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TRIPOLI, LIBYA -GE’s (NYSE: GE) Distributed Power business today announced that its trailer-mounted, mobile aeroderivative gas turbines have been chosen to help the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) meet the country’s growing power needs, with two of the units having been installed and commissioned within six weeks after site selection. This fast-track, $135 million project includes four of GE’s TM2500+ units, which will provide more than 100 megawatts (MW) of power for upcoming summer peak needs by expanding the Zawia and W. Tripoli power plants. The scope also includes balance of plant from GE’s Digital Energy business. The mobile units can be moved anywhere in the country to supply emergency backup power.

“GE’s high-quality, reliable, proven technology will help meet our upcoming summer power needs. The flexibility of the TM2500+ mobile units will allow us to provide emergency power where it is needed most,” said A. Abogren, Zawia project manager, GECOL. “By using its worldwide capabilities to help support delivery and experienced project management resources, GE also was best suited to meet our fast-track timeline.”

The first two units were installed and commissioned six weeks after the site was confirmed in December 2013, and the other two are expected to be online by the end of March 2014. All four units are dual fuel, capable of running on both natural gas and diesel.

“GECOL recognized the need to get power fast given rapid increases in demand and turned to GE to provide the best solution,” said Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO, GE’s Distributed Power business. “This project supports the Minister of Energy’s goals and objectives to provide new power generating capacity to meet the ongoing energy demands of Libya. Once this project is complete, GE will have delivered more than 100 MW of reliable power to Libya’s grid, giving GECOL the flexibility to provide backup power wherever needed and supporting the need for a more resilient grid.”

Known as GE’s ‘Power Plant on Wheels,’ the TM2500+ mobile aeroderivative gas turbine generator set is ideal for providing a base-load bridge to permanent power installations or for generating backup power in support of natural disaster relief, plant shutdowns or equipment maintenance with the capacity to produce more than 26 MW of power—that’s 31 percent more than its predecessor, the TM2500. Equipped with GE’s proven LM2500+ and engineered for flexibility and quick dispatch, the TM2500+ is the go-to solution for fast, mobile power needs in almost any environment.

GE’s TM2500+ units are part of GE’s ecomagination portfolio. To qualify for the portfolio, products and services must demonstrate both improved economic value and environmental performance. Ecomagination is GE’s commitment to provide innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and make the world work better.

GE Power & Water’s Distributed Power is a leading provider of power equipment, engines and services, focused on power generation at or near the point of use. Distributed Power’s product portfolio includes GE’s aeroderivative gas turbines and Jenbacher and Waukesha gas engines, which generate 100 kilowatts to 100 MW of power for numerous industries globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Distributed Power employs about 5,000 people around the world.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar, biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

This news is courtesy of www.ge.com

WASHINGTON — Building on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to continue U.S. leadership in clean energy innovation, the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) today awarded $17 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects to help small businesses in 13 states develop prototype technologies that could improve manufacturing energy efficiency, reduce the cost of installing clean energy projects, and generate electricity from renewable energy sources. These projects will include technologies such as wind turbine blades that are easier to transport and use less energy, an electrochromic window technology that can achieve a 30% reduction in energy use, and a solar energy system that reduces installation costs and generates power in less time.

“Small businesses employ half of America’s workers and create two out of every three new jobs in the United States,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson. “By supporting small businesses and driving American leadership in clean energy innovation, we can create new job and business opportunities, strengthen U.S. competitiveness in a growing global market and provide more clean, affordable energy to communities across the country.”

Supported by EERE, these projects will focus on developing clean energy technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation. Technologies from the 17 projects include:

· Hydropower: Based in Keokuk, Iowa, Amjet Turbine Systems, LLC will develop lightweight, low-cost hydro turbines that can generate electricity from low-head dams and rivers all over the world.

· Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling: Austin, Texas-based Sheetak, Inc. aims to develop a low-cost solid-state heat pump technology that cuts the energy needed to heat water for commercial buildings and homes.

· Electric Vehicles: Headquartered in Rockledge, Florida, Mainstream Engineering Corporation will develop a hybrid electric turbocharger to help charge plug-in electric vehicles faster – providing drivers with more options to save money on fuel and cut carbon emissions.

These awards are for Phase II SBIR projects to further develop Phase I projects and produce a prototype or equivalent within two years.

This news is courtesy of www.energy.gov

NEW YORK– First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) and GE’s Power Conversion business (NYSE: GE) are utilizing their recently established technology and commercial partnership to develop a more cost-effective and productive utility-scale PV power plant design that combines First Solar’s thin-film CdTe modules with GE’s new ProSolar 1,500-volt inverter/transformer system.

First Solar has integrated new technology into its modules and optimized them for 1,500-volt DC applications. Combined with GE’s 4-megawatt (MW) ProSolar 1,500-volt inverter/transformer stations, this development enables power plant engineering design that significantly increases the size of the solar array served by each inverter and reduces the number of inverter/transformer stations required for each plant to convert the power from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) and feed electricity to a commercial electrical grid. The resulting plant design maintains high power delivery while lowering installation and maintenance costs.

