Alstom announced the launch of its upgraded GT24 gas turbine and the corresponding KA24 combined cycle power plant offering for North America, parts of Latin America, Asia and the Middle East (60Hz market). This important step closely follows the launch in June, of its upgraded GT26 gas turbine and the corresponding combined cycle power plant KA26 for the 50 Hz electricity markets.

In upgrading its gas turbines for the 50 Hz and the 60 Hz electricity markets, Alstom intends to respond to the increasing demand for gas-fired power generation. Mr Mark Coxon senior vice president of Alstom’s Gas Business said that “These product upgrades are our response to the renewed growth we are witnessing in the natural gas fired power generation markets. We see the role of combined cycle power plants to be increasingly used as a back-up technology enabling more renewable power to be integrated into the energy mix. Accordingly these products have been optimized not only to offer very high output and efficiency, but also outstanding operational flexibility.”

The share of natural gas in the global energy mix is expected to rise sharply in the coming years. The increased demand for gas fired power generation primarily replaces in specific markets coal and oil, and also complements renewable energy sources.

The GT24 and GT26 gas turbines are based on well-proven technology with more than 4 million operating hours. Alstom has dedicated important R&D efforts to developing the latest upgrades of the GT24 and GT26 turbines, including an investment of €100 million in a test power plant in Switzerland to validate the technology before bringing it to the market.

More than 2,000 people worldwide are working in Alstom gas power plant related R&D and engineering. With 140 units already installed or ordered, over 48,000 MW of power generation capacity worldwide is based on Alstom’s GT24/GT26 technology.