October 13, 2008

GE Energy inks deal with Wuhan Iron and Steel

It is reported that Atlanta based GE Energy has won a multi million dollar contract with Wuhan Iron and Steel Company Ltd to build GE's first large size blast furnace gas fired combined cycle power generation project in China.

Atlanta based GE Energy will supply two blast furnace gas fired combined-cycle power generation units in late 2008. The plant will be ready to operate in late 2009.

GE Energy said that blast furnace gas is created during the production of pig iron in steel mills, as a by product of coke combustion and iron ore melt in blast furnaces. It can be recovered and used as fuel in a gas turbine combined cycle power generation solution with higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to a traditional blast furnace gas boiler power generation system, and can generate power to be used both in the plant and sold to the public power grid.

Mr Jack Wen GE Energy's region executive for China said that "One of the greatest challenges to the steel industry around the world is effectively addressing increased emissions regulations while controlling spiraling costs. In China, requirements for the steel industry to reduce emissions and reliance on the power grid will necessitate employing new solutions. This milestone project with Wuhan Iron and Steel will allow BFG flares to be captured with higher efficiency and lower emissions to recycle energy back into the plant."