“This is a significant step in establishing the next generation of utility-scale PV power plants,” said Mahesh Morjaria, First Solar’s vice president of product management. “Partnering with an industry giant such as GE, we are able to take our power plant design to the next level and bring additional value to our customers.” Morjaria also noted that future generations of First Solar modules will increase optimization, benefiting from advances gained in part from the acquisition last fall of GE thin-film PV technology.

“GE is known throughout the industry as an established leader in power generation technology. With our ProSolar inverters, we were able to draw from our experience developing and manufacturing technology for traditional power plants to create a highly efficient solution with industry-leading capabilities,” said Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of GE Power Conversion. “The inverters’ design enables our customers to apply engineering design that significantly increases efficiency of energy production. Together with First Solar, we can help customers get the most out of their solar power systems.”

Morjaria said that First Solar already has identified projects under construction for initial deployment of the new 1,500-volt system. The 4-MW ProSolar 1,500-volt station is the largest inverter in the industry capable of accommodating 1,500-volt DC solar arrays, which is a major factor in utilizing economies of scale by significantly increasing the array size and reducing the number of inverters required by a solar power plant.

About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and system technology. The company’s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life module recycling, First Solar’s renewable energy systems protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.

About GE Power Conversion
GE’s Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electrification of the world’s energy infrastructure by designing and delivering advanced motor, drive and control technologies that evolve today’s industrial processes for a cleaner, more productive future. Serving specialized sectors such as energy, marine, oil and gas, renewables and industry, through customized solutions and advanced technologies, GE Power Conversion partners with customers to maximize efficiency.

This news is courtesy of www.ge.com

BARCELONA, SPAIN—March 10, 2014—Today, GE’s (NYSE: GE) renewable energy business announced the introduction of its new space frame tower for multi-megawatt wind turbines at the European Wind Energy Association’s annual conference in Barcelona, Spain. The five-legged enclosed lattice tower from GE enables towers up to 139 meters to be built more cost-effectively in never before accessible locations, using a logistics-friendly model of standard shipping methods and on-site assembly.

“The space frame tower helps our customers go taller in new locations, further enabling the growth of wind energy,” said Cliff Harris, general manager of GE’s renewable energy business in Europe. “This next innovation in wind turbine technology is a stepping stone towards towers taller than 150 meters in Europe. GE will continue to drive innovation and advanced technology for the wind industry in the coming years.”

The space frame tower is being introduced with GE’s new 2.75-120 wind turbine and was demonstrated in a full-scale turbine at GE’s prototype site in Tehachapi, Calif. The lattice tower is assembled at wind farm locations and then wrapped in an architectural fabric to provide familiar solid structural aesthetics. The tower improves serviceability with increased space down-tower, maintenance-free bolting system and custom methods and fixtures for efficient installation and dismantling.

The space frame tower features a wide base supported by five legs that provide more room at the base of the tower than a traditional tubular tower. The additional down-tower space allows for storage within the turbine for ease in maintenance, site organization and balance of plant. Parts manufacturing can be automated with the space frame tower to optimize quality control of the structure. The fabric casing is durable, weather resistant and does not need to be replaced during turbine life.

The space frame tower is a product of GE’s technology evolution and investment. GE has invested more than $2 billion into renewable energy research and development to continually provide customers with the most advanced wind technology available and position wind as a mainstream energy source.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

About GE Power & Water

GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

This news is courtesy of www.ge.com

Air Products (NYSE: APD) and NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN Pipeline & Engineering Co. Ltd. (NSPE) today jointly announced the signing of an agreement signifying the intent of the two companies to work together on Japan’s developing hydrogen fueling infrastructure market. The agreement also discusses the objective of finalizing a long-term marketing and supply relationship agreement between the U.S. and Tokyo, Japan-based companies.

“This agreement is an important step for both Air Products and NSPE in gaining entrance to Japan’s hydrogen fueling market. Japan is being progressive in their intent to develop a hydrogen fueling infrastructure and is one of the early markets where automobile manufacturers have announced plans to deploy vehicles. We are pleased to be working with NSPE and greatly value their engineering and operations expertise, as well as their knowledge of the Japan markets. Combined with our leadership and experience in this field, together we can meet this developing market’s needs with proven technology,” said Ed Kiczek, global business director – Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products. Kiczek added that Air Products has operated in Japan since 1970, and will work through its established wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Products Japan, on hydrogen fueling opportunities.

“We are convinced that this agreement will be a valuable first step for Japan as it heads toward the realization of hydrogen society, as well as for Air Products and NSPE. The Japanese government has been planning to install 100 hydrogen fueling stations by 2015, and also 1,000 by 2025 in the country, aiming at the dissemination of FCVs. We are greatly pleased that the combination of NSPE’s technologies and experiences accumulated in the natural gas and LNG sector over many years, and Air Products’ unique advanced hydrogen fueling technology will enable us to significantly contribute to the implementation of those targets,” said Takashi Takeuchi, managing director – Marketing and Business Development.

