GE Vernova to supply gas turbines for new Missouri power plant

March 28 (Reuters) - GE Vernova ( GEV ) has secured an order to supply its aeroderivative gas turbines for Springfield City Utilities' (CU) new power generating station in Missouri, the power equipment maker said on Friday.

CU's 100 Megawatt (MW) McCartney Generating Station is expected to start operations in 2027. GE Vernova ( GEV ) did not disclose the deal value or the expected delivery date of the turbines.

CONTEXT

Energy-intensive data centers needed to scale artificial intelligence technologies are expected to push up demand for gas turbines used for large-scale power generation.

Aeroderivative gas turbines, adapted from General Electric's ( GE ) aviation technology, can be used to provide about 50 MW of power in a fuel-efficient manner, as per GE Vernova's ( GEV ) website.

WHY ITS IMPORTANT

Rising electricity needs, aging power plants and severe weather are necessitating higher Planning Reserve Margin (PRM).

PRM is the extra capacity needed beyond the expected demand to keep the power supply stable during times of peak usage or unexpected outages.

The three aeroderivative units are expected to inject an additional 150 MW of reliable and flexible capacity to help ensure grid stability, Vernova said.

These turbines can burn up to 100% hydrogen by volume, thereby reducing carbon emissions, the company said.

KEY QUOTE

"With increasing power generation demand driven by growing electrification needs and more renewables coming online every day, operators and municipalities ... need to ensure grid reliability with high efficiency," said CEO of GE Vernova's ( GEV ) Gas Power Americas region, Dave Ross. (Reporting by Pooja Menon in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)