Concept: Energy giant Duke Energy has collaborated with Siemens Energy (Siemens) to build a powerful simple-cycle gas power plant. Siemens has installed and is currently testing its ‘SGT6-9000HL’ turbine at Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station in North Carolina, US. The unit can generate an output of 410.9MW to ensure reliability and provide energy to customers when needed.
Nature of Disruption: SGT6-9000HL turbine can run longer between maintenance cycles offering enhanced performance and efficiency in Duke Energy’s fleet. It can offer nearly 34% more efficiency than the existing combustion turbines. SGT6-9000HL turbine offers fast start-up capability, an advanced combustion system for high efficiency, a multi-layer thermal barrier coating, minimized maintenance costs and outage times, easy plant integration, and is based on H-class (a firing temperature above about 1426°C and up to about 1600°C, with a pressure ratio of 21:1) technology. The unit’s agility complements its productivity and can generate energy to power more than 300,000 homes. The power from the HL-class turbine can be added to the grid to meet market demand and assist in stabilizing the power supply when renewable sources like solar or wind vary.
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Outlook: Power output, efficiency, and operational flexibility are important factors for the decarbonization of the energy sector. As part of its clean energy transition attempt, Duke Energy has reduced carbon emissions by more than 40% since 2005. The energy giant’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station has achieved the Guinness World Records as the ‘most powerful simple-cycle gas power plant’ title for its power output. Duke Energy boasts that the new gas turbine could become the most fuel-efficient gas turbine in its fleet. Additionally, the unit’s quick start and high ramp rate capabilities can facilitate the addition of more renewable energy sources to the system and support its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. Duke Energy mentions that the testing process is underway and expects the plant to be fully operational by 2024.
This article was originally published in Verdict.co.uk
