GE Energy`s Gas Engines Powering First North American Cogeneration Plant for Commercial Greenhouses

Onsite Power Project Showcases GE Energy`s Jenbacher Technology to Reduce
Emissions and Cost
TORONTO--(Business Wire)--
Canadian government and business leaders today gathered near Lake Erie in
southern Ontario for the grand opening of North America`s first GE-designed
greenhouse cogeneration plant installed to generate more reliable onsite power
and heat for commercial greenhouses and help the country reduce its emissions
from energy production.

Great Northern Hydroponics, a division of Detroit-based Soave Enterprises,
installed the 12-megawatt commercial greenhouse power plant at Soave`s
sprawling, 55-acre tomato greenhouse complex in Kingsville, Ontario. The complex
is located near Lake Erie`s north shore in the Leamington region, about 350
kilometers (km) west of Toronto and about 50 km east of Detroit.

The high-efficiency onsite power plant, powered by four of GE Energy`s Jenbacher
gas engines cogeneration modules, was among seven natural gas-fueled combined
heat and power (CHP) projects approved by the Ontario Power Authority in 2006 to
showcase how advanced cogeneration technologies could help make industrial
plants more energy independent, improve local grid reliability and support
Canada`s clean and renewable energy goals.

Surplus power from the greenhouse power plant is being sold to the local grid
under a 20-year contract with the Ontario Power Authority. The plant supplies
enough electricity to Ontario`s transmission grid to power 12,000 to 15,000
Canadian homes annually.

In addition to generating power and heat to support greenhouse operations, the
power plant also treats the gas engines` exhaust, enabling CO2 from the exhaust
to be recycled and applied as a special fertilizer to enhance greenhouse crop
production.

Because CHP plants are inherently more energy efficient than separate systems to
create electrical and thermal power, less fuel is consumed to produce the same
amount of power. As a result, cogeneration can help to lower regional industrial
emissions associated with energy production.

"Our inaugural greenhouse cogeneration project was made possible because of
Ontario`s commitment to energy efficiency and initiatives to add significant
amounts of energy from cogeneration to the provincial power grid," said Guido
van het Hof, president of Great Northern Hydroponics.

The cogeneration plant allows Soave to control its greenhouse operating expenses
and improve its competitive position against other growers in North America, van
het Hof explained.

The project also will support Ontario`s renewable energy goals because high
efficiency, dispatchable cogeneration projects-including the Soave Hydroponics
project-are helping the integration of renewable energy projects into the grid,
van het Hof added.

The special CO2 fertilization/cogeneration system was developed by GE Energy`s
Jenbacher gas engine business, which operates a global horticultural
applications center of excellence in The Netherlands. The Soave plant features
four ecomagination-certified, JMS 620 Jenbacher gas engines, heat recovery and
exhaust treatment equipment, noise abatement and systems controls.

The complete greenhouse cogeneration system was supplied by DDACE Power Systems,
GE`s Jenbacher engine distributor for eastern Canada. H.H. Angus and Associated
Ltd. of Toronto provided engineering services for the North American reference
plant.

"GE is pleased that its special Jenbacher greenhouse cogeneration technology is
supporting Soave Hydroponics` and the Ontario government`s goals to increase
local energy efficiency and energy reliability in support of Canada`s
anti-climate change initiatives," said Roger George, general manager for GE`s
Jenbacher gas engine business in North America. "Facilitating additional
cogeneration projects in the greenhouse industry will support new sustainable
energy, environment and employment opportunities throughout this multi-billion
dollar industry."

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world`s leading suppliers of power
generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of $29.3 billion.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry
including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as
water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy
products are certified under ecomagination, GE`s corporate-wide initiative to
aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet
pressing environmental challenges.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is
built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and
health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100
countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information,
visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.

GE Energy
Catherine Stengel
+1-678-468-5712 (mobile)
+1-678-844-7556 (office)
catherine.stengel@ge.com
or
Masto Public Relations
Ken Darling or Tom Murnane
+1-518-786-6488
kenneth.darling@ge.com
tom.murnane@mastopr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009