GE developing smart grid demonstration centre in China

GE yesterday said that it is implemnting smart grid technologies in China's Yangzhou city, where it is building an extensive smart grid demonstration centre.

The centre is in the Yangzhou New Economy and Development Zone and enable GE to demonstrate how GE technologies deployed throughout the world can help China improve the reliability, efficiency and carbon footprint of its energy delivery. Yangzhou is located on the Yangtze River in China's Jiangsu province.

''China has experienced unbelievable growth over the past decade, creating a massive need for energy to power businesses and consumer lifestyles-so the time is right for Yangzhou to become a smart city,'' said Mark Norbom, president and CEO of GE's China business.

Norbom said, ''As Chinese engineers design new cities and upgrade existing infrastructure, we're going to show them how GE technology can help build a world-class model of reliability and efficiency at just about every point in the transmission, distribution and consumption processes. Yangzhou's initiative will be a showcase to demonstrate how China can get the power it needs and reduce energy's environmental impact at the same time.''

The technology engagement will include a huge array of GE products that affect energy in homes, on power lines and in a utility's network control centre.

''We value GE's end-to-end infrastructure vision and the fact that they are delivering technologies already proven for reliability and savings,'' said Zhengyi Xie, the city mayor of Yangzhou. ''We hope GE's advanced smart grid technology will enhance the local infrastructure and the whole relevant industry as well.''