Alstom wins several contracts worth up to 1 billion euro contract for a GT26-based combined-cycle power plant in the Netherlands

Alstom signed with Dutch utility Essent a series of contracts worth up to 1 billion euro for the repowering of Claus B and the construction of Claus C, resulting in a 1,280 MW GT26-based combined-cycle power plant.

These contracts also include a long-term operation support and maintenance agreement. These orders should be booked in the second half of fiscal year 2008/09. The Claus power plant is located in Maasbracht, south east of the Netherlands.

Alstom will design and build Claus C next to the existing power plant and provide the main components, including three GT26 gas turbines along with TOPAIR turbogenerators, heat recovery steam generators, ALSPA distributed control system and the relevant auxiliary equipment.

Alstom will also retrofit the existing 640 MW steam turbine of Claus B and integrate it into the new combined cycle.

The replacement of the old gas fired boiler of Claus B by the three new GT26 gas turbines will increase the total output to 1,280 MW from the current 640 MW and reduce CO2 emissions by 40%. This repowering configuration will increase the efficiency of the plant from 39% now to above 58%, making it one of the most efficient combined-cycle power plants available today.

Philippe Joubert, Alstoms Executive Vice-President and President, Power Systems Sector, said: Alstom, as a plant integrator specialist will be providing Essent with a highly flexible plant in line with the stringent environmental regulations that are currently in place in the Netherlands. Retrofitting one of the existing units will further improve the overall efficiency, thereby reducing emissions.

Michiel Boersma, Chairman of the Essent N.V. Board, said about the cooperation with Alstom: I am happy that we reached agreement today and that we signed the contracts. I expect we will realise this project in good cooperation and inside the agreed terms, enabling us to further strengthen our relation as business partners."

This is the second combined cycle power plant that Alstom has been awarded in the Netherlands this year. In January 2008, it won an order with Dutch utility Electrabel Nederland, to build a 870 MW turnkey combined cycle power plant Flevocentrale - in Lelystad, located in the centre of the Netherlands. Alstom is a key player in the Dutch power generation market with 60% of electricity generated in the Netherlands produced by Alstom equipment.

Worldwide, 84 Alstom GT24/GT26 gas turbines are in commercial operation and the fleet has already accumulated over 2.7 million firing hours.

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