Gas turbines from GE Vernova will be used in a new Missouri power station

GE Vernova announced on Friday that it has received an order for its aeroderivative GE Vernova gas turbines to be used in Springfield City Utilities (CU)'s new power generating plant in Missouri.

The McCartney Generating Station, a 100 Megawatt (MW), is expected to begin operations in 2027. GE Vernova has not disclosed the value of the deal or the anticipated delivery date for the turbines.

CONTEXT

Gas turbines for large-scale power production will be in demand as data centers, which require a lot of energy to run, are used to develop artificial intelligence.

According to GE Vernova, aeroderivative gas engines, adapted from General Electric aviation technology, are capable of generating up to 50 MW in a fuel efficient manner.

Why it is important

Planning Reserve Margins (PRM) must be increased due to the increasing electricity demand, aging plants and severe weather.

The extra capacity required to maintain the electricity supply during peak demand or unexpected outages is called PRM.

Vernova stated that the three aeroderivative units are expected to add an additional 150MW of flexible and reliable capacity to help maintain grid stability.

The company claims that these turbines can burn hydrogen up to 100% by volume. This reduces carbon emissions.

KEY QUOTE

Dave Ross, CEO of GE Vernova Gas Power Americas, said: "With the increasing demand for power generated by electrification and renewables, operators and municipalities... must ensure grid reliability and high efficiency." (Reporting and editing by Sahal Muhammad in Bengaluru, with Pooja Menon reporting from Bengaluru)

(source: Reuters)