II 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2900 

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 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

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. SHORT TITLE. 

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

5 Act of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS TURBINES. 

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

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


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1 multiyear, multiphase program of research, development, 

2 and technology demonstration— 

3 (1) to improve the efficiency of gas turbines 

4 used in power generation systems; and 

5 (2) to identify the technologies that ultimately 

6 will lead to gas turbine combined cycle efficiency of 

7 65 percent or simple cycle efficiency of 50 percent. 

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

9 section shall— 

10 (1) support first-of-a-kind engineering and de11 tailed gas turbine design for megawatt-scale and 

12 utility-scale electric power generation, including— 

13 (A) high temperature materials, including 

14 superalloys, coatings, and ceramics; 

15 (B) improved heat transfer capability; 

16 (C) manufacturing technology required to 

17 construct complex 3-dimensional geometry parts 

18 with improved aerodynamic capability; 

19 (D) combustion technology to produce 

20 higher firing temperature while lowering nitro21 gen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions per 

22 unit of output; 

23 (E) advanced controls and systems integra24 tion; 


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1 (F) advanced high performance compressor 

2 technology; and 

3 (G) validation facilities for the testing of 

4 components and subsystems; 

5 (2) include technology demonstration through 

6 component testing, subscale testing, and full-scale 

7 testing in existing fleets; 

8 (3) include field demonstrations of the devel9 oped technology elements so as to demonstrate tech10 nical and economic feasibility; and 

11 (4) assess overall combined cycle and simple 

12 cycle system performance. 

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

14 program established under subsection (a) shall be— 

15 (1) in phase I— 

16 (A) to develop the conceptual design of ad17 vanced high efficiency gas turbines that can 

18 achieve at least 62 percent combined cycle effi19 ciency or 47 percent simple cycle efficiency on 

20 a lower heating value basis; and 

21 (B) to develop and demonstrate the tech22 nology required for advanced high efficiency gas 

23 turbines that can achieve at least 62 percent 

24 combined cycle efficiency or 47 percent simple 


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1 cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; 

2 and 

3 (2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual de4 sign for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that 

5 can achieve at least 65 percent combined cycle effi6 ciency or 50 percent simple cycle efficiency on a 

7 lower heating value basis. 

8 (d) PROPOSALS.— 

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

10 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec11 retary shall solicit grant and contract proposals from 

12 industry, small businesses, institutions of higher 

13 education, and other appropriate parties for con14 ducting activities under this section. 

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

16 Secretary shall emphasize the extent to which a pro17 posal will— 

18 (A) stimulate the creation or increased re19 tention of jobs in the United States; and 

20 (B) promote and enhance United States 

21 technology leadership. 

22 (e) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.—Awards of financial as23 sistance under this section shall be made on a competitive 

24 basis with an emphasis on technical merit. 


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1 (f) COST SHARING.—Section 988 of the Energy Pol2 icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to an award 

3 of financial assistance under this section. 

4 (g) LIMITS ON PARTICIPATION.—The limits on par5 ticipation applicable under section 999E of the Energy 

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

7 awards of financial assistance under this section. 

8 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

9 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

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

11 through 2014. 

Æ 


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