OREANDA-NEWS. December 09, 2015. Fifty years ago, the East Coast was literally stopped in its tracks by a series of power failures. The November 1965 blackout lasted for hours, halting subways and trains and delaying air traffic. Following that blackout, the West Medway Generating Station was opened in Medway, MA, as a peaking unit fueled by oil and used to meet peak demand and to protect against similar potential blackouts. Today, with demand still an issue along with growing environmental concerns, GE (NYSE:GE) is providing Exelon, one of the largest competitive power generators in the U.S., with two highly efficient LMS100PA+ aeroderivative gas turbines and a control system to upgrade the facility.

“With the retirements of several generation plants in New England, GE’s advanced gas turbine units can help fill an identified capacity shortage in the region, including the Boston area,” said Ron DeGregorio, senior vice president, Exelon Generation and president, Exelon Power. “These units will deliver cleaner power more efficiently, and will be an important bridge to the region’s drive for more renewable energy sources.”

Exelon has owned the three-unit oil-fired Medway peaking facility since 2002, and the two LMS100 units are a good fit for the space available at the existing Exelon Medway site. The new units will be powered primarily by natural gas, with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) as a back-up. The nearly 200 megawatt (MW) plant will be able to generate the equivalent power needed to supply approximately 200,000 U.S. homes. The existing Medway generation units will continue to operate.

The project builds on the current GE-Exelon relationship. Last year, Exelon ordered GE’s high efficiency 7HA.02 heavy duty gas turbines and related equipment, including Alstom heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) units, to add more than 2000 MW of additional capacity for the Wolf Hollow and Colorado Bend projects in Texas. Most recently, Exelon and GE entered into an agreement to implement GE’s Predix powered suite of enterprise software technologies for several pilot programs that will help them deliver significant benefits for their customers, the industry and the environment.

“In Massachusetts, Texas or elsewhere, Exelon is focused on providing efficient, flexible and reliable power generation,” said Joe Mastrangelo, president and CEO, gas power systems at GE Power. “The versatility and scope of GE technology allows us to deliver those benefits, whether we’re supplying large-frame H-class gas turbines, smaller aeroderivative units or software solutions from GE.”

GE’s LMS100 aeroderivative gas turbine provides the highest efficiency and best operational flexibility in its class. In simple cycle, the turbine offers a ten-minute start time, unmatched hot day performance, and load following and cycling capabilities. The LMS100 comes from the CF6 family of aircraft engines, and the current fleet has over 350,000 operating hours, with over 44,000 starts.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com

About GE Power

GE Power is a world leader in power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources. We are transforming the electricity industry with the digital power plant, the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbine, full balance of plant, upgrade and service solutions as well as our data-leveraging software. Our innovative technologies and digital offerings help make power more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable.

For more information, visit the company's website at www.gepower.com and http://powergen.gepower.com.

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