Since the introduction of Alstom's 'advanced-class' gas turbines in 1995-GT24 for the 60 Hz market and the GT26 for the 50 Hz market-more than 100 engines have been ignited in KA24/KA26 combined- cycle power plants (CCPP) constructed and built on a turnkey basis, a recent release from Alstom Power said. The GT24/ GT26 fleet now has accumulated over 3,650,000 fired operating hours with more than 64,000 starts under various operating conditions, be it base-load, intermediate, cycling or daily start-stop.

The KA24/KA26 products were launched in time to catch the "Dash for Gas" boom that was seen in both the 50 Hz and 60 Hz power markets in the second half of the 1990s. The first GT24 was fired in 1995 in the Gilbert power station in the US and the first GT26 in EnBW's RDK4 power plant in Germany in 1997.

The GT24/GT26 gas turbines were from the very outset designed to suit specifically the high performance combined-cycle/cogeneration markets. Its design features made the engine extremely well suited for high performance and low NOx emissions over a wide load range (down to 40 per cent CCPP load and below). Through this unique turn-down capability the KA24/KA26 power plants offer very high operational flexibility. This is particularly suitable for today's market in which increased power production by renewable sources require CCPP's to react quickly to meet the load demand when available wind or solar output is insufficient. In addition, the KA24/KA26 technology offers the lowest minimum- load operating point in the market, with the ability to park the entire CCPP 'on-line' at approximately 20% plant load, the release noted.

Throughout the last 10-15 years, Alstom has introduced various upgrades of the GT24/GT26 gas turbines in conjunction with the KA24/KA26 combined cycle product offerings, pushing the performanceoutput, efficiency and part-load capability-upwards, the emissions downwards and at the same time meeting the industry's reliability expectations. With the latest improvements of the gas turbines and the water-steam cycle, Alstom now offers the KA26 in an integrated cycle solution with 872 mw net combined cycle plant output with 59.1 per cent net plant efficiency at ISO conditions*. The Emsland and Langage power plants, in Germany and UK are examples. This is among the highest efficiency levels at base-load for a CCPP in this class, and a significant step for Alstom in the path to reach 60 per cent net plant efficiency with the existing engine platform.

Many new KA26 power plants will enter commercial operation in 2010 including Emsland in Germany, Combigolfe in France, Fujairah in the Middle East and Grain and Staythorpe in the UK. Commenting on reaching this milestone, Andreas Lusch, Senior Vice President, Thermal Systems, Alstom Power said, "Alstom's plant integration capability combined with excellent component performance and such accumulated experience will ensure competitive plants continue to be built by Alstom for the world market." Today, Alstom's KA24/KA26 technology powers over 44GW of electricity globally. The operational KA24/KA26 fleet continues to see high service factors, which is also an indicator of the technology's inherent flexibility and ability to adapt to the dynamic power market forces.