Atomenergomash, General Electric JV signs Akkuyu contract
29 November 2017
GE Steam Power Systems has announced the signing of a contract to deliver the main equipment of the conventional island for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Büyükeceli, Turkey. The contract has been awarded to AAEM Turbine technology LLC, the Saint Petersburg, Russia-headquartered joint venture between Atomenergomash JSC (AEM) and General Electric (GE).
GE Steam Power Systems will supply the four nuclear turbine generator sets including the Arabelle half-speed steam turbine, Gigatop 4-poles generator and condenser vacuum equipment.
Andreas Lusch, CEO of GE's Steam Power Systems said: "We are excited to work on this historic project in Turkey with our partner AEM. This new power plant will secure CO2 free energy for the country, benefiting from our tested and proven Arabelle nuclear steam turbine technology."
Andrey Nikipilov, CEO of AEM said: "Thanks to successful cooperation with GE, the very first nuclear power plant in Turkey will be provided with modern, efficient equipment meeting the highest requirements for reliability and safety."
GE steam turbine technology operates in half of the world's nuclear power plants with the ability to deliver more than 200 GWe in total, according to the company statement. Arabelle technology has been the largest turbine in operation for the past ten years, produces 2% more power output than a "traditional configuration" and has a measured 99.96% reliability rate, it added.
The first Akkuyu unit is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023, while each of the remaining units are expected to become operational every year by the end of 2026. The plant will be owned and operated by Akkuyu Nuclear AS, a joint venture led by Rusatom Energy International.
AEM and GE set up the joint venture in 2007 for the conventional islands of VVER nuclear plants.
Lusch told World Nuclear News by email that the Arabelle was the basis of its partnership with AAEM and together they are "delivering complete solutions" for conventional nuclear islands.
"The Arabelle provides the best performance in the market today and has an incredible track record of reliability. This provides real value to our customers," he said.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News