G.E. Invests in Industrial Waste heat to Power Technology, A Goldmine for Industry?

Industrial processes around the world waste significant quantities of energy due to the inefficient nature of many of the processes involved. Most often this waste energy takes the form of either low, medium or high temperature heat. Often this heat is sent to atmosphere out of a stack , sometimes at extremely high temperatures. As industry strives to become more sustainable, reduce their carbon footprint and save money in their operations an opportunity is emerging for a cost effective heat recapture and conversion technology. One of the companies to recognize this growing trend is General Electric ‘s Power and Water division.  GE has announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Calnetix Power Solutions (CPS), a Florida-based company that develops innovative technology for small-scale, waste heat to power projects. Recovering waste heat from industrial processes and using it to produce electricity is a rapidly growing trend in the global power industry offering high efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint.

CPS offers well-proven waste heat to power technology to generate electricity using the waste heat of various types of engines, biomass boilers and gas turbines. The acquired business will be integrated into GE’s Jenbacher gas engine business, based in Jenbach, Austria. Today, much of the activity in the small-scale, waste heat recovery sector is centered in Europe.

“Alternative energy sources such as waste heat are growing in importance given the urgent global need for more efficient use of our limited resources. Acquiring CPS’s technology gives us a tremendous opportunity to enter this very promising, small-scale waste heat to power segment with a competitive, fully commercialized offering. Because of its energy efficiency and zero emissions, we see this industry sector as a $1 billion global space with high growth opportunities,” said Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power & Water.

In addition to the CPS assets, GE also acquired certain underlying intellectual property from Calnetix, Inc., CPS’s parent company. All of the acquired assets, along with GE’s Jenbacher technical and distribution capabilities, will enable GE to provide advanced and comprehensive offerings for customers in the waste heat recovery power generation space.

“This suite of technology is a natural fit for our business,” said Prady Iyyanki, CEO—gas engines for GE Power & Water. “By adding CPS’s capabilities to our existing portfolio of turbines and engines using waste gases or other alternative energy sources, we are now well positioned to become the industry’s waste heat to power expert.”

GE’s existing gas engine technology covers an output range of 0.25 to 4.4 megawatts and can operate on a broad variety of gases while offering high levels of efficiency, durability and reliability.

“The acquisition combines the strength of two leading high-efficiency, power generation technologies,” said Brad Garner, president and CEO of Calnetix Power Solutions. “It opens the door for utilizing GE’s diverse capabilities and resources to support and expand our technology. As proven through its earlier acquisitions of companies like Jenbacher and Enron Wind, GE is able to scale new power generation technologies quickly and effectively.”

Since its acquisition by GE in 2003, GE’s Jenbacher gas engine business has continued to expand its manufacturing capacity and technology offerings to meet the growing demands of the alternative energy industry. Several of GE’s Jenbacher solutions are currently approved under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About Calnetix Power Solutions

Based in Stuart, Fla., Calnetix Power Solutions manufactures green, energy efficient waste heat recovery systems for renewable and distributed energy markets. Prior to its acquisition by GE, Calnetix Power Solutions was a wholly owned subsidiary of Calnetix, Inc. a privately held company headquartered in Yorba Linda, Calif.

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Posted by tracey smith on Oct 3 2010. Filed under Energy Efficiency, Environment, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry