GE Vernova Executes Upgrade, Outage Work at Coryton Power Plant

GE Vernova recently completed a major outage and installed two high-efficiency (HE) upgrades at InterGen’s 800-MW combined-cycle Coryton Power Plant, located 30 miles east of London on the River Thames. The HE upgrades improve performance via technology breakthroughs across gas turbine, compressor, and combustor, allowing Coryton to generate up to 85 MW of additional power and surpassing the expected 77 MW.

The upgrades provided plant performance that exceeded expectations, improving unit efficiency by 2.46% and extending maintenance intervals. Also, the modernization project is expected to reduce approximately 67,500 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year, aligning with the United Kingdom’s goal to lower the national carbon footprint by requiring less fuel to generate the same amount of power.

“We were impressed by the tenacity of GE Vernova’s service teams and the impact of the HE upgrades, which delivered higher-than-expected efficiency and power production,” said Daniel Fosberg, Managing Director at InterGen. “At InterGen, we are committed to investing in the energy transition by enhancing flexible generation to ensure grid stability as renewable energy increases. We also create solutions to ensure reliable power supply at an affordable cost for our customers, and GE Vernova has proven to be a trusted player in driving these goals forward.”

The 300-strong Coryton project team conducted borescope inspections on two generators and steam turbines, valve inspections, and electrical testing for all components. GE Vernova’s outage team comprised global experts from Project Management, Engineering, Parts, Sourcing, One Field Services, Logistics, and Manufacturing. The team, working closely with InterGen, performed over 122,000 man-hours of work and achieved zero recordable EHS incidents across the service and upgrade project.

“This project underscores our continued commitment to keeping our customers’ gas turbine fleets competitive in the United Kingdom’s energy landscape,” said Joseph Anis, President & CEO, GE Vernova Gas Power in Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The scope and nature of this project were extraordinary, demonstrating our capability to deliver high-impact, efficient solutions that not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations. GT26 gas turbines are able to operate on a variety of fuels, including blends of hydrogen and natural gas, to offer InterGen pathways to reduce carbon emissions in the future.”

Following this project, 11 x GT26 gas turbines with HE upgrades are in operation globally. GE Vernova significantly invested in and developed the GT26 HE upgrade since its inception in 2019. The upgrade combines technology from GE Vernova’s F- and H-class fleets with additively manufactured parts and advancements in aerodynamics, material science, and combustion dynamics, providing improvements in efficiency, output, and maintenance interval extensions.

Xcel Energy Partnership

Recently, GE Vernova and Xcel Energy signed a strategic alliance agreement (SAA) to bolster their long-term partnership and accelerate a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy landscape. The SAA will support Xcel Energy’s power generation and grid projects into the 2030s, reliant upon GE Vernova’s portfolio of equipment and services such as gas turbines, wind turbines, and synchronous condenser technology. Key benefits such as enhanced certainty of supply, operational flexibility, and cost predictability will be delivered to Xcel Energy’s customers and stakeholders.