Why breaking records matters: Powering the world’s most efficient combined-cycle power plant

The history of corporate innovation isone of people and companies tryingto outdo themselves (and each other).

After all, the corporate world mirrors thenatural world; only the fittest survive.If we don’t innovate and become the bestin the world, someone else might.I like to think our principle motivation,however, is the need to continue to surpriseand surpass expectations for our customers.In my view, the surest way to disappoint acustomer is to just deliver. We must aim toexceed expectations. We have to deliver thefuture, now.

So we aim for new heights. We recentlyannounced that we’ve been recognizedalong with EDF for powering the world’smost efficient combined-cycle power plant
based on an achieved efficiency rate of up to62.22% at EDF’s power plant in Bouchain,France.

This is the first ever combined-cyclepower plant equipped with GE’s 9HA.01 gasturbine. Together, GE and EDF, are launchinga new era of power generation technologyand digital integration. Why do theseachievements matter?

Solving tomorrow’s energy needs

A World Record demonstrates that we aresolving tomorrow’s energy needs with themost ambitious and sophisticated technologyavailable today.The HA is the most efficient gas turbinein history, and has been the cornerstone ofGE’s transformation into the world’s premieredigital industrial company – a billion dollarinvestment plan for a vision we believe willchange the world.

Why is this digital future so important?Well, there is a global race to integraterenewables into our grids to deliver a moresustainable energy future, to meet the
ambitions set at COP 21.To deliver this, flexibility and efficiency arekey. The ability to spin up and spin downtraditional power sources like the Bouchain
facility is vital for meeting today’s – andfuture – energy demands.

Powering everyone

What’s the bigger picture here? Well, thereare over a billion people in the world who stilldon’t have power and over two billion withinadequate access to it.What we are doing in Bouchain with EDFplays a critical role in helping PoweringEveryone in the most efficient, reliable andsustainable way.Our founder Thomas Edison said, “I neverperfected an invention that I did not thinkabout in terms of service it might give others…I find out what the world needs, then Iproceed to invent it.”

We found out what the world needs, andGE and EDF broke barriers with their trailblazing power plant at Bouchain, France.Why breaking records matters: Powering theworld’s most efficient combined-cycle power plantour joint French, American, and global teamsproceeded to invent it. This first HA turbinein Bouchain is a beacon for what is to come –better power, enhanced with the best digitalindustrial capabilities that will ultimately findits way across borders, deserts and oceans to
nations across the globe.

Being prepared for what’s next

As we navigate a volatile global economy andrising power demand from a growing globalpopulation, the power industry is beingtransformed by the introduction of digitaltechnologies.Close collaboration with our customers, aswe have had with EDF for over 45 years, isgoing to be vital.Today is about more than winning a world
record. It’s about being prepared for what’snext. EDF is ready, GE is ready, and Bouchainis ready. This is only the beginning. We willcontinue to strive for new records, and newheights.

Reaching for these goals will help us, andour customers, cut through the challenges weface as an industry and help deliver power toeveryone, today and in the future. Our workmatters!

By Steve Bolze
President & CEO
GE Power