As part of the final agreement to be formalized, Air Products will provide SmartFuel® hydrogen fueling station technology and the fueling protocol license, infrastructure engineering and design, while NSPE will provide engineering, construction, and adapt the technology for the Japanese market. NSPE and Air Products Japan will jointly work with customers in the automotive fueling market.

Air Products’ SmartFuel® hydrogen fueling stations provide hydrogen fueling at 700 bar (10,000 psi) and include Air Products’ patented technology to practice the SAE J2601 fueling protocol. Air Products has available several SmartFuel® fueling station concepts incorporating modular and expandable technology and holds an entire portfolio of global patents, with additional patents pending related to “compressionless hydrogen fueling station” advancements. Details on Air Products’ hydrogen fueling station technologies can be viewed at www.airproducts.com/h2energy.

Air Products, the leading global supplier of hydrogen to refineries to assist in producing cleaner burning transportation fuels, has vast experience in the hydrogen fueling industry. In fact, several sites today for certain hydrogen fueling applications are fueling at rates of over 75,000 refills per year. Use of the company’s fueling technology is increasing and is over 850,000 hydrogen fills per year. The company has been involved in over 160 hydrogen fueling projects in the United States and 20 countries worldwide. Cars, trucks, vans, buses, scooters, forklifts, locomotives, planes, cell towers, material handling equipment, and even submarines have been fueled with trend-setting Air Products’ technologies.

Air Products has more than 50 years of hydrogen experience and an extensive patent portfolio in hydrogen dispensing technology. Air Products provides liquid and gaseous hydrogen and a variety of enabling devices and protocols for fuel dispensing at varied pressures. Hydrogen for these stations can be delivered to a site via truck or pipeline, produced by natural gas reformation, biomass conversion, or by electrolysis, including electrolysis that is solar and wind driven.

About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) provides atmospheric, process and specialty gases; performance materials; equipment; and technology. For over 70 years, the company has enabled customers to become more productive, energy efficient and sustainable. Recognized as one of the world’s most innovative companies by both Thomson Reuters and Forbes magazine, more than 21,000 employees in over 50 countries supply effective solutions to the energy, environment and emerging markets. These include semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, coal gasification, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. In fiscal 2013, Air Products had sales of $10.2 billion. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN Pipeline & Engineering Co. Ltd. (NSPE)
NSPE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINNERING CO., LTD., which is a segment company of NIPPON STEEL &SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION (NSSMC), has been engaged in the engineering business for energy related plants such as various types of pipelines, natural gas and LNG. NSSMC Group has an experience in the construction of hydrogen stations for the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan. NSPE has been involved in the construction of the major natural gas transmission pipelines in Japan for over 50 years, and also, provided plants such as LNG shipping and receiving facilities.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.airproducts.com

MOLINE, Illinois – Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its irrigation operations to FIMI Opportunity Funds, the leading private equity firm in Israel.

After being involved in the production of irrigation products for seven years, Deere announced in September its intention to seek strategic options for the irrigation operations known as John Deere Water.

Closing is expected in the second quarter of the 2014 calendar year. Terms of the sale are not being made public. BofA Merrill Lynch served as the exclusive financial advisor to Deere for the strategic review.

While Deere is exiting the John Deere Water operations, the company noted that as a part of its John Deere FarmSight™ strategy, it will continue to develop and offer products and services to help customers improve the overall performance of their farming operations, including the current in-field moisture and climate sensing technology, John Deere Field Connect.

John Deere Water is one of the world’s largest full-line drip irrigation manufacturers with significant distribution in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

FIMI Opportunity Fund is Israel’s largest and leading private equity fund, with more than US$ 2.0 billion in invested capital. Over the past 17 years, FIMI has completed 73 investments, of which it has realized 45. FIMI is currently investing through its fifth fund which focuses on investing in selected mature Israeli or Israeli-related companies with strong growth potential and a global footprint. FIMI has vast experience in growing and improving operational companies with a global footprint through focused business development activities and operational excellence. For more information, visit FIMI at www.fimi.co.il.

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land, providing advanced products and services to cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.johndeere.com

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. GE (NYSE: GE) today announced the opening of its Global Wind Turbine Drivetrain Repair Innovation Lab at the site of GE’s Power Generation Repair Technology Center in Albany, N.Y. The center marks an investment in GE’s presence in the Capital Region and expansion of the local renewable energy team’s facilities.

The facility is equipped with advanced technologies to support fast development and innovation for repairs to the wind turbine’s gearbox and rotor, creating a lab environment to simulate and solve problems that previously had to be worked on more than 100 meters in the air and at remote sites.

Technical capabilities of the Innovation Lab include:
Rapid prototyping tools such as 3D printers and computer numerical control machines.
Robotic welding and advanced machining tools.
Repair of various gearbox models.
Turbine generator repair.
Andy Holt, general manager of global wind projects and services, said: “This is the first facility of its kind dedicated to developing repair technologies and capabilities that reduce the life cycle cost of wind turbines. Albany was an ideal location for the facility with its close proximity to GE’s renewable energy headquarters, the GE Energy Learning Center as well as the existing Repair Technologies Center. It is uniquely positioned for collaboration with the field, design engineering, training and product service teams.”

