GE Vernova is upgrading Uniper’s gas turbines to high efficiency to reduce emissions, maintenance intervals, and fuel costs and increase efficiencies.
GE Vernova signed a contractual service agreement with Uniper to upgrade three GT26 gas turbine units powering its Grain power station in Kent, England. This high-efficiency (HE) upgrade should increase efficiency and power output and support the company’s decarbonization efforts.
“Increasing efficiency and the ability to maintain high availability, while lowering operational and maintenance costs, is crucial for the long-term success of Grain Power Station,” said Bill Cliff, Uniper Power Station Manager Enfield, Grain and Taylors Lane. “We worked with GE Vernova on the validation of GE Vernova’s GT26 HE upgrade at our Enfield power station, so we already had experience with this technology. Investment in our assets to reduce their carbon intensity, increase capacity, and maintain reliability for security of supply is key for both Grain and Enfield power stations.”
The GT26 HE upgrade includes:
The HE upgrade includes several performance benefits:
The modernization project improved performance at Enfield and extended maintenance intervals of the combined-cycle gas turbine. GE Vernova’s prior testing on the GT26 HE technology indicated increases in plant output approximately 25 MW per unit, a 1% increased efficiency in part load and a 1.8% increase in baseload efficiency, worth up to $1 million fuel savings per unit per year, and maintenance intervals extended up to 32,000 hours.
“For years, GE Vernova and Uniper have worked together to build and maintain power plants, using leading technologies, and this upgrade marks another example of our successful cooperation,” said Joseph Anis, President and CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “This upgrade is expected to revitalize Uniper’s Grain power plant and to increase its reliability and availability in the Great Britain generation landscape, supporting its long-term profitability and viability. GE Vernova is well-positioned to provide services and upgrade solutions as customers continue to invest in their fleets to meet rising electricity demand and improve performance.”
Uniper's Grain Power Station. Credit: Uniper
In late May, GE Vernova announced more details of the expansion of the Qurayyah Independent Power Plant (QIPP) in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. The company will supply five of its advanced H-Class gas turbines—three 7HA.03 and two 7HA.02 units—under a contract with Técnicas Reunidas and Orascom Construction, who are jointly managing the engineering, procurement, and construction of the project.
This 3-GW combined-cycle gas-fired facility will not only expand electricity production but also include the potential for post-combustion carbon capture capabilities, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s target of net-zero emissions by 2060. The facility is part of Saudi Arabia’s strategic goal to generate 50% of its electricity from gas and the remaining from renewable sources by 2030.
