Siemens expands Charlotte, NC Energy Hub

The grand opening of Siemens’ Charlotte Energy Hub Expansion Project took place last November in North Carolina. By adding gas turbine (GT) manufacturing capabilities at this site, Siemens now has one centralized facility for the manufacture of GTs, steam turbines, compressors, electric generation equipment and the servicing of the fleet.

At a total investment of $350 million, the company added a 450,000 square feet GT production plant for a total of one million square feet. This site is designed to operate 24/7.

“This gas turbine facility represents the expansion of our U.S. manufacturing footprint, and an incredible opportunity for increasing American exports and creating skilled jobs in the region,” said Randy Zwirn, President and CEO of Siemens Energy.

This means that Siemens no longer has all its GT manufacturing capabilities centered in Berlin. As such, GTs can be manufactured at either site for both 60-Hz and 50-Hz markets as demand dictates. Charlotte will primarily produce GTs for the Americas and other 60-Hz markets while Berlin is the main production hub for 50-Hz gas turbines destined for Europe and other areas.

When the factory is fully operational in the spring of 2012, it will be capable of producing 38 units per year, including the latest SGT-8000-H models. At the end of the grand opening, Siemens officially shipped the first GT built at the plant — an SGT6-5000F that is now on route to the 250 MW La Caridad 1 combined cycle power plant (CCPP) in Sonora State, Mexico. This site will be owned by Grupo Mexico and will be used to supply power to an existing copper mine.

Scheduled to go online in 2013, Siemens is providing a turnkey project including GT, SST-900 steam turbine, SGEN6-1000A generator, HRSG, all electrical, balance of plant, SPPA-T3000 instrumentation and control equipment, and a long-term service contract.

Grupo Mexico just made a second order for an SGT6-5000F for its La Caridad 2 Project. Similar to the first CCPP, it is a turnkey deal. These plants will help the company reduce power costs by 40%.