The Innovation Lab aligns GE with customer needs by helping reduce maintenance and operating costs. GE engineers will have the space and resources to rapidly prototype and develop new technologies to apply to field service repairs. The team will focus on innovative approaches while fully vetting tooling and processes, keeping in mind safety, cost and the ability to address multi-unit configurations. With proximity to GE’s renewable energy headquarters in Schenectady, the team at the Innovation Lab also will work closely with product engineering to improve serviceability.

GE has a long-standing presence in New York and is committed to its continued investment and growth across the state. Currently, GE has nearly 9,000 employees in New York, including more than 7,000 in the Capital Region. GE Power & Water announced the opening of the renewable energy headquarters in Schenectady, in February 2010, which marked a $45 million investment and more than 650 new jobs created. Over the last four years, GE has invested more than $400 million in the Capital Region including the opening of the GE Energy Storage Durathon battery manufacturing plant in Schenectady, GE Healthcare Digital X-Ray Detector Manufacturing Facility in Troy, and expansion and relocation of GE’s Licensing business in Albany.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

About GE Power & Water

GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.ge.com

BALTIMORE, – To advance the availability of alternative energy solutions, Lockheed Martin announced today that it has signed a contract with Victorian Wave Partners Ltd. to begin developing the world’s largest wave energy project announced to date. This is a significant step toward making ocean energy commercially available.

The 62.5-megawatt peak power wave energy generation project will be built off the coast of Victoria, Australia, using the PowerBuoy® wave energy converter technology of Ocean Power Technologies (OPT). The project is scheduled to be built up in three stages, with the first stage producing approximately 2.5-megawatt peak power. Once completed, the project is expected to produce enough energy to meet the needs of 10,000 homes. As this project also contributes to Australia’s goal of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020, it has received significant grant support from ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency).

Wave power devices extract energy from the surface motion of ocean waves. Unlike wind and solar sources, energy from ocean waves is very predictable and can generate electricity for more hours in the year than wind and solar. In addition, wave power devices are typically quieter and much less visually obtrusive as compared to wind turbines, which typically run more than 130 feet in height. In contrast, a PowerBuoy is only 30 feet in height above the waterline and is barely visible, as it is typically three miles offshore.

“We are applying our design and system integration expertise to commercialize promising, emerging alternative energy technologies, including ocean power,” said Tim Fuhr, director of ocean energy for Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business. “This project extends our established relationship with OPT and Australian industry and enables us to demonstrate a clean, efficient energy source for Australia and the world.”
In this project, Lockheed Martin will provide overall project management, assist with the design for manufacturing of the PowerBuoy technology, lead the production of selected PowerBuoy components and perform system integration of the wave energy converters.“We are pleased to be working with Lockheed Martin in connection with this exciting project in Australia,” said Charles F. Dunleavy, chief executive officer of OPT. “Development of this project draws on core strengths of both our companies and represents an important undertaking for commercialization of the PowerBuoy technology.”

Victorian Wave Partners Ltd. is an Australian special purpose company owned by Ocean Power Technologies Australasia Pty Ltd. OPT is a leader in wave energy technology development. The company’s PowerBuoy wave generation technology uses a “smart,” ocean-going buoy to convert wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity. The buoy moves up and down with the rising and falling of waves. This mechanical energy drives an electrical generator, which transmits power to shore via an underwater cable. The system is electrically tuned on a wave-by-wave basis to maximize the amount of electricity produced.

Lockheed Martin takes a comprehensive approach to solving global energy and climate challenges, delivering solutions in the areas of energy efficiency, smart energy management, alternative power generation and climate monitoring. The company brings high-level capabilities in complex systems integration, project management, information technology, cyber security, and advanced manufacturing techniques to help address these challenges. Today, Lockheed Martin is partnering with customers and investing talent in clean, secure, and smart energy – enabling global security, a strong economic future, and climate protection for future generations.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 115,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.lockheedmartin.com

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. EDP Renewables (EDPR) will use GE’s (NYSE: GE) Wind PowerUp*, a GE Predictivity solution, to increase the power output of 402 GE 1.5-77 wind turbines located at five U.S. wind farms. PowerUp is a customized software-enabled platform that increases a wind farm’s output.

By using PowerUp, EDPR is expected to increase power, generating more than 420,000 megawatt hours of additional energy each year, which would provide the equivalent power used by 33,000 average U.S. homes. The contract model between GE and EDPR is structured to minimize risk while enabling new technologies to be quickly added to the EDPR fleet as they are developed in the coming years.

“GE’s PowerUp software will allow us to improve the power curve and increase the annual energy production of these 402 wind turbines. At EDPR we like to be a leader in innovation and explore creative ways to make the most of our units and collaborating with GE has been a win-win for us,” said Brian Hayes, executive vice president, EDP Renewables.

“GE’s PowerUp platform allows EDPR to realize almost immediate benefits to their bottom line input today and also allows us to incorporate new PowerUp technologies as they are developed. PowerUp will help EDP Renewables generate a higher power output and return on investment,” said Andy Holt, general manager of GE’s renewable energy projects and services organization.

