GE Power (NYSE: GE) was recently chosen by ANDRITZ and Dongfang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. to provide electrical solutions for the Fengning pumped-storage hydroelectric plant located in the Hebei Province in China. Once completed, the hydroelectric plant will be the world's largest pumped-storage power station, with an installed capacity of 3.6 gigawatts (GW) and an annual power generation anticipated to be 3.4 terawatt hours.

Participating in Phase 2 of the project, which will facilitate an addition of 1.8 GW of power generation capacity, GE's Power Conversion business will provide the variable speed technology-constituting two variable speed MV7000 converters for two 300-megawatt generators provided by ANDRITZ, as well as one static frequency converter for the rest of the four generators provided by Dongfang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.

The Fengning hydro project is the first order in China to incorporate variable speed technology. Variable speed drive technology provides a full range of speed that is the best performing and most economical to pump water to the upper reservoir-when in the saving mode-or to release water to a lower reservoir to generate power. The more flexible system provides not only more efficiency, but also can help stabilize the grid during the Winter Olympics when the demand for electricity will be significantly higher than usual.

"We have worked on various hydro projects in partnership with GE. Delivering this landmark project in China is another key achievement along our journey together to build more reliable and efficient clean hydro power," said Peter Amler, Electrical Power Systems Vice President, ANDRITZ Hydro.

"Our partnership with ANDRITZ Hydro and Dongfang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. is a great achievement, not only because it's for the world's largest hydro plant, but also because it marks the entrance of our variable speed pump technology in the Chinese market. We will bring more efficiency to hydro power production, which will help benefit the local community and support this world-class sporting event," said Gagon Sood, CEO of Industry, Power, Wind, GE's Power Conversion business.

"Such projects like the Fengning hydro plant keeps me passionate about our business. We are committed to using high technological solutions to address the world's energy challenges, and this landmark project is another milestone that demonstrates our capability to do just that," said Azeez Mohammed, president & CEO, GE's Power Conversion business.  

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