Thu, 09/25/2014 - 00:00

ERLANGEN, Germany (Sept. 25, 2014) – Panda Power Funds and Siemens Energy Inc. dedicated the Panda Temple Power Project in Temple, Texas. This is the first Flex-Plant in commercial operation in Texas. Siemens Energy supplied the natural-gas-fired combined cycle power plant (CCPP) in consortium with its partner, Bechtel. The multi-shaft plant is a Siemens Flex-Plant configuration, with a gross installed electrical capacity of 758 megawatts (MW). Flex-Plant CCPPs offer high efficiency and operational flexibility, providing the right solution for any duty service. Innovative design features are incorporated to enable fast start and fast ramping across a large operating window—from low plant turn-down to high plant output with carbon monoxide (CO) emissions less than 10 parts per million (ppm) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions less than 2.0 ppm. The generating station will be able to supply the power needs of approximately 750,000 homes in the Central and North Texas regions. The natural-gas-fired Panda Temple Flex-Plant plant is located at the South Temple Industrial Park in Temple, Texas. Siemens provided the thermodynamic cycle design and power island engineering. Siemens also delivered two SGT6-5000F gas turbines, one SST6-5000 steam turbine, two SGen6-1000A generators, one SGen6- 2000H generator, the SPPA-T3000 instrumentation and control system, as well as two Benson heavy duct-fired heat recovery steam generators (manufactured by NEM USA Corp) and other key cycle components. A long-term service agreement is also in place for the main generation components. Bechtel was responsible for the balance of the plant engineering, overall plant construction and procurement. Bechtel also led the commissioning of the facility. The gas turbines for this project are equipped with Shaping Power, a feature which enables higher power output on higher temperature days. “Siemens’ fast and efficient Flex-Plant technology is a perfect fit in balancing intermittent renewable resources and providing low-cost electricity,” said Martin Tartibi, senior executive vice president at Siemens Energy Solutions Americas. “The Panda Temple plant is the third Flex-Plant in commercial operation in the United States, and it will be considered one of the cleanest fossil-fueled plants in the nation.” Todd Carter, senior partner and president of Panda Power Funds, added, “Temple was our very first project working with Siemens, and we made the right choice. We are impressed with their state-of-the-art technological power plant solutions and service.” The gas turbines, steam turbines and generators were manufactured at the Siemens North American manufacturing hub in Charlotte, North Carolina. High-efficiency Flex-Plant combined-cycle power plants (CCPP) and the associated service are part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. Around 43 percent of its total revenue stems from green products and solutions. The Siemens Energy Sector is a global supplier of a broad spectrum of products, services and solutions for power generation.