GE's Waukesha Gas Engines to Power Cambodia

Rice Husk Biomass-Energy Project

Publication info: M2 Presswire ; Coventry [Coventry]13 July 2012.

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ABSTRACT
GE (NYSE: GE) today announced the SOMA Group , a leading Cambodian industrial conglomerate, has selected
GE's Waukesha gas engine technology to power a new rural, rice husk biomass-energy project. The project is
Cambodia's first integrated biomass gasification-gas engine solution designed to supply renewable electricity to
the local grid in support of the country's rural electrification goals.
The Soma Group project also represents the country's first power purchase agreement to use a biomass tariff
stemming from GE's October 2011 agreement with Cambodia. As part of the agreement, GE identified the segment
potential of using rice husk as a biogas feedstock while supporting the government's establishment of a feed-in-
tariff to help finance biomass projects. GE also helped educate the local rice milling industry as well as local banks
and other potential investors. In addition, GE identified proven gasification technology and developed an integrated
package solution that justified the project's economics.
GE's latest Cambodia announcement comes on the heels of the company's participation in a USABC energy event
in Vietnam. On July 10 in Hanoi, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the signing of two GE
equipment supply contracts to upgrade Vietnam's energy infrastructure. Under the first contract, GE agreed to
supply Vietnam's National Power Transmission Corp. with its capacitor bank technology to help double the
capacity of the 500kV Pleiku--Phu Lam transmission line. The Pleiku--Phu Lam line serves as the backbone of the
country's North-to-South transmission system. Separately, GE also signed a new strategic partnership agreement
with the Cong Thanh Group, a private business group, to provide steam turbine and generator equipment in
support of new power generation projects in Vietnam.

FULL TEXT
M2 PRESSWIRE-July 13, 2012-GE's Waukesha Gas Engines to Power Cambodia Rice Husk Biomass-Energy
Project; Soma Group Biogas Project is First to be Implemented Following GE's 2011 Alternative Energy
Development Agreement with Cambodian Government; Project Represents Country's First Integrated Biomass
Gasification-Gas Engine Solution Designed to Sell Power to the Grid; Rice Husk Gasification Initiative to Serve as
Distributed Power Model for Other ASEAN Countries
(C)2012 M2 COMMUNICATIONS http://www.m2.com
July 13, 2012
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA -- GE (NYSE: GE) today announced the SOMA Group , a leading Cambodian industrial
conglomerate, has selected GE's Waukesha gas engine technology to power a new rural, rice husk biomass-energy
project. The project is Cambodia's first integrated biomass gasification-gas engine solution designed to supply
renewable electricity to the local grid in support of the country's rural electrification goals.
GE and the Soma Group signed their gas engine supply contract during a U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC)
and U.S. Chamber of Commerce-sponsored forum in the city of Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. Francisco J.
Sanchez, U.S. undersecretary of commerce for international trade, Robert D. "Bob" Hormats, U.S. undersecretary of
state for economic, business and agricultural affairs, and His Excellency Sat Samy, secretary of state of the
Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME), witnessed the contract signing ceremony.
Located in the country's rural rice milling region of Kamphong Cham, the SOMA Group's Hak Se mill biomass