The wind farms that will be installing PowerUp are Blue Canyon V wind farm in Oklahoma, the Meadow Lake III wind farm in Indiana and the Top Crop I, Top Crop II and Railsplitter wind farms in Illinois. When PowerUp is activated, a GE software program performs a complete before and after wind farm power performance analysis, validating the performance improvement. By adjusting performance dials, including speed, torque, pitch, aerodynamics and turbine controls, PowerUp is able to improve the power output of each unit and the overall wind farm.

PowerUp is part of GE’s brilliant wind platform, which harnesses the power of the Industrial Internet to analyze tens of thousands of data points on a wind farm every second, driving higher power output and creating new revenue streams for customers. It is an ecomagination qualified product.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.genewsroom.com

FLORENCE -GE Oil & Gas (NYSE: GE) today announced it has received a contract to provide a turnkey turbomachinery solution to Petrofac Emirates for the Upper Zakum UZ750 field in Abu Dhabi, developed by ZADCO (Zakum Development Company).

The turbomachinery equipment will be delivered in the form of massive, standalone, plug-and-play “modules,” which will ship intact from GE’s advanced construction facility in Avenza, Italy, to an artificial island located 50 miles offshore of Abu Dhabi. Each module will weigh more than 1,500 tons and be 44 meters long, 20 meters wide and 24 meters high. These six “mega structures” will serve as the housing in which a turbogenerator train is located that will provide electric power to ZADCO’s oil production facilities, including pumps and gas compressors, also on the island.

The advanced module design was most recently deployed during the construction of five massive systems developed for Australia’s Gorgon field, one of the largest and most complex gas fields in the world. Like those made for Gorgon, these modules will be assembled, commissioned and tested ahead of shipment to the Emirates so that once they arrive on location they can be simply and quickly installed and ready for operation. The module design and enhanced testing is advantageous to customers as it reduces the total footprint of operations as well as reduces the amount of time between equipment delivery and startup of operation, minimizing execution risks at site.

The modules, which integrate core equipment with all relevant auxiliary systems in an engineered solution, are delivered to the customer fully connected and wired. These six power generation modules, in turn, each feature a 43-megawatt, rugged and reliable GE 6B gas turbine and electric generators that are fully engineered, equipped, packaged and tested. World-class reliability and availability make the 6B gas turbine a popular choice for industrial and oil and gas customers seeking cost-effective, highly reliable power. More than 1,200 6B gas turbines are installed worldwide, with 65 million operating hours in a wide range of applications.

“Whether it’s GE’s unique expertise in the development of these massive plug-and-play modules, our advanced LNG technologies or our work in subsea fields, GE is actively supporting some of the world’s largest natural gas projects,” said Rafael Santana, CEO and president, Turbomachinery Solutions for GE Oil & Gas. “This latest contract marks a critically important achievement for our industrial modules Power Generation business by showcasing how advanced plug-and-play solutions are solving some of the world’s most complex energy challenges in remote locations. The new work also underscores our commitment to investing in our advanced Module Construction Yard located in Avenza, Italy—the same yard where the Gorgon modules were born and built.”

To support the ZADCO project, GE is expanding the Avenza yard by adding more assembly and testing capabilities. When this more than $12 million investment is completed at the end of 2014, the GE Module Construction Yard will cover 140,000 square meters—having grown by almost four times its original 40,000-sqm size in 2011. The finished yard will have enough platform foundations to assemble 10 modules at the same time, underscoring GE’s commitment to providing industrial module solutions for the oil and gas industry.

The contract award is between GE and Petrofac Emirates, the EPC contractor selected by ZADCO for the Upper Zakum UZ750 field development in Abu Dhabi. ZADCO is an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company subsidiary in which ExxonMobil and Japan Oil Development Company also are shareholders.

“Since 1985, we have designed, constructed and delivered more than 40 modules and pre-assembled units of various sizes to customers around the world,” said Davide Iannucci, Turbomachinery Solutions Project Operations general manager. “To accomplish this—and to create modular units of this large size—we have invested significant resources in the research, development and engineering of these solutions. The result is increased efficiency and reliability for our turnkey solutions, whether it’s for small projects or ones involving immense scale such as ZADCO’s.”

The assembly of the ZADCO modules in Avenza (Italy) will start at the end of 2014 and will be completed in approximately 2.5 years. The modules will be shipped to Abu Dhabi in 2016.

GE’s Turbomachinery Module Solutions provide an integrated engineering approach at the system level, maximized prefabrication activities that enable reduced on-site installation, construction and testing requirements, commissioning and start-up services.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.ge.com

WASHINGTON – As part of the Energy Department’s efforts to develop efficiency standards that cut carbon pollution and save money by saving energy, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz today announced that the Department has finalized new energy efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures, which are used in lighting for big box stores and parking lots. Over 30 years, these standards will help reduce harmful carbon pollution by up to 28 million metric tons – equivalent to the annual electricity use of 3.9 million homes – and save consumers more than $1.1 billion on their energy bills. These standards support President Obama’s call to cut energy waste, save families money on their utilities bills and help reduce pollution, as outlined in the State of the Union address this week.

