Turbomachinery News Network: Duke Energy, GE Vernova, Solvanic, and more

Welcome to the eleventh edition of the Turbomachinery News Network. I’m James Cook, associate editor at Turbomachinery International.

Duke Energy submitted its last license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and, if approved, the Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station will continue operation for 50 years. Bad Creek, near Salem, SC, features four upgraded units that generate 1,680 MW of carbon-free energy for about 860,000 consumers, serving as Duke Energy’s largest battery since 1991.

GE Vernova intends to invest $41 million in the Schenectady Center of Excellence for Steam and Generator, expanding generator, assembly, and testing capacities and adding up to 50 new positions to meet global demand. The investment will enhance manufacturing for GE Vernova’s H65 and H84 generators, which are coupled with efficient HA gas turbines.

Solvanic started a front-end engineering and design study for its electrochemically mediated amine regeneration carbon-capture technology at Coastal Bend LNG on Texas’ Gulf Coast—a multi-train natural gas liquefaction and export facility. The EMAR technology utilizes an electrochemical process that releases amine-captured CO₂ with electricity, as opposed to the high-temperature steam of typical thermal amine systems.

Pacifico Energy unveiled the GW Ranch project in Pecos County, TX, an off-grid power complex designed to support hyperscale data centers and advanced AI. The project, in development since 2024, is located on over 8,000 acres and generates 5 MW of power with high-efficiency gas turbines and battery storage.