GE Energy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) 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 codeveloped steam turbine in support of its natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power generation products.
GE Energy and MHI 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 Gclass 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 gasfired, 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.