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• AB Orders 115 Type 3 and Type 4 Jenbacher Biogas Engines
• New Units to be Offered to Biogas Operators as Efficient Alternative to Servicing Existing Gas Engines
• AB Launches Repowering Service Initiative in Response to Slowing Development of New Biogas Projects
GE’s Distributed Power business today announced that AB, a globally leading combined heat and power and biogas project developer based in Italy, has purchased 115 of GE’s high-efficiency Jenbacher Type 3 and Type 4 biogas engines. AB will offer the units to agricultural sector customers as a cost-effective alternative to upgrading existing engines at their sites.
Following a 2012 boom in agricultural biogas projects driven by government incentives, industry demand for new biogas development began to slow down. In response to this industry development, the new engine order illustrates AB’s new service strategy to give agricultural customers a cost-effective new option to repower their existing biogas energy facilities.
“We purchased the 115 Jenbacher biogas engines from GE to provide an attractive and reliable service option to our customers in Italy during the minor overhauls for their installed gas engines,” said Angelo Baronchelli, AB’s president. “Instead of overhauling a customer’s installed engine on-site, potentially causing several costly days of downtime, we now have the ability to immediately provide an alternative solution to replace the existing engine with a new ‘premium long block’ powered by one our latest Jenbacher units.”
Time-saving engine replacement procedures are an attractive solution, helping customers reduce their downtimes and costs. High levels of plant reliability after such major service activities also provide additional economic benefits.
AB is offering the attractive replacement program for Jenbacher gas engines when they reach their recommended operating hours schedule for a minor overhaul. To save the customer time and money, AB offers on-site replacements with overhauled engines, including upfront delivery for engines that needs to be changed out. The customer receives an original Jenbacher engine that meets the latest technology standards and is aligned with the end user’s business needs. Meanwhile, the operator’s first engine will be overhauled at Orzinuovi and later will be returned to service during the next scheduled engine overhaul.
The long block option provides an extended scope of supply that is precisely adjusted to the customer’s requirements and contains a comprehensive engine test run at the Jenbacher test bench facilities. Benefits of this approach include technical upgrades and short delivery times.
Installing a Jenbacher J320 long block engine under the replacement program will allow AB to offer an agricultural biogas plant operator 2,000 additional operating hours of power production in downtime savings, an estimated 2,700 tons of biomass savings and approximately €600,000 in additional income over 15 years. Meanwhile, the new long block engine offering continues to improve local air quality by helping the operator reduce the need to flare off biogas during the overhaul.
AB ordered 115 of GE’s Jenbacher J312, J316, J320 and J416 gas engines. The engines will supply a combined 115-megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to AB’s customers.
“We are excited to deepen our relationship with AB by supporting their innovative way to continue developing cost-effective biogas projects throughout Italy in support of Europe’s efforts to expand renewable energy production,” said Margherita Adragna, general manager services for GE’s Distributed Power business. “Increasing the long-term reliability of existing biogas facilities throughout the region will play an important role in supporting the region’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.”
All of the 115 units will be delivered by GE’s Overhaul Technology Center for Jenbacher gas engines in Austria, where GE’s Distributed Power business also is headquartered.
The new order follows a multiyear agreement announced in 2011 between GE and AB for the Italian company to deploy Jenbacher engines for agricultural biogas projects throughout Europe. In all, AB now owns an estimated 1,100 Jenbacher engines that are being used for various on-site power projects.
About AB
Founded by Angelo Baronchelli in Orzinuovi (Brescia, Italy) in 1981, AB (gruppoab.com) operates in the fields of cogeneration and the promotion of renewable sources. Today AB is the global reference of cogeneration, thanks to its ECOMAX outdoor/indoor modular systems. As of today, over 1,100 plants equivalent to a total nominal electric power exceeding 1,300 MW have been installed. In recent years, production capacity has quadrupled and the number of employees has exceeded 600 units. AB is now present with subsidiaries all over Europe, Russia, Israel, Turkey, North America, Mexico and Brazil.
About GE’s Distributed Power business
GE’s Distributed Power business is a leading provider of engines, power equipment and services focused on power generation and gas compression at or near the point of use. Distributed Power offers a diverse product portfolio that includes highly efficient, fuel-flexible, industrial gas engines generating 200 kW to 10 MW each of power for numerous industries globally. In addition, the business provides life cycle support for more than 36,000 gas engines worldwide to help you meet your business challenges and success metrics anywhere and anytime. Backed by our authorized service providers in more than 170 countries, GE‘s global service network connects with you locally for rapid response to your service needs. GE’s Distributed Power business is headquartered in Jenbach, Austria.
About GE Power
GE Power (gepower.com) is a world leader in power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources. We are transforming the electricity industry with the digital power plant, the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbine, full balance of plant, upgrade and service solutions as well as our data-leveraging software. Our innovative technologies and digital offerings help make power more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable.
About GE
GE (ge.com) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry.
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