GE in Malaysian Push

General Electric (GE) is confident of capturing a big slice of Malaysia’s power and energy market in the next couple of years through its new natural gas turbine technology (HA) that will help reduce fuel consumption by rebooting existing gas turbine fleet.

GE President of Power and Water (Asia Pacific) Ramesh Singaram said the company was confident this product would be able to win the local market as HA gas turbines offered the highest output, efficiency and operational flexibility.

“This product we believe can help Malaysia achieve its goal of trying to get the most competitive levelised tariff in the grid,” he said.

Ramesh said this was especially timely, as the country moves toward reduction and eventual elimination of fuel and electricity tariff subsidies in light of its market liberalisation initiatives.

“The cost saving from fuel consumption could go up to US$5 million or RM15.89 million annually and a net combined-cycle efficiency of more than 61 per cent.

“We have good shots with this offering…this will put us in the good position to win the market with the collaboration of local partners,” he told a media briefing on Innovation in Energy Efficiency to Spur Malaysia’s ‘Age of Gas’ here today.

GE’s local partners are Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Petronas, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd and local water authorities, to whom it supplies equipment and provides services.

GE has been committed to the growth of Malaysia’s power and energy sector for over 30 years through close partnership with TNB whereby the former provided gas turbines for the country’s first combined power cycle plant owned by the latter.

Ramesh said GE had 26 installed gas turbines in combined cycle power plants across Malaysia, 12 of which were for TNB.

“Malaysia’s energy needs will reach an additional four gigawatts (GW) between 2012-2016,” he said.

The company has also introduced its 9EMax solution today to replace the existing of 26 GE 9E gas turbines in the country, which will help boost the power capacity in Malaysia and the region while lowering power plant costs.

“This high-performing technology will better position GE’s Asia Pacific customers to meet the region’s projected four per cent annual growth in energy demand through 2035,” said Ramesh.