The first GE Frame 9FA gas turbine to be assembled in China under a technology transfer agreement with Harbin Power Equipment Company (HPEC) shipped on Friday, July 30, from HPEC's manufacturing facility in Qin Huang Dao, Heibei Province.

The gas turbine is the first of 13 GE F technology machines being supplied for China's Gas Turbine Power Plants Construction Project, a centerpiece of the country's efforts to meet its growing power requirements. All 13 gas turbines are scheduled to be shipped over the next 15 months and will add a total of 4.5 GW of power capacity to China's grid in the critical Shanghai region.

In consortium with Harbin, GE won a $900 million contract last year to become one of two major gas turbine suppliers for the construction program. To mark the shipment of the first gas turbine, GE held a ceremony at the HPEC facility attended by several Chinese officials including Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the National People's Congress and Zhang Guo Bao, Vice Minister of National Development and Reform Commission.

The Frame 9FA turbine is being shipped to Zhejiang Banshan Power Plant located in the Zhejiang Province. Through the joint efforts of GE and HPEC, the assembly and test facility was constructed in only 15 months, an operation that usually takes two years. The assembled Frame 9FA gas turbine was successfully first-fired on June 26 and completed full-speed, no-load testing on June 30.

"The successful assembly and delivery of the first 9FA gas turbine truly represents the partnership we are building with HPEC and China's rapidly growing energy industry," said John Rice, president and CEO of GE Energy. "It demonstrates our long-term commitment and our local capabilities to provide technology that will produce the reliable power needed to support China's continuing growth and progress."

Zhao Kefei, president of HPEC, said: "HPEC and its technology and engineering team are very pleased to work with GE to deliver this world-class product that has certainly created a significant milestone in China's energy industry. As one of the key players in the industry, we will continue to drive for excellence and provide greater benefits to our customers."

When completed later this year, the HPEC Qin Huang Dao facility also will include the GE-HEPC Energy Service Company, a joint venture formed in February to provide repair and field services for GE 9FA gas turbines in China.

Each 9FA combined-cycle system generates 380 MW of electricity. GE's F-class fleet includes more than 900 units in operation worldwide and has compiled more than ten million hours of commercial operation, positioning GE as an industry leader in advanced gas turbine technology experience.