Wood Group GTS has signed a contract with Sowega Power to replace two obsolete and proprietary Woodward Netcon 5000 turbine control systems at the Sowega power station in Baconton, Georgia, US.

Wood Group’s icon controls will replace the current control systems. This will give plant operators greater control and on-site flexibility to meet different operating conditions.

The icon open platform system is based on the proven Rockwell Automation PlantPAx system and can integrate easily with the Rockwell Human Machine Interface (HMI), which was recently installed at the site by Wood Group Mustang.

Sowega Power’s Brian Alligood said: "We had very specific vendor qualification requirements. Proven controls upgrades and engineering support experience were important in our selection of a provider.

"The Wood Group GTS icon system’s open architecture and off-the-shelf components extend the controls’ useful life and provide a significant advantage to our plant personnel."

Wood Group GTS Power Plant Services president Frank Avery said: "The need to upgrade or replace ageing and obsolete gas turbine control systems is prompting many power plant managers to reassess more flexible and reliable options beyond the proprietary OEM package.

"Icon control system upgrades provide a low-risk, long-term solution that removes restrictive operation barriers while lowering the overall plant operating costs."

The upgrades for Sowega Power are scheduled to be completed in 2014 and 2015.

Icon controls are part of Wood Group GTS’ overall products and services, designed to maximise the return on plant operators’ investment in gas turbine technology.