Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station, powered by a new turbine from Siemens Energy, has been certified with the official Guinness World Records title for the “most powerful simple-cycle gas power plant.”
The new turbine, located adjacent to Lake Norman just outside of Denver, N.C., has an output of 410.9 megawatts, generating enough energy to power more than 300,000 homes.
Siemens Energy’s new turbine will be the most efficient of its type in the Duke Energy fleet. It is designed to run longer between maintenance cycles and is approximately 34% more efficient than the existing combustion turbines at the Lincoln site.
“Duke Energy is pursuing an aggressive clean energy transition, already achieving more than 40% carbon reduction since 2005,” Kevin Murray, vice president of project management & construction at Duke Energy, said. “The new gas turbine at our Lincoln site will become the most fuel-efficient gas turbine in our fleet. The unit’s fast start and high ramp rate capability will support the increase in renewables we are placing on our system while complementing our journey to net-zero carbon from electricity generation by 2050.”
The equipment that achieved the world title, the SGT6-9000HL, was started for the first time in April 2020. It is the first 60Hz HL-class turbine from Siemens Energy.
The power output of the unit is complemented by its agility. When renewables like solar or wind fluctuate, power from the HL-class turbine can quickly be added to the grid to meet market demands and help stabilize the power supply.
“Power output, efficiency and operational flexibility are crucial elements for the decarbonization of the energy sector,” Karim Amin, executive board member at Siemens Energy, said. “This title demonstrates our capability as a technology leader working together with Duke Energy to accelerate the path towards net-zero emissions.”
