II 

Calendar No. 601 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2900 

[Report No. 111–315] 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 17, 2009 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself, Mrs. HAGAN, Mr. NELSON of Florida, and Ms. 

COLLINS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 

Reported by Mr. BINGAMAN, without amendment 

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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gas Turbine Efficiency 

3 Act of 2009’’. 

4 SEC. 2. HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS TURBINES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy (referred 

6 to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall carry out a 

7 multiyear, multiphase program of research, development, 

8 and technology demonstration— 

9 (1) to improve the efficiency of gas turbines 

10 used in power generation systems; and 

11 (2) to identify the technologies that ultimately 

12 will lead to gas turbine combined cycle efficiency of 

13 65 percent or simple cycle efficiency of 50 percent. 

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

15 section shall— 

16 (1) support first-of-a-kind engineering and de17 tailed gas turbine design for megawatt-scale and 

18 utility-scale electric power generation, including— 

19 (A) high temperature materials, including 

20 superalloys, coatings, and ceramics; 

21 (B) improved heat transfer capability; 

22 (C) manufacturing technology required to 

23 construct complex 3-dimensional geometry parts 

24 with improved aerodynamic capability; 

25 (D) combustion technology to produce 

26 higher firing temperature while lowering nitroVerDate Mar 15 2010 04:48 Sep 28, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2900.RS S2900

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1 gen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions per 

2 unit of output; 

3 (E) advanced controls and systems integra4 tion; 

5 (F) advanced high performance compressor 

6 technology; and 

7 (G) validation facilities for the testing of 

8 components and subsystems; 

9 (2) include technology demonstration through 

10 component testing, subscale testing, and full-scale 

11 testing in existing fleets; 

12 (3) include field demonstrations of the devel13 oped technology elements so as to demonstrate tech14 nical and economic feasibility; and 

15 (4) assess overall combined cycle and simple 

16 cycle system performance. 

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

18 program established under subsection (a) shall be— 

19 (1) in phase I— 

20 (A) to develop the conceptual design of ad21 vanced high efficiency gas turbines that can 

22 achieve at least 62 percent combined cycle effi23 ciency or 47 percent simple cycle efficiency on 

24 a lower heating value basis; and 


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1 (B) to develop and demonstrate the tech2 nology required for advanced high efficiency gas 

3 turbines that can achieve at least 62 percent 

4 combined cycle efficiency or 47 percent simple 

5 cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; 

6 and 

7 (2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual de8 sign for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that 

9 can achieve at least 65 percent combined cycle effi10 ciency or 50 percent simple cycle efficiency on a 

11 lower heating value basis. 

12 (d) PROPOSALS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

14 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec15 retary shall solicit grant and contract proposals from 

16 industry, small businesses, institutions of higher 

17 education, and other appropriate parties for con18 ducting activities under this section. 

19 (2) SELECTION.—In selecting proposals, the 

20 Secretary shall emphasize the extent to which a pro21 posal will— 

22 (A) stimulate the creation or increased re23 tention of jobs in the United States; and 

24 (B) promote and enhance United States 

25 technology leadership. 


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1 (e) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.—Awards of financial as2 sistance under this section shall be made on a competitive 

3 basis with an emphasis on technical merit. 

4 (f) COST SHARING.—Section 988 of the Energy Pol5 icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to an award 

6 of financial assistance under this section. 

7 (g) LIMITS ON PARTICIPATION.—The limits on par8 ticipation applicable under section 999E of the Energy 

9 Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16375) shall apply to 

10 awards of financial assistance under this section. 

11 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

12 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

13 out this section $85,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 

14 through 2014. 


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Calendar No. 601 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2900 

[Report No. 111–315] 

A BILL 

To establish a research, development, and techand simple cycle power generation systems. ficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle nology demonstration program to improve the efSEPTEMBER 27, 2010 

Reported without amendment 


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