Siemens, Astoria to Deliver NYC Power Barges


Two SeaFloat Barges for Upper Bay

Engineering group Siemens and power producer Astoria Generating have signed a contract for the delivery of two SeaFloat power barges to the Upper Bay of Brooklyn, New York City.

The advanced vessels will be built under a turnkey construction contract and will be equipped with eight Siemens SGT-A65 gas turbines.

"SeaFloat combines the advantages of our high-quality proven power plant technology with the mobility and flexibility that's required in peak consumption periods ... As a holistic solution, the new SeaFloat power barges will help reduce potential emissions in New York City," said Karim Amin, CEO of power generation at Siemens Gas and Power.


Eight SGT-A65 Turbine Sets

Construction of the barges will require significant breakbulk transport with Siemens installing generation capacity of about 300 megawatts on each vessel.

“Siemens will deliver eight SGT-A65 gas turbine generating sets – four on each barge – along with a Siemens control system. The turbines will run on natural gas as their primary fuel,” Amin added.

The barges are designed to replace four existing power barges located at Gowanus Generating Station.


Changing Power Demand

The turbines will all feature fast cold-start capability and high cyclic life, ensuring they can rapidly respond to changes in the grid. This ability, compensating for fluctuating renewable energy throughput, is predicted to become increasingly in demand for new projects, according to Astoria.

"As New York's energy market changes to rely on intermittent power sources like wind and solar, we need to ensure reliability. These state-of-the-art units will provide the quick-start energy production New Yorkers need while reducing potential emissions. And best of all, because they're on barges, they provide the needed climate adaptation, adjusting to sea-level rise and increased storm surges, and also can be moved if the power is needed elsewhere," said Mark Sudbey, CEO of Astoria Generating Co.

Each SGT-A65 Industrial Trent 60 aeroderivative gas turbine will weigh upwards of 190 tonnes and will deliver up to 76 megawatts in output.
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