GE Vernova recently announced a landmark new player-philanthropy joint project focused on improving new electricity generation in Nebraska. The locally headquartered company announced that it had recently won a contract with Lincoln Electric System (LES). They will provide two LM6000VELOX™ aeroderivative gas turbine packages for the Terry Bundy Generating Station, TBGS in Lincoln. This effort is just the latest chapter in a more than two-decade-long relationship between GE Vernova and LES.
The project will help meet the growing demand for electricity in Nebraska. It’s specifically intended to help improve grid flexibility and diversify the state’s power generation portfolio. In total, the expanded plant will add about 100 megawatts of generation capacity. Like South Carolina’s, it will take advantage of the super-efficient LM6000VELOX design, enabling it to hit full power in a mere ten minutes. This project’s commercial operation date is 2029.
A Legacy of Excellence
GE Vernova is a proven leader in generation technology, with more than 1,300 LM6000 shipped across the globe. The company has more than 40 million operating hours under its belt with its fleet. It remains deeply engaged as it actively expands its role to deliver more advanced energy solutions. More importantly for our purposes, the LM6000 series is notable for its reliability and efficiency. Consequently, it has emerged as the go-to technology for most power generation use cases.
The partnership with LES doubles down on GE Vernova’s long-term commitment to advancing sustainable energy initiatives within Nebraska. These seven new LM6000VELOX units will further improve upon the existing state of the art infrastructure at TBGS. These advanced units are intended to perform more efficiently and with less impact on the environment.
Meeting Energy Demands
Nebraska’s energy landscape remains diverse, with coal projected to account for approximately 43% of the state’s electricity output in 2024. Significant contributions are made by wind—accounting for close to 32% of the total—and solar power. The LM6000VELOX turbines will complement this intermittent energy source, providing stable baseload power. This important addition ensures that our electricity supply is more than enough to meet the expanding needs of consumers.
Demand for these types of reliable, flexible, energy solution is increasing rapidly. GE Vernova’s investment in this age-old Terry Bundy Generating Station demonstrates their seriousness to tackle these challenges directly. The impetus behind the project is to increase dispatchable generation capacity and strengthen their response time to changes in demand. This will greatly improve stability and efficiency throughout Nebraska’s electric grid.
Looking Ahead
The latest initiative at TBGS is just one example of GE Vernova’s dedication to innovation and collaboration with innovators across the energy sector. The company plans to enter commercial operation in 2029. Most importantly, its goal is to create solutions for today’s needs and fuel tomorrow’s breakthroughs in power generation ingenuity.