OREANDA-NEWS.   GE (NYSE: GE) today marked the launch of its new Distributed Power business in the Middle East and North Africa region at the ecomagination Center in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Meeting the growing demand for on-site power systems that are efficient, reliable and sustainable, GE’s Distributed Power business is investing USUSD 1.4 billion over four years globally and has three key product lines—Aeroderivative Gas Turbines, Jenbacher Gas Engines and Waukesha Gas Engines. All three product ranges are ecomagination qualified, GE’s innovative technology platform to increase customer productivity and drive cleaner energy solutions.

GE’s Distributed Power business will specifically address the increased demand for on-site power from oil and gas majors and heavy industries in the MENA region. The industrial sector accounts for a significant part of the power consumed in the region today, with overall demand for electricity projected to grow at an average of 7 percent over the next 10 years. Increasingly, industries are relying on on-site power systems to meet their needs and accelerate operational efficiency.

The product lines from GE’s Distributed Power bring the dual advantage of assured and reliable power supply onsite as well as off-grid solutions and the ability to work with renewable energy solutions, a thrust area in several countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Algeria, among others.

Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE’s Distributed Power business, joined senior leaders of GE in the region to announce the launch of MENA’s new business in Abu Dhabi. She said: “GE has been a trusted partner in the progress of the region and supports the generation of nearly two-thirds of its electricity. Today, in line with the growth in the manufacturing sector and increasing demand for on-site power, delivering new power generation solutions is of critical importance to improve regional energy security. GE’s Distributed Power solutions enable power generation at or near the point of use, providing our customers more flexibility and control.

“We are honored to launch our Distributed Power business in our ecomagination Center, which today serves as a hub for localized innovation involving our partners, educational institutions and the community at large. Distributed Power is all about creating local power using local fuels for faster, flexible, scalable and secure power generation. GE’s Aeroderivative gas turbines and Waukesha and Jenbacher gas engines can be installed in weeks and generate power in as little as five minutes. GE’s on-site power generation solutions will enable industries to take the pressure off the national grids, freeing more power for meeting peak load requirements. They also reduce energy losses from transmission and distribution thus delivering both economic and environmental benefits. ”