MetCap expands world’s first integrated renewables combined-cycle plant powered by GE Technology

ISTANBUL, TURKEY: GE and Turkish energy company MetCap Energy Investments announced their investment in one of Europe’s most efficient, natural gas-fired power plants. Featuring GE technology, the 878-megawatt Eurostar project will help to power Istanbul, supporting Turkey’s efforts to modernize its aging energy infrastructure and meet its growing electricity requirements.

During the event, attended by Turkish energy ministry officials in Istanbul, GE and MetCap also announced approval from the Turkish government to nearly double the output of the world’s first Integrated Renewables Combined-Cycle (IRCC) plant.

The initial phase of the Dervish IRCC plant in Karaman, Turkey, was announced in June and is based on GE’s breakthrough FlexEfficiency 50 combined-cycle technology. The license extension allows energy output to be increased from 570 megawatts to 1,080 megawatts. The Dervish license extension also paves the way for a second plant using GE’s FlexEfficiency technology and eSolar’s concentrated solar power technologies.

The MetCap and GE alliance sets a new global standard for the efficient integration of natural gas and renewable energy. The landmark Dervish project will enable the Turkish power grid to use more wind, solar and natural gas, helping to meet a growing demand for cleaner, affordable and reliable power generation.

“Projects such as Eurostar and Dervish will help to light up Istanbul and Turkey,” said Dr. Celal Metin, chairman of MetCap Energy Investments. “They are further evidence that the MetCap-GE alliance can create growth opportunities to deliver leading technology to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. Working together, we will set a new standard for the efficient integration of natural gas and renewable energy. We are focused on powering the future responsibly.”

“MetCap is one of Turkey’s leading energy developers and continues to work closely with GE to deploy the most innovative energy technologies, enabling power producers to operate in a cleaner, smarter and more efficient way to help meet today’s energy challenges,” said Paul Browning, president and CEO—thermal products for GE Energy.