China eyes new gas turbine to promote distributed power

A Shanghai-based joint venture owned by Chinese and American power giants launched its first aeroderivative gas turbine on Friday, marking a significant step in core device manufacturing for China's distributed energy industry.

Derived from aircraft engines, the LM6000PF gas turbine burns natural gas to create energy and will be used in an industrial park in north China's Tianjin Municipality to supply electricity and heat power.

It was produced by Huadian GE Light Gas Turbine Equipment Co., a company set up by China's power giant China Huadian Corporation and U.S. conglomerate General Electric in 2011.

The turbine is the core part of the distributed energy system, which generates power in small facilities near where the power is needed, improving efficiency and reducing the reliance on long-distance electricity transmission.

The system also boasts much lower gas exhaust compared with traditional coal power, a boon to the country's battle against air pollution.

Deng Jianling, executive of Huadian, says the turbine is a technical breakthrough in China's distributed energy sector, the development of which was persistently restrained by the lack of core technology.

"It will have a promising outlook," he said.

The LM6000PF has output capacity of 50,000 kW with efficiency at 52 percent, data from Huadian said.