GE Unveils world’s First Battery storage & Gas Turbine Hybrid with SCE

GE and longtime customer Southern California Edison (SCE) today announced a plan to install the world’s first battery storage and gas turbine hybrid. The two-project solution first calls for installation of a battery energy storage system from Current, powered by GE, followed by upgrades to a GE LM6000 gas turbine to integrate the two systems. The LM6000 Hybrid EGT, which is scheduled to be deployed at two SCE sites in the coming months, was developed in response to changing regulations and grid requirements in the wake of California’s Aliso Canyon energy crisis earlier this year and will ultimately support increasing renewable energy capacity on the California grid.

“GE’s new LM6000 Hybrid EGT product fits well with SCE’s objective of providing cost–effective, innovative solutions that enhance grid reliability, flexibility, and fast response for our customers,” said Phil Herrington, Vice President of Generation for Southern California Edison.

The solution, which will qualify for California’s Independent System Operator’s tariff for contingency reserve, answers a critical need for Southern California, where regulations on natural gas usage and storage are changing in the wake of the state’s Aliso Canyon energy crisis earlier this year. GE’s Power Services and Current businesses worked to develop the joint solution in a competitive offer in collaboration with Wellhead Power Solutions, LLC.

“This was truly a best-in-class joint effort by Southern California Edison, our partners at Wellhead Power Solutions, and multiple GE businesses to enhance our technology and add Current’s battery storage system to existing GE turbines,” said Eric Gebhardt, Chief Platforms & Operations Officer for Current, powered by GE. “As a team, we worked together to quickly provide a complete scope of the challenge and find a solution in a very short time frame. Now we can bring this same technology to other GE gas turbine customers around the world.”

The LM6000 Hybrid EGT product integrates a 10 MW battery energy storage system from Current and an existing GE LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine with control system upgrades provided by GE’s Power Services. The system will allow the turbine to operate in standby mode without using fuel and enable immediate response to changing energy dispatch needs. By eliminating the need to constantly run the turbines at minimum loads to maintain spinning reserves, the LM6000 Hybrid EGT will save fuel, reduce maintenance costs and cut down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“We are excited to launch this innovative hybrid solution to provide immediate power, increase the flexibility of our gas turbines, leverage new software controls solutions and increase customer competitiveness,” said Paul McElhinney, President and CEO of GE’s Power Services. “With our total plant solutions capabilities, we are able to help California increase its grid efficiency and help SCE deliver more affordable energy in a changing marketplace.”

The LM6000 Hybrid EGT offers ancillary and grid support at a lower cost and smaller GHG footprint than traditional resources, plus it can provide 50 MW of GHG-free spinning reserve, flexible capacity, and peaking energy; 25 MW of high-quality regulation; and 10 MVA of reactive voltage support and primary frequency response when not online.

The battery energy storage system is expected to be installed and operational by the end of 2016, and the updated and integrated turbine controls are scheduled to be operational in early 2017.

Image: GE’s hybrid LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine and battery storage system. Photo credit: GE