GE’s new carbon-cutting options

GE said new emission reductions technology options are now available for its LM25000XPRESS aeroderivative gas turbine fleet worldwide.

The company said Catalytic Oxidation Reduction (COR) emissions control technologies—an efficient way to control harmful CO2 emissions—were installed for the first time for this turbine fleet at Colorado Spring Utilities’ Martin Drake Power Plant.

“This project marks the first installations of COR emissions control technologies on a GE LM2500XPRESS units globally, a further demonstration of our momentum to provide fast, flexible, and now more sustainable power through our leading aeroderivative gas technology,” said Aman Joshi, General Manager at GE Gas Power’s Aeroderivative Business. “Power plant operators, like Colorado Spring Utilities, are helping to drive down emissions while not compromising reliability and affordability of electricity for their own customers, and GE is proud to collaborate with them on these latest projects. GE’s aeroderivative gas turbine fleet play an important role in the energy transition and the availability of these emissions solutions can meaningfully enhance the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

The announcement comes on the heels of GE’s announcement of the world’s first technical solution on four TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines deployed at the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) sites in Yuba City and Roseville to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by over 90%, surpassing World Bank Emissions Standard.

GE and Colorado Spring Utilities announced the successful installation of a Catalytic Oxidation Reduction (COR) emissions control technology on each of the six GE LM2500XPRESS aeroderivative gas turbines powering the community-owned Martin Drake Power Plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Image: GE)

GE and Colorado Spring Utilities announced the successful installation of a Catalytic Oxidation Reduction (COR) emissions control technology on each of the six GE LM2500XPRES  aeroderivative gas turbines powering the community-owned Martin Drake Power Plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The emissions control technology is expected to effectively reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions up to 50%.

In 2021, Colorado Spring Utilities purchased the six GE LM2500XPRESS units to support the increased use of renewable solar and wind power, help better integrate renewable energy sources, and accelerate the retirement of the company’s coal-fired power plant.

“We retired our Martin Drake coal-fired plant 12 years earlier than previously planned, in part due to the addition of these six natural gas units,” said Travas Deal, Chief Executive Officer at Colorado Spring Utilities. “Compared to the high operations and maintenance costs to keep a 100-year-old, coal-fueled power plant running, these new natural gas generating units are efficient, offer low emissions, are dual fuel capable, can start up quickly, occupy a small footprint and provide significant operational cost savings. They will go a long way in helping us meet an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, while maintaining the resiliency and reliability of our electric grid.”

The emissions control technologies installed on GE’s new 34-megawatt (MW) LM2500XPRESS units equipped with an advanced dry low emission (“DLE”) combustion system and an oxidation catalyst are expected to reduce CO emissions from these units down to approximately 6 ppm.

In addition, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems are available for GE LM25000XPRESS aeroderivative gas turbine fleet worldwide to reduce emissions of both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by over 90%.