Siemens to Modernize GE and Westinghouse Gas Turbines with Innovative I&C Technology

Erlangen, Germany, May 4, 2006, Siemens Power Generation (PG) will upgrade the instrumentation & control systems in the Shedgum and Faras gas turbine power plants in Saudi Arabia. These power plants have a total capacity of 1650 megawatts and were built in the 1980’s by GE and the former Westinghouse Power Generation business unit This contract was awarded by the Saudi electric power utility Saudi Electrical Company (SEC).

The Siemens PG scope of supply comprises upgrading the I&C systems for a total of 16 GT Frame 7 gas turbines and five Westinghouse W501D machines. The I&C systems Mark II and WETAC used to date no longer correspond to today’s demands. They are to be replaced by the highly-advanced Siemens I&C system SPPA-T3000. In addition, the contract includes replacement of vibration instrumentation on all of these machines as well as the automatic voltage regulator for exciter equipment. In certain cases, instrumentation and fuel control valves of the Westinghouse machines are also to be replaced. The project is to be completed by April 2007. The power plants Shedgum and Faras are situated in eastern Saudi Arabia near Dammam and supply electric power to the Saudi grid.

“The contract from SEC underscores the competitiveness of our solutions,” explained Karlheinz Springer, head of the Siemens PG division Instrumentation & Control. “Siemens, as a leading provider of energy and automation technology, has the systems engineering expertise and requisite know-how to also effectively upgrade even the I&C systems of other manufacturers,” Springer pointed out. “Furthermore, Siemens Power Generation is the sole provider anywhere in the world that bundles the three competencies power plant engineering, automation, and information technology as a single-source supplier and thus offers its customers truly unique benefits and advantages,” this expert emphasized.

SPPA-T3000 is a cutting-edge process control system that was conceived especially for power generation management applications. In the power plant it covers the spectrum from boiler and turbine I&C to open- and closed-loop control of all power plant process functions. In addition, it is predestined for company-wide fleet management. As the first truly web-based system, it achieves seamless integration into the existing IT landscape of the power company and is capable of providing real-time information for the most diverse range of users. Its unique Embedded Component ServicesTM technology simplifies operator tasks and maintenance. Its lean system architecture sustainably reduces life cycle costs.

About Siemens Power Generation

The Power Generation Group (PG) of Siemens AG is one of the premier companies in the international power generation sector. In fiscal 2005 (which ended September 30), Siemens PG posted sales amounting to approximately EUR8.1 billion and received new orders totaling EUR11 billion. Group profit amounted to EUR951 million. On September 30, 2005, PG had a work force of approximately 33,500 worldwide.

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Peter Pauls

Siemens Power Generation

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