GE Power will supply the basic design of four conventional islands, supply four nuclear turbine generator sets, including the Arabelle half-speed steam turbines, and provide technical expertise for the on-site installation and commissioning, according to a statement from the company.
"GE Power's technology will support Egypt's energy plan to diversify and secure its energy supply and be a stable, reliable source of electricity for its growing demand," the company said.
Once in operation, El Dabaa will produce 4.8 gigawatts (GW) of carbon dioxide-free energy – enough to power up more than four million homes in Egypt, it added.
According to the statement, electricity demand in Egypt has increased rapidly as a result of its growing population and increasing industrial activity.
It is estimated that an additional 1.5 GW of new capacity will be needed each year, marking a six percent increase year-over-year until 2022.
"To support this increasing demand without blackouts, Egypt has an ambitious energy plan which includes diversifying its installed base," GE said. "El Dabaa nuclear power plant will help deliver on that plan by stabilizing the Egyptian grid with dependable, CO2 free energy and having a predictable low cost of electricity."
According to the statement, the Arabelle steam turbine has been in operation for the past 18 years and still holds the world power output record, producing 2 percent more power than traditional configurations.
Adaptable to all reactor types, Arabelle has a demonstrated reliability rate of 99.96 percent over more than 400,000 operating hours in France, it added.
According to the press release, GE Power has been supporting the development of Egypt's energy sector for more than 40 years including the delivery of up to 16 GW in capacity to the Egyptian grid.
Recently, GE Power completed building and connecting the Badr substation in Egypt to the national grid. The new 500/220 kilovolt (kV) Gas-Insulated Substation is expected to dispatch 1.5 GW of electricity and play a strategic role in the upcoming Egypt – Saudi Arabia Interconnection, linking the national grids of both countries with a 1,300-kilometer transmission line.
(Anadolu Agency)