sugar and pulp mills or in the chemical industry to make even better use of process steam.