The French island of La Rèunion, off the coast of Madagascar, is seeking to become completely independent from energy imports by 2025 and have purchased 2 GE’s Jenbacher engines as part of the long-term plan. Clarke Energy France received the order for 2 JMS 320 engines for a landfill gas plant being installed on the south side of the island from GRS Valtech, a subsidiary of Veolia Environmental Services.
The units will generate more than 2MW of electricity that will be sold to the local grid. The combined thermal power of 1172kW (without the use of exhaust gas heat) will create hot water for the landfills leachate treatment system, which utilises a thermal evaporation process in vacuum conditions. Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy’s Jenbacher gas engine business said: “This project is GE’s first landfill gas plant to be installed in any of France’s overseas regions and we are looking forward to supporting La Rèunion’s efforts to create a more sustainable, secure and autonomous energy infrastructure.”
The engines are due to be installed in the autumn with the aim of being in commercial operation by November 2008.
