With the global population growing and reliance on technology continuing to expand at a rapid pace, world electricity demand is projected to increase by more than 2 percent per year over the next 20 years. Yet, aging and inefficient infrastructure is creating gaps between energy demands and supplies, with many electrical transmission and distribution networks facing challenges to deliver efficient, reliable flow of power where it’s needed most.
Answering the call for increased reliability and efficiency is GE’s Digital Energy business. Committed to the development and implementation of grid modernization, GE displayed a variety of its products and service capabilities at the 2014 IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference & Exposition last week. These solutions included the company’s new and upgraded high-voltage offerings and its transformative 3-D interactive power system tools.
Tthe company has expanded its transmission and distribution solution set over the past nine months with substantial investments in high-voltage technology offerings, providing customers with the flexibility needed to integrate renewables such as wind, solar, hydro and gas generation. In addition, GE has developed digital, hands-on displays and tools that transform how the industry learns, explores and interacts with critical power systems components. Featuring rich visuals and touch interaction, these 3-D tools help utility operators better understand their power systems, while also providing valuable insights around how various transmission and distribution line challenges can be addressed and mitigated.
Through these new technologies, customers can limit their risk of outages and reduce costs associated with electrical system downtimes and out-of-date equipment, minimizing utility losses and improving overall grid efficiency.
GE provides customers with more than high-tech solutions to help utilities modernize their grids. The company’s team equips customers with a “soup to nuts” offering, ensuring guidance before, during and after a solution is installed. The design capabilities of GE’s team recently played a major role in the development and delivery of a mobile fleet of backup power units—in the form of TM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbines—to the General Electricity Company of Libya. For the project, GE implemented its electrical balance of plant (EBoP) technology with the advanced capabilities of the gas turbines, enabling a rapid development and deployment of the units and bringing backup emergency power to the country to meet future demands.