“By working with industry and efficiency groups, we are developing appliance standards that are saving billions of dollars while helping to fight carbon pollution,” said Secretary Moniz. “Building on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department continues to make good progress to help communities and businesses save on their utility bills and build a more sustainable energy future.”

Under the Obama Administration, the Energy Department has finalized new efficiency standards for more than 30 household and commercial products, including dishwashers, refrigerators and water heaters, which are estimated to save consumers more than $400 billion and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1.8 billion metric tons through 2030.

To build on this success, the Administration has set a new goal: Efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings set in the first and second terms combined will reduce carbon pollution by at least 3 billion metric tons cumulatively by 2030 – equivalent to nearly one-half of the carbon pollution from the entire U.S. energy sector for one year – while continuing to cut families’ energy bills.

Metal halide lamp fixtures include the ballast which starts and regulates the electrical current for these lighting systems. They are commonly used for parking lots and streets, flood lighting, athletic facilities, big-box stores and warehouses. On average, one metal halide lamp fixture consumes about 2,210 kilowatt hours of energy per year.

The efficiency standards established today will update the 2007 standards for metal halide lamp fixtures. These standards incorporate feedback from industry, consumer and environmental advocacy groups and other stakeholders and will go into effect three years after publication in the Federal Register.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.energy.gov

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — (NYSE:GE) — San Diego announced today that it will illuminate its downtown district with GE Lighting’s intelligent lighting system, including LED street lighting, making it the first city in the United States to adopt GE’s LightGrid™ technology. The new system, set to be in place by spring of this year, will offer improved and energy-efficient lighting that will save the city more than a quarter-million dollars in energy costs each year.

Highlights of the project include:

System installation began earlier this month; completed by spring 2014
Energy savings to San Diego estimated at $254,000 annually
Full implementation of project to replace 3,000 city lamps
Innovative technology with GPS location features, allowing for an accurate measurement of energy usage by individual street light
Custom engineered decorative street lights that embed the wireless controls technology to retain their historic appearance
The new system will not only enhance the city’s street lighting but will also revolutionize urban lighting systems with technology that self-commissions to the LightGrid network and provides accurate energy metering per light pole, allowing municipalities to pay for the energy they actually use.

Todd Gloria, interim mayor, City of San Diego, said, “Light controls are going to be a game changer for the city of San Diego. This innovation will provide us with real-time data on lights that are malfunctioning or not working at all, so communities can feel safe with improved lighting while the historic look of the lights is preserved.”

Maryrose Sylvester, president and CEO, GE Lighting, said, “We are extremely proud of the many benefits that our LED and LightGrid technology will have on San Diego and cities throughout the world. San Diego’s installation introduces a technology that provides significant energy savings. Once installed, the technology will allow the city to shine smarter. We’re looking forward to seeing this technology benefit San Diego and other cities across the globe.”

Lorie Cosio-Azar, project officer, City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, said, “The city of San Diego chose to move to LED street lighting largely because it allows for customizable brightness. It provides a beautiful quality of illumination, and we know that it will enhance the downtown district, creating a more pleasing environment for residents, business owners and the customers who spend time there shopping, dining and just enjoying the charm of the neighborhood.”

This Press Release is courtesy of www.genewscenter.com

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant to the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), the largest power distribution utility in the Philippines, to modernize its distribution systems and develop a smart grid design. The feasibility study will include a pilot project for a demand response system, allowing MERALCO to balance the grid by integrating control systems and communications infrastructure into its network.

These upgrades will ultimately reduce energy losses and manage system peak demand, while optimizing MERALCO’s sub-transmission and distribution network in and around Metro Manila, which serves 5.2 million customers. “USTDA is pleased to support the development of clean energy projects with our partners at MERALCO as they continue to improve their electric system for their growing customer base,” said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. “As the Philippine economy continues to expand, this agreement will lay the foundation for advanced smart grid technology, improved infrastructure in MERALCO’s large service territory, and greater access to reliable and affordable electric power. We believe it will enhance cooperation between U.S. industry, MERALCO and the Philippines, and help open new areas of business for specialized U.S. smart grid companies.”

Mr. Ricardo V. Buencamino, MERALCO’s Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, noted, “The USTDA grant is very timely, as a demand response system will allow us to actively manage our system demand, especially during periods of tight supply conditions similar to what we have experienced very recently.” This project demonstrates USTDA’s commitment to the U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Energy Partnership (USACEP), which President Obama launched during the 2012 East Asia Summit. USACEP supports greater U.S. business engagement in Asia’s clean energy development by stimulating infrastructure and grid improvements.

The opportunity for U.S. firms to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study for MERALCO will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities website. – See more at: http://www.ustda.gov/news/pressreleases/2014/SouthAsia/Philippines/PhilippinesSmartGrid_012214.asp#sthash.QI8tMh2R.dpuf

PEORIA, Ill. and SUNNYVALE, Calif. – As part of their ongoing commitment to transforming the way contractors view jobsite productivity and the way they manage their businesses, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), the world’s leading supplier of construction equipment, and Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), a global leader in technology solutions, today announced new agreements that will bring complete, technology-enabled construction jobsite solutions to the market.

