TEL AVIV -- Israel Electric Corp. (IEC), the largest generator and supplier of electricity in Israel, has awarded GE Power a contract for the Orot Rabin modernization project to GE, which will include an order for a 9HA.01 heavy duty gas turbine. GE has also been technology selected for a second 9HA gas turbine unit with a contract award expected by the end of 2019.
Located in Hadera, the IEC’s Orot Rabin project will utilize GE’s HA gas turbine technology as part of the conversion of the existing power station from coal to gas generation, and will be the first HA gas turbine in Israel. The order also includes the steam turbine, generator, HRSG, and balance of plant equipment-as well as a 15-year multi-year services agreement. When operational, the Orot Rabin power plant will provide more than 630 megawatts (MW) to the Israeli grid, becoming the largest and the most efficient gas power plant in the country and delivering up to four percent of Israel’s current total power generation capacity.
The award for the first unit will become an order for GE following contract closure and payment which is expected in June. The award for the second unit for the same site is forecasted by the end of 2019.
In addition to modernizing their generation assets, IEC is also focused on preparing their distribution grid for the future. They selected GE’s Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) - software that is engineered with adaptive algorithms and predictive analytics to help utilities operate the grid more efficiently and enable automation. Part of GE’s Digital Energy portfolio, the system will enable IEC operators to predict issues, identify the faults on the grid and propose a restoration plan in advance.
GE’s HA gas turbine fleet has surpassed more than 270,000 operating hours and has secured more than 85 orders from 35+ customers across more than 16 countries. Recently, GE announced an award in Taiwan and orders in the United Arab Emirates and North America for its HA gas turbine.