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GE HONORS PROGRESS ENERGY PLANT AS HAVING TOP-GENERATING BOILING WATER REACTORS
08 April 2006 - AZDEL
| GE Energy's nuclear business has honored Progress Energy's nuclear power plants in Brunswick, N.C. as two of the world's top sustained generation boiling water reactors. |
"One only needs to look at the performance of plants like Brunswick to see nuclear power must take a larger role in the nation's energy portfolio as global demands for power and a cleaner atmosphere both continue to grow," said GE's White.
This is the 34th year GE has recognized the world's top BWR facilities. To make the honor roll, a plant's sustained generation must be in the top quartile of the world's 89 eligible BWR plants. The two Brunswick units were two of 22 BWR units GE recognized.
A plant's capacity factor represents the amount of power generated in a given year versus its theoretical maximum output for the year (expressed as a percentage). In 2003, the two Brunswick units each had higher ratings than the industry's average of 89.6%, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Brunswick's reactor Unit 1 completed a three-year, 100 MW power uprate, to achieve a 20% uprate from its original thermal power. A similar uprate is underway for Unit 2, which had a 92.26% capacity factor in 2003 despite a refueling outage. GE, Brunswick's original equipment manufacturer, is providing equipment and other services for the power uprate projects in addition to fuel engineering services and licensing support.
"Progress Energy's successful efforts to maximize and sustain Brunswick's power output is an industry model, as the facility is the first BWR unit in the country to achieve the historic 20% uprate of its original power," White said.
In all, Brunswick generated 15,143,009-megawatt hours of electricity in 2003, a new record for the 29-year-old plant. To further underscore Brunswick's performance, in 2002 Unit 1 finished a continuous 707-day run, the world's longest sustained operation by any light water reactor facility between refueling outages.
The two Brunswick units and the nation's 101 other operating nuclear power plants currently generate 20% of the nation's energy supply.
GE's nuclear business, headquartered in Wilmington, N.C., develops advanced light water reactors and provides a wide array of technology-based products and services to help owners of both boiling and pressurized water reactors safely operate their facilities with greater efficiency and output.
http://www.ge.com
About: AZDEL
AZDEL, Inc. is a joint venture of GE Advanced Materials and PPG Industries. The AZDEL business was established in 1972 by PPG, and the 50/50 joint venture was set up with GE in 1986. AZDEL is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of high-performance composite materials serving a wide variety of markets and industries including automotive, transportation interiors, large truck, materials handling, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and building and construction. * AZDEL and VolcaLite are trademarks of AZDEL, Inc., a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric Company and PPG Industries. |
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