Building on a partnership that spans nearly 20 years, the new agreements enhance both companies’ efforts to better serve global customers from project design through completion, with critical technologies and services focused on fleet management and site productivity across a contractor’s entire equipment fleet, regardless of brand.

“Caterpillar has worked with Trimble since 1996 to optimize site productivity through a revolutionary suite of grade control solutions, differentiated by industry-leading machine integration straight out of our manufacturing plants, mixed fleets’ aftermarket systems and through our world-class distribution network,” said Hans Haefeli, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Advanced Components and Systems Division.

Since 2008, Caterpillar and Trimble have expanded their collaboration to bring both fleet management and site productivity solutions to the customer’s office and jobsite through the VisionLink® suite of applications. With today’s new agreements, the companies are further investing in their combined commitment to develop these products, expand the range of productivity applications and services, and bring a comprehensive unified fleet solution to the contractor. For Caterpillar, the strategic partnership with Trimble provides a site level, unified fleet focus to the Cat® Connect portfolio of products and services. Cat Connect leverages connectivity to more than 250,000 Cat machines globally. These machines can be monitored by customers to improve their fuel consumption, maintenance, productivity and overall fleet availability.

The latest agreements will strengthen Caterpillar’s already world-class distribution capability and enhance collaboration with Trimble’s SITECH® Technology Dealers, the only global distribution network dedicated to providing a comprehensive construction technology portfolio to the heavy and civil contractor.

“The agreements demonstrate both companies’ commitment to providing a brand agnostic information solution to contractors with mixed equipment fleets,” said Bryn Fosburgh, vice president responsible for Trimble’s construction technology divisions. “This unified fleet solution is enabled by VisionLink, which integrates a wide range of site and machine information elements to give customers a holistic view of their site. It’s a powerful tool that unlocks new levels of productivity and improves operation efficiency.”

Both companies look forward to building upon their successful agreements and continuing to deliver proven mixed fleet machine monitoring from the four corners of the jobsite to the four corners of the world for global fleet decisions made in real time.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.caterpillar.com

LACONIA, NH – GE today announced it is partnering with Aavid Thermalloy, a world leader in thermal technologies, to commercialize GE’s patented Dual Piezoelectric Cooling Jets (DCJ) technology – click here for a video demonstration of DCJ – . Aavid provides advanced cooling solutions to a wide range of end markets, from consumer electronics and high-end computing to industrial systems, transportation and renewable energy.

As part of the agreement, GE will work closely with Aavid to bring DCJ-based products to market. GE’s broad array of industrial businesses requires highly advanced and reliable electronics that are increasingly driving the need for advanced cooling solutions to enable system performance.

DCJ, developed at GE Global Research, is a thin air moving-device that can operate in a space as little as 2mm high to improve the thermal performance of many active and passively cooled electronic systems today. DCJ requires less space, less energy and offers higher reliability compared to conventional thermal solutions in the market today.

”We’re excited to add GE’s DCJ technology to our product portfolio,” said Norm Soucy, Vice President and General Manager, Aavid Thermalloy. “We’ve long been a key supplier to GE and are excited to have this opportunity to collaborate with them on developing advanced technologies. The addition of DCJ to our designer’s toolkit will allow us to create new and innovative solutions across our entire customer base.”

“We believe that GE’s DCJ technology has the potential to enable highly effective air cooling in a broad range of challenging applications including very thin form factors and rugged environments” said Sukhvinder Kang, Chief Technology Officer, Aavid Thermalloy. “This technology will help our customers imagine and bring to market innovative and powerful electronics products that would otherwise be almost impossible to consider.”

“We’re impressed with how quickly Aavid has been able to bring up their manufacturing line and excited to see DCJ show up in real products in 2014,” said Chris Giovanniello, Vice President, Business Development, GE Technology Licensing. “Aavid’s size, global reach, and extensive network of designers will help us accelerate the adoption of this technology to markets all over the world.”

This Press Release is courtesy www.GE.com

Orion’s first mission, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, is less than a year away now, and the team building the spacecraft is meeting milestones left and right as they prepare the vehicle for its debut.

The Orion crew module that will fly 3,600 miles above Earth on the spacecraft’s first mission is continuing to come together inside the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Since the heat shield that will protect it from temperatures near 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit was delivered to Kennedy in early December, the Orion team has been preparing it for installation. They’ve placed it on a work stand and begun drilling the holes necessary to attach it to the module. The heat shield is scheduled be put in place in the spring.

Once the heat shield has done its job getting Orion through the Earth’s atmosphere after its two orbits around Earth, it will be up to the parachutes to do the heavy lifting, literally. A total of 11 parachutes will be used for various landing functions, but three main parachutes that together could almost cover a football field ultimately will slow Orion’s descent down to less than 20 miles per hour for the finale: a relatively gentle splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The three main parachutes that will be used for EFT-1 were installed on the vehicle this month. A crane lowered each of the 300-pound main parachutes into place near the top of the capsule, and technicians in clean suits fit them into their compartments. They’ll be deployed using three smaller pilot parachutes that pull them out after the preceding drogue parachutes have done the initial work of slowing the vehicle down.

While those activities are preparing the spacecraft in Florida, the rockets that will launch Orion into space are nearing completion in Decatur, Ala., home of United Launch Alliance’s final assembly facility. The core, port and starboard boosters of the Delta IV heavy lift rocket that will be used for EFT-1 are all final assembly, with the starboard section leading the charge. It’s currently in final acceptance testing, while the RS-68 engine was recently installed on the core booster, and the propulsion and wire harness assemblies are being integrated into the port booster.

The rocket is scheduled to be completed and shipped to Florida in the spring. With all this activity wrapping up 12 months of arrivals, installations and tests, 2013 has been a good year for the Orion Program. In fact, the only thing that could top it would be 2014 and the launch of EFT-1.

This Press Release is courtesy of NASA

Underscoring President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to cut harmful emissions and double energy efficiency, the Energy Department is taking action to develop the next generation of combined heat and power (CHP) technology and help local communities and businesses make cost-effective investments that save money and energy. As part of this effort, the Department launched today seven new regional Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships across the country to help strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, lower energy consumption and reduce harmful emissions.

Last year, President Obama established a new national goal of 40 gigawatts of new CHP capacity by 2020 – a 50 percent increase from today. Meeting this goal would help American manufacturers and companies save as much as $100 billion in energy costs over the next decade and reduce emissions equivalent to taking 25 million cars off the road. View an Energy Department infographic on how CHP technology works and its environmental and economic benefits.

Launching Seven New CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships

Since 2003, the Energy Department has supported a set of regional centers to help organizations understand how CHP can improve their bottom lines and lower energy bills.

Today, the Department is launching seven regional CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships – the next generation of these centers – to help further grow America’s CHP market for commercial, institutional and industrial businesses, state agencies, utilities and trade associations. Located in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington state, these organizations will offer best practices for CHP project financing, management and state policies, market analysis tools and resources, and technical site evaluations.

Find more information on how the CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships are helping U.S. businesses and communities get the information they need to make smart, cost-effective investment decisions.

Strengthening Infrastructure Reliability and Resilience

Combined heat and power technologies can also help make our nation’s infrastructure smarter, stronger and better equipped to maintain power against increasingly severe weather events. During and after Hurricane Sandy, CHP helped hospitals, fire stations and multifamily housing in New York and New Jersey continue their operations when the electric grid went down.

The Energy Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a guide to help state and local officials determine if CHP is a good option for Sandy rebuilding efforts. The guide includes practical information on financial, site and technical decision-making as well as how to operate and maintain these systems.

The Energy Department is also helping critical facilities across the country invest in CHP – providing affordable, reliable power and heat and ensuring that life-saving operations keep running. For example, in 2010, Thermal Energy Corporation installed a new high-efficiency 48 megawatt CHP system to power and heat the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital and 16 other institutions at the Texas Medical Center. The Energy Department invested about $10 million in this project, matched by $62 million in private funding. Last year, the Midwest Clean Energy Application Center helped Gundersen Health system complete installation of a CHP system at its medical campus in Onalaska, Wisconsin – completely offsetting its electricity and steam needs and saving about $100,000 each year.

Developing Innovation CHP Technologies

In addition to technical assistance efforts, the Energy Department is supporting research, development and demonstration projects to help grow the CHP market, including finding CHP solutions that fit small- and medium-sized facilities and accelerating new product commercialization.

Industries with high and continuous demand for both electrical and thermal energy – such as food processing, paper manufacturing and metals production – are well suited for CHP installations but often face market and technical barriers to deployment. With that in mind, the Department is supporting demonstration projects to test how these systems impact plants’ operations and energy use and help identify financing and maintenance best practices. For instance, the Department partnered with Frito-Lay to install and test a CHP system at its Killingly, Conn.-based food processing facility. In addition to providing reliable, efficient power, the gas-fired system reuses excess heat to warm Frito-Lay’s chip fryer oil – cutting costs and reduce harmful air pollution.

The Department is also supporting new CHP technologies that are cleaner, more efficient and can use a variety of fuel sources. The Gas Technology Institute is developing a new CHP burner technology that cuts greenhouse gas emissions while improving overall system efficiency. Capstone Turbine Corporation is designing a combined 65 kilowatt CHP system and biomass gasifier that can use stalks, grass and other material to generate gas and power a turbine. Capstone is also developing a 370 kilowatt CHP system that can save about 44 percent more energy over a traditional system while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 percent.
Courtesy Department of Energy

Scientists at the Chemicals and Science Fair in Sacramento, California have reported a discovery of new characteristics of hydrocarbons. This will go a long a long to reduce carbon emissions from petro-chemicals usage and impact the auto industry as well.

A consortium of engineers both from institutions and companies have collaborated on a project that could potentially reduce the consumption of gas and fuel oil.  This technology reduces significantly the rate which at which heating systems process the fuel they use whether it is gas or fuel oil.

A technology company based in California in the US has announced the debut of their latest surveillance equipment that will be cloud-based. This eliminates the potential for criminals to tamper with cameras that are usually installed on premises to record activities in the outside perimeter.