[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2900 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gas Turbine Efficiency Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS TURBINES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in this 
section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a multiyear, multiphase 
program of research, development, and technology demonstration--
            (1) to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in power 
        generation systems; and
            (2) to identify the technologies that ultimately will lead 
        to gas turbine combined cycle efficiency of 65 percent or 
        simple cycle efficiency of 50 percent.
    (b) Program Elements.--The program under this section shall--
            (1) support first-of-a-kind engineering and detailed gas 
        turbine design for megawatt-scale and utility-scale electric 
        power generation, including--
                    (A) high temperature materials, including 
                superalloys, coatings, and ceramics;
                    (B) improved heat transfer capability;
                    (C) manufacturing technology required to construct 
                complex 3-dimensional geometry parts with improved 
                aerodynamic capability;
                    (D) combustion technology to produce higher firing 
                temperature while lowering nitrogen oxide and carbon 
                monoxide emissions per unit of output;
                    (E) advanced controls and systems integration;
                    (F) advanced high performance compressor 
                technology; and
                    (G) validation facilities for the testing of 
                components and subsystems;
            (2) include technology demonstration through component 
        testing, subscale testing, and full-scale testing in existing 
        fleets;
            (3) include field demonstrations of the developed 
        technology elements so as to demonstrate technical and economic 
        feasibility; and
            (4) assess overall combined cycle and simple cycle system 
        performance.
    (c) Program Goals.--The goals of the multiphase program established 
under subsection (a) shall be--
            (1) in phase I--
                    (A) to develop the conceptual design of advanced 
                high efficiency gas turbines that can achieve at least 
                62 percent combined cycle efficiency or 47 percent 
                simple cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; 
                and
                    (B) to develop and demonstrate the technology 
                required for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that 
                can achieve at least 62 percent combined cycle 
                efficiency or 47 percent simple cycle efficiency on a 
                lower heating value basis; and
            (2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual design for 
        advanced high efficiency gas turbines that can achieve at least 
        65 percent combined cycle efficiency or 50 percent simple cycle 
        efficiency on a lower heating value basis.
    (d) Proposals.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit grant and 
        contract proposals from industry, small businesses, 
        institutions of higher education, and other appropriate parties 
        for conducting activities under this section.
            (2) Selection.--In selecting proposals, the Secretary shall 
        emphasize the extent to which a proposal will--
                    (A) stimulate the creation or increased retention 
                of jobs in the United States; and
                    (B) promote and enhance United States technology 
                leadership.
    (e) Competitive Awards.--Awards of financial assistance under this 
section shall be made on a competitive basis with an emphasis on 
technical merit.
    (f) Cost Sharing.--Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to an award of financial assistance under 
this section.
    (g) Limits on Participation.--The limits on participation 
applicable under section 999E of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16375) shall apply to awards of financial assistance under this 
section.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $85,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014.
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