600-Unit Housing Project in Spain Uses GE Gas Engine Technology to Provide Cleaner Energy through Reduced Emissions and Increased Efficiency
MADRID, SPAIN, [WorldofCogeneration.com]
Helping to provide cleaner energy, the first GE (NYSE: GE) Jenbacher gas engine for district heating in Spain has entered commercial operation at UR BEROA S COOP., a cooperative society. UR BEROA S COOP. provides district heating for approximately 600 houses in the high-standard residential area of San Sebastian (Bidebieta). By using natural gas to provide heating, instead of the diesel oil that was previously used, this project will help reduce CO2 emissions by roughly 1,200 tons per year.
UR BEROA S COOP. is a cooperative society formed by the neighboring community of Bidebieta II in San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa). Formed in 1985, the neighbors, who are made up of 584 associates, manage this community.
The plant includes a central building with one of GE’s Jenbacher gas engine that generates hot water, which is distributed to seven sub-centrals, each one with an exchanger for heat and another for sanitary hot water. From there, it is then distributed to the houses. Each sub-central corresponds to a group of houses, and the whole system is remotely managed and tailored to the specific temperature needs of each area.
“The need for a more reliable, cost-effective and secure supply of energy, combined with growing concerns over climate change, have influenced energy policy decisions in recent years. The European Union has taken a lead in promoting cogeneration of combined heat and power (CHP) solutions as one of the key strategies to help member nations attain their emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto- E.U. CHP directive,” said Juan Ignacio Sabadie, president of UR BEROA S COOP. “GE’s Jenbacher gas engine technology will help us to do our part to help Spain meet its goals and will allow us to better serve our associates with a solution that reduces emissions and saves money while minimizing environmental impact.”
The installation will operate throughout the year in order to meet the heat demand (8 months/year) and sanitary hot water needs (12 months/year) for all of the houses. GE’s JMS 320 GS-N.L., 1-megawatt (MW) cogeneration system, which began commercial operation in Nov. 2009, is replacing the oil-based system that was previously used for heating at UR BEROA S COOP. The electricity is sold to the grid.
“In line with our efforts to always offer top technology in the cogeneration field that helps improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact, our Jenbacher gas engines received ecomagination approval in 2008. They achieved this due to their ability to help us provide customers with a costeffective, high output means of generating power, while substantially and measurably reducing emissions from their operations,” said Prady Iyyanki, CEO-gas engines for GE Power & Water. “Our reliable and efficient Jenbacher gas engines are an ideal fit for district heating, and we are pleased to be working with UR BEROA S COOP on this important project.”
As of February 2010, there were more than 650 Jenbacher gas engines from GE delivered in Iberia including Portugal, meeting the diverse needs of the region. Some of the more unique installations include 17 engines for hospitals, seven in airports and two in Spain and one in Portugal for urban buildings.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $37 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
For more information, contact:
Martina Streiter
GE
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+43 676 8944 2470
martina.streiter@ge.com
Gina DeRossi or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
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gina.derossi@mastopr.com
howard.masto@ge.com