Natural gas is emerging as a crucial tool in the ongoing fight against climate change, as countries around the world turn to it to help reduce emissions, retire coal, and support the growth of renewables.
Greece, for instance, has built out wind and solar in recent years, but still uses coal and oil in power generation. Now, the country is turning to natural gas to balance out its renewables portfolio and erode its reliance on coal and oil. Damco Energy is using GE’s 9HA.02 natural gas turbine to create a new power plant in Alexandroupolis on the Aegean coast, which is expected to deliver 840 megawatts (MW) and begin operations in 2026.
Similarly, Eneva of Brazil is using GE’s 7HA.02 to expand its Azulao Power plant near Manaus, along the Amazon River. Despite relying largely on hydropower, which provides a massive 55% of its electricity, Brazil also needs natural gas to stabilize its grid due to the vulnerability of hydropower, which can fluctuate greatly from year to year based on rainfall and reservoir levels. By choosing GE’s highest-efficiency natural gas solution, both Greece and Brazil are adding gas as an enabler for other technologies that will support their journey toward meeting climate goals.
Source: ge.com