The first three Rolls-Royce Trent 60 gas turbines installed in the US have successfully achieved “first fire” start-up. The units are located at two electric power stations in the cities of Lowell and Braintree, Massachusetts.
All three units are Trent 60-powered wet low emissions (WLE) generating sets, capable of running on both gas and liquid fuel, with power outputs up to 58MW each.
Owned and operated by Montgomery Energy Partners LP, the Lowell site, designated L’Energia, achieved successful start-up in late 2008. The single Trent 60 gas turbine generating set is part of a combined cycle plant re-powering project, replacing an older less efficient gas turbine, to provide efficient, cost-effective, environmentally friendly power to meet the growing energy needs of the ISO-New England grid.
Two Trent 60 power generation packages, owned and operated by the Braintree Electric Light Department at its Thomas A Watson Generating Station in the city of Braintree, each achieved successful first fire in March and April 2009. The two new Trent 60 units will provide 116MW of electrical power to the ISO New England grid at times of peak demand.
Charlie Athanasia, vice-president of power generation for the Rolls-Royce energy business, said: “These three successful start-ups mark a significant milestone highlighting the increased market interest in the aero-derived Trent product for industrial power generation applications. Trent 60 generating sets have already been operating to meet critical electrical power requirements in the UK, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Chile and the Middle East, and we can now add the US to this growing list.”
Bill Bottiggi, general manager of the Braintree electric light department, said: “While we are still commissioning the units, the Trent 60 gas turbine has exceeded our expectations. Start-up is progressing well and we look forward to commercial operation.”
The Trent 60 is the most powerful and efficient engine in the Rolls-Royce industrial gas turbines product range. Capable of delivering up to 64MW of electric power in simple cycle service at 42% efficiency, the engine has established a new benchmark for fuel economy and cost savings.