GE Vernova's 7HA gas turbines power third CPV plant
Competitive Power Ventures’ (CPV’s) Three Rivers Energy Center uses GE Vernova gas turbines to stabilize capacity in Illinois and surrounding states as customer demand rises.
Overview
The Illinois power grid faced potential capacity issues as old facilities are retired and anticipated demand increases in the coming decades.
The challenge
CPV wanted to build a new electric generating facility that would add more electric generating diversity, flexibility, reliability, and cost stability to Illinois’ electric grid. Additionally, when connected, the plant would also help address resource adequacy issues for the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) interconnection organization.
The solution
Following three years of construction, CPV’s Three Rivers Energy Center went online in August 2023. This combined cycle natural gas facility uses GE Vernova technology to deliver on CPV’s promises to its customers and is the third such project that CPV and GE Vernova have collaborated to develop.
Outcomes
Increasing energy diversity while lowering emissions
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We value [GE Vernova’s] advanced technology, services, and strategic financing capabilities and demonstrated partnership in bringing our third HA-powered plant project to completion. The strong relationships between CPV and GE built while executing complex power generation projects… demonstrate what is possible with a strong partnership system.
Gary Lambert
CEO, Competitive Power Ventures (CPV)
Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) is no stranger to working with GE Vernova and its HA gas turbine technology. Over the past decade, the companies have collaborated on projects like the Towantic Energy Center in Connecticut (which began operating in 2018) and the Fairview Energy Center in Pennsylvania (operating since 2019).
So, it should come as no surprise that when CPV decided to build another natural gas facility in Illinois, they once again called on GE Vernova. After seven years of planning and construction, the CPV Three Rivers Energy Center located 60 miles south of Chicago in Grundy County officially went online in August 2023.
The plant features two generating blocks; each equipped with a GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbine, an STF-A650 steam turbine, and a W84 generator—all controlled and monitored using GE Vernova’s Mark* VIe digital control system. Under this configuration, the plant can operate at lower output levels, meaning that there is no need to shut it down during low grid demand hours.
Furthermore, as part of the PJM Interconnection system, CPV can sell Three Rivers’ excess energy, capacity, and ancillary services to PJM’s COMED zone as well as locally in Illinois. This dispatchable power will undoubtedly help PJM maintain reliability as it faces potential adequacy issues in the years ahead.
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