| By Macson Obojemuemoin, in Dakar
GE has secured an order to supply power generation equipment for what is potentially the largest power plant in Senegal. The American power service provider says it will supply two 9E.03 gas turbines, one STF-A200 steam turbine, three A39 generators, two Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and additional balance of plant equipment, under a contract signed with West African Energy. The project is the Cap des Biches combined cycle gas turbine power plant, expected to generate 300 megawatts (MW), on completion, nearly 25% of the power consumed in Senegal and the equivalent electricity needed to power approximately 500,000 Senegalese homes. What GE is servicing is an expansion. In 2016 ContourGlobal started generating electricity with a 53MW power plant on the same site. “Cap des Biches Power Plant represents another opportunity to use gas-fired generators as an ideal complement to variable renewable resources because they can change power levels quickly, turn down to low levels when demand is lower, and start rapidly”, says Elisee Sezan, CEO for GE’s Gas Power business in Sub-Saharan Africa. “All of these attributes enable gas turbines to work in concert with renewables to maintain reliability in a power system. The plant will provide flexible power to Senegal and help improve the quality of people’s lives.” In 2020, GE’s 9E gas turbine fleet celebrated 40 years of operations globally. It has a large installed base of over 650 units in the world located primarily in Asia, China, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. |
