Gas power plant achieves Guinness record

Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station, powered by Siemens Energy’s SGT6-9000HL turbine, has been certified with the official Guinness World Records title for the “most powerful simple-cycle gas power plant” with an output of 410.9 megawatts.

Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station. (Photo: Duke Energy)

As part of an agreement, Siemens Energy installed and is currently testing its SGT6-9000HL turbine at Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station, about 25 miles north of Charlotte, NC. The new 60 Hz unit can generate enough energy to power more than 300,000 homes.

Siemens Energy said the SGT6-9000HL turbine is designed to run longer between maintenance cycles and will be the most efficient of its type in Duke Energy’s fleet – about 34% more efficient than the existing combustion turbines at the Lincoln site.

“Power output, efficiency and operational flexibility are crucial elements in the decarbonization of the energy sector,” said Karim Amin, executive board member at Siemens Energy. “This Guinness World Records title demonstrates our capability as a technology leader working together with Duke Energy to accelerate the path towards net-zero emissions.”

“Duke Energy is pursuing an aggressive clean energy transition, already achieving more than 40% carbon reduction since 2005,” said Kevin Murray, vice president of Project Management & Construction at Duke Energy. “The new gas turbine at our Lincoln site will become the most fuel-efficient gas turbine in our fleet. The unit’s fast start and high ramp rate capability will support the increase in renewables we are placing on our system while complementing our journey to net-zero carbon from electricity generation by 2050.”

The equipment that achieved the record was delivered to the Lincoln site in November of 2019 and was started for the first time in April 2020. It’s the first 60 Hz HL-class turbine from Siemens Energy.