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gasification project is also the first to be implemented after GE and the Cambodian government signed a 2011
alternative energy development agreement to identify opportunities to use GE's distributed power, smart grid and
other solutions to meet the country's energy challenges.
The GE-Soma Group contract exemplifies how U.S.-based companies like GE are supporting alternative energy
projects throughout Southeast Asia. The Soma Group project creates a model for similar agricultural biomass
waste-to-energy development opportunities in the ASEAN region. ASEAN member countries represent a combined
1 gigawatt "biogas segment" due to their abundance of biomass resources and focus on rural electrification.
Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd, a global technology leader in renewable energy technologies based
in India, is developing the new Cambodia biomass gasification facility for project owner Soma Energy Ltd. The rice
husk will be converted into biogas, which then will be used in two GE VHP 5904 Waukesha engines to generate a
total of a 1.5 megawatt (MW) of renewable electricity. Part of the power will support the rice mill's operations while
surplus electricity will be sold to the local grid, providing an economical power supply and improving the living
standards of people in the area.
The new power plant is expected to begin commercial service in March 2013.
"Our new facility is expected to serve as an important model for the region's rice-milling industry and other
agricultural sectors by showing how they can recycle more of their biomass, generate renewable electricity and
make their mills more competitive by reducing their on-site energy and waste disposal expenses," said Sok
Puthyvut, SOMA Group CEO.
SOMA Group selected GE's Waukesha gas engine technology after determining it would be more cost-effective
than using a diesel-powered system to help exploit the country's abundant supply of rice husk waste as a reliable
source of biogas to produce renewable energy. Less than two kilograms of husk can produce 1 kilowatt hour of
electricity.
By recycling rice mill waste into biogas to support the local grid, the SOMA Group project is supporting Cambodia's
Rural Electrification Program that seeks to supply electricity to every village by 2020 and to connect 70 percent of
the country's households to the grid by 2030. Currently, only 50 percent of rural villages have access to electricity
with demands for power growing at 25 percent a year.
Supplies of the biomass feedstock are expected to remain strong: the Cambodian government has established a
goal to export 1 million tons of rice in 2013 that will create about 400,000 tons of concentrated rice husks.
The Soma Group project is a breakthrough in the high-potential ASEAN region for GE's gas engine technology,
which is ideally suited to support agricultural-waste-to-value applications in developing countries. We are pleased
with this opportunity to work with the Soma Group and Ankur to deploy our Waukesha gas engine technology to
launch this biomass energy program for Cambodia to meet its economic and environmental goals. It is very much
in line with our focus of building and powering to help countries shape their future economic landscapes," said
Kenji Uenishi, president of GE Energy, Asia Pacific.
The Soma Group project illustrates how GE and MIME are working with local companies to upgrade Cambodia's
generation and transmission infrastructure, expand the production of cleaner energy and promote industrial and
residential energy efficiency. In particular, GE is supporting MIME's efforts to optimize the country's agricultural
strengths by supporting various rural electrification projects.
The Soma Group project also represents the country's first power purchase agreement to use a biomass tariff
stemming from GE's October 2011 agreement with Cambodia. As part of the agreement, GE identified the segment
potential of using rice husk as a biogas feedstock while supporting the government's establishment of a feed-in-
tariff to help finance biomass projects. GE also helped educate the local rice milling industry as well as local banks
and other potential investors. In addition, GE identified proven gasification technology and developed an integrated
package solution that justified the project's economics.
The SOMA Group's biogas-energy initiative further demonstrates how GE's comprehensive suite of distributed
power solutions--ranging in size from 100 kW to 100 MW-- offer industries and communities around the world the
ability to generate reliable and efficient on-site power with a variety of fuels to promote greater local energy

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security and reduced emissions. GE's distributed power portfolio includes aeroderivative gas turbines , Jenbacher
and Waukesha gas engines and waste heat recovery solutions .
"ASEAN has strong growth prospects with the economies of its countries remaining resilient despite global
uncertainties," said Stuart Dean, CEO of GE ASEAN. "We have a solid footprint in ASEAN today as we work together
with the public and private sectors to co-create and bring to market innovative solutions for world-class
infrastructure and healthcare in a region with a population of about 600 million."
GE's latest Cambodia announcement comes on the heels of the company's participation in a USABC energy event
in Vietnam. On July 10 in Hanoi, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the signing of two GE
equipment supply contracts to upgrade Vietnam's energy infrastructure. Under the first contract, GE agreed to
supply Vietnam's National Power Transmission Corp. with its capacitor bank technology to help double the
capacity of the 500kV Pleiku--Phu Lam transmission line. The Pleiku--Phu Lam line serves as the backbone of the
country's North-to-South transmission system. Separately, GE also signed a new strategic partnership agreement
with the Cong Thanh Group, a private business group, to provide steam turbine and generator equipment in
support of new power generation projects in Vietnam.
GE launched its presence in Cambodia in July 2007. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the company established an office in
Hanoi in 1993 and subsequently in Ho Chi Minh City in 2001, working in partnership with local organizations. In
addition to Cambodia and Vietnam, GE has been operating in ASEAN since the 1960s with operations in Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei and soon in Myanmar, as the company looks to the region as
a key driver for growth. GE generated about $3B in revenue in the ASEAN region last year and has been growing at
20 percent annually. GE employs more than 300,000 people worldwide, including 7,500 employees throughout
ASEA.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest
challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving
and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at
www.ge.com .
GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner,
more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product
and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the
energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and
water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy-
and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food &beverage and unconventional
fuels.
Follow GE Energy on Twitter @GE_Energy .
PRESS CONTACTS Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
+ 1 518 786 6488
howard.masto@ge.com
Gina DeRossi
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786 6488
Gina.derossi@mastopr.com
Adeline Teo
GE Energy
+65 9727 4500
adeline.teo@ge.com
Martina Streiter

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GE Energy
+43 5244 600 2470
martina.streiter@ge.com
GE news
Masto Public Relations
information@mastopr.com
((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com))

DETAILS

Publication title: M2 Presswire; Coventry

Publication year: 2012

Publication date: Jul 13, 2012

Publisher: Normans Media Ltd

Place of publication: Coventry

Country of publication: United Kingdom, Coventry

Publication subject: Communications

Source type: Wire Feeds

Language of publication: English

Document type: News

ProQuest document ID: 1024996224

Document URL: http://ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/10249

96224?accountid=17095

Copyright: (Copyright M2 Communications, 2012)

Last updated: 2012-07-16

Database: ProQuest Central

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