The British gas turbine specialists, Centrax, have begun a number of new initiatives in their French operations that include the expansion of a geothermal plant in Versailles outside of Paris with the installation of a new turbine unit.
The Siemens CX 400 turbine was installed in Versailles and according to the company is “one of its highest-profile installations in recent years”. The turbine is a 12MW (megawatts) and meets 40% of the water demands for Versailles and produces electricity for sale to the French energy company EDF (Électricité de France).
The CX 400 is a high power industrial gas turbine with high efficiency (nominal 35% according to Centrax) and reasonable emissions performance. It has the most powerful and efficient output available, which is below the 12MW cap imposed on co-generation projects in France.
The changes in the plant are promised to enhance its overall efficiency and power, distributing renewable geothermal energy, which is harnessed from rocks beneath Paris basin.
The installation of the new turbine is the first of its kind since Centrax and Siemens launched their partnership in 2011, an agreement that allows Centrax to market the SGT-300 and SGT-400 gas turbines, another two of Siemens’ most trusted high power turbines.
This installation brings the total number of generators installed by Centrax to over 300 across Europe.
Irish journalist writing on business, tech and engineering.
