OREANDA-NEWS.   GE (NYSE: GE) today marked the launch of its new Distributed Power business in the Latin America region. Meeting the growing demand for on-site power systems that are efficient, reliable and sustainable, GE’s Distributed Power business is investing USD 1.4 billion over four years globally and has three key product lines—aeroderivative gas turbines, Jenbacher gas engines and Waukesha gas engines. All three product ranges are qualified under GE’s ecomagination program, which is the company’s innovative technology platform to increase customer productivity and drive cleaner energy solutions.

GE’s Distributed Power business sees a USD 100 billion opportunity spanning a variety of applications and will specifically address the increased demand for on-site power from oil and gas majors and heavy industries in Latin America. The industrial sector accounts for a significant part of the power consumed in the region today, with overall demand for electricity projected to grow at an average of seven percent over the next 10 years. Increasingly, industries are relying on on-site power systems to meet their needs and accelerate operational efficiency.

The product lines from GE’s Distributed Power bring the dual advantage of assured and reliable power supply onsite as well as off-grid solutions and the ability to work with renewable energy solutions, a focus area in several countries including Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, among others.

Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE’s Distributed Power business, announced the launch of Latin America’s new business. She said: “GE has been a trusted partner in the progress of the region. Today, in line with the growth in the manufacturing sector and increasing demand for on-site power, delivering new power generation solutions is of critical importance to improve regional energy security. GE’s Distributed Power solutions enable power generation at or near the point of use, providing our customers more flexibility and control.

“We are honored to launch our Distributed Power business in Latin America, which now includes our Engineering Center in Queretaro and our Service Center in Petropolis, Brazil, for localized service for the aeroderivative and oil and gas sectors. Distributed Power is all about creating local power using local fuels for faster, flexible, scalable and secure power generation. GE’s aeroderivative gas turbines and Waukesