GE Energy To Perform Plant-Wide Controls Upgrade For Saudi Electric Company Plant

GE Energy was chosen to conduct a turbine, generator and plant-wide control and protection upgrade by Saudi Arabian Engineering Co. Ltd. for the Saudi Electric Company - Southern Operating Area in Bisha, Saudi Arabia.

GE Energy will replace the existing turbine control and excitation systems on four ABB™/Alstom™ D11 and D9 turbines with the Mark™ VIe series control system and the EX2100 excitation control system. In addition, the Mark VIe plant control will be expanded to interface with the MKVIe, controlling the three Siemens V84.2 gas turbines.

Under the terms of the contract, GE also will provide a complete training simulator system for the turbine control and excitation systems. In addition, GE will provide project management services and balance of plant (BOP) equipment.

Installation will begin in the fourth quarter of 2007 and extend through 2008. The installation will be completed as a part of a hot switch over, during which the plant will be operational.

“The Mark VIe is GE’s most versatile control system. GE is applying the Mark VIe to gas and steam turbines, simple and combined cycle plant control, full IGCC and nuclear plants,” said Daniel Heintzelman, president of GE Energy’s services business. “By utilizing a common control system for the turbines and BOP, Arabian Bemco and the Saudi Electric Company will be able to gain improved operability and control system reliability.”

GE Energy’s control solutions business provides custom-designed solutions for turbine, generator and compressor controls, as well as plant-wide systems. Optimizing performance for a variety of plant designs and equipment manufacturers, GE Energy’s control solutions are focused on enhancing the customer’s operating revenue and providing tangible bottom-line benefits.