I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2961 

To establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program 

to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle and 

simple cycle power generation systems. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 7, 2015 

Mr. TONKO (for himself and Mr. MCKINLEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

A BILL 

To establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle and simple cycle power 

generation systems. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS TURBINES. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy, through 

5 the Office of Fossil Energy, shall carry out a multiyear, 

6 multiphase program of research, development, and tech7 nology demonstration to improve the efficiency of gas tur8 bines used in power generation systems and to identify 


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•HR 2961 IH

1 the technologies that ultimately will lead to gas turbine 

2 combined cycle efficiency of 65 percent or simple cycle effi3 ciency of 50 percent. 

4 (b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program under this 

5 section shall— 

6 (1) support first-of-a-kind engineering and de7 tailed gas turbine design for megawatt-scale and 

8 utility-scale electric power generation, including— 

9 (A) high temperature materials, including 

10 superalloys, coatings, and ceramics; 

11 (B) improved heat transfer capability; 

12 (C) manufacturing technology required to 

13 construct complex three-dimensional geometry 

14 parts with improved aerodynamic capability; 

15 (D) combustion technology to produce 

16 higher firing temperature while lowering nitro17 gen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions per 

18 unit of output; 

19 (E) advanced controls and systems integra20 tion; 

21 (F) advanced high performance compressor 

22 technology; and 

23 (G) validation facilities for the testing of 

24 components and subsystems; 


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1 (2) include technology demonstration through 

2 component testing, subscale testing, and full scale 

3 testing in existing fleets; 

4 (3) include field demonstrations of the devel5 oped technology elements so as to demonstrate tech6 nical and economic feasibility; and 

7 (4) assess overall combined cycle and simple 

8 cycle system performance. 

9 (c) PROGRAM GOALS.—The goals of the multiphase 

10 program established under subsection (a) shall be— 

11 (1) in phase I— 

12 (A) to develop the conceptual design of ad13 vanced high efficiency gas turbines that can 

14 achieve at least 62-percent combined cycle effi15 ciency or 47-percent simple cycle efficiency on 

16 a lower heating value basis; and 

17 (B) to develop and demonstrate the tech18 nology required for advanced high efficiency gas 

19 turbines that can achieve at least 62-percent 

20 combined cycle efficiency or 47-percent simple 

21 cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; 

22 and 

23 (2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual de24 sign for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that 

25 can achieve at least 65-percent combined cycle effiVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:36 Jul 09, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2961.IH H2961

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•HR 2961 IH

1 ciency or 50-percent simple cycle efficiency on a 

2 lower heating value basis. 

3 (d) PROPOSALS.—Within 180 days after the date of 

4 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit grant and 

5 contract proposals from industry, small businesses, univer6 sities, and other appropriate parties for conducting activi7 ties under this Act. In selecting proposals, the Secretary 

8 shall emphasize— 

9 (1) the extent to which the proposal will stimu10 late the creation or increased retention of jobs in the 

11 United States; and 

12 (2) the extent to which the proposal will pro13 mote and enhance United States technology leader14 ship. 

15 (e) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.—The provision of fund16 ing under this section shall be on a competitive basis with 

17 an emphasis on technical merit. 

18 (f) COST SHARING.—Section 988 of the Energy Pol19 icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to an award 

20 of financial assistance made under this section. 

21 (g) LIMITS ON PARTICIPATION.—The limits on par22 ticipation applicable under section 999E of the Energy 

23 Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16375) shall apply to finan24 cial assistance awarded under this section. 

Æ 


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