GE Steam Power And AAEM Joint Venture Begin Manufacturing For Turkey's First Nuclear Power Plant

• Manufacturing begins in Belfort on the Arabelle steam turbine rotor for Akkuyu nuclear power plant
• Akkuyu will generate 4.8 GW of carbon-free electricity, enough to power 5 million Turkish homes
• Builds on GE’s proven fleet of steam turbines that power more than half of the world’s nuclear power plants

GE Steam Power and AAEM Turbine technology LLC, a joint venture between AtomEnergoMash JSC (AEM) and General Electric (GE), begin manufacturing an important milestone for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project in Turkey with the start of the manufacturing activities in Belfort for the Arabelle steam turbine.

Akkuyu is Turkey’s first nuclear power plant and when completed, it will deliver 4.8 gigawatts (GW) of carbon-free electricity. At the time when there is a great drive for low carbon energy technologies, Turkey has decided to invest in carbon-free energy to meet its emission reduction targets.

“We are proud to start the manufacturing and construction phase for the Akkuyu project alongside our partner AEM,” said Frederic Wiscart, Senior Executive of Projects at GE Steam Power. “The Akkuyu project, which will showcase GE’s Arabelle steam turbines, is on track to deliver clean, reliable power that will boost Turkey’s energy infrastructure and power up to 5 million homes with carbon-free energy.”

AAEM was awarded the contract in October 2017 to design and supply the equipment and systems for the whole conventional island. As part of this contract, GE Steam Power will supply the four nuclear turbine generator sets including the Arabelle half-speed steam turbine, GIGATOP 4-poles generator, condenser vacuum pumps. GE will also provide full design for its scope of supply and basic design for AAEM’s scope.

The manufacturing begins with the steam turbine’s rotor, a key component of the powerplant. The start of the first line rotor manufacturing at GE’s Belfort, France Center of Excellence represents a key milestone in the execution of the Akkuyu project and begins the manufacturing process of all turbine components. Already the largest steam turbine in operation for the past 10 years, the Arabelle produces 2% more power output than a traditional configuration and has a 99.96% reliability rate.

AEM’s CEO, Andrey Nikipelov, also commented saying: “Thanks to the successful cooperation with GE, the very first nuclear power plant in Turkey will be provided with state-of-the-art equipment meeting the highest requirements for reliability and safety. Turkey’s power infrastructure is now looking to be sustainable and reliable in the foreseeable future.”

AEM and GE established its joint venture, AAEM Turbine technology LLC (AAEM), in 2007 to offer comprehensive solutions for conventional island of VVER nuclear plants. Execution of the Akkuyu project is a major milestone in the development and growth of the Joint venture AAEM and for both GE and AEM as shareholders and participants to this landmark project.