Chile-based power generator AES Gener has signed a multi-year agreement with GE Power Services to overhaul its steam turbine-generator fleet.
Under the agreement, GE will provide services and tools at four thermal-fired power plants to overhaul up to nine steam turbines and generators. They were each supplied by different original equipment manufacturers (OEM).
The Chilean company anticipates that this agreement will help the company address the nation’s electricity demands, which are increasing at about 3.5% annually.
AES Gener's chief executive officer Javier Giorgio said: “Given our need to keep reliable maintenance procedures for our thermal-fired power plants to help address the country’s energy demands, we selected GE because they have the expertise to service steam turbines and generators from different manufacturers and the proven local service facilities and labour resources required to successfully complete our projects.”
GE Power Services' Latin America general manager Ramon Paramio added: “While part of Chile’s additional generation capacity will come from increased renewable energy production, the nation’s utilities also are making significant investments to increase the output and efficiency of their existing thermal power stations to help meet the country’s growing demands for cleaner, more affordable electricity."
Work on the first of nine turbine-generator projects had already started in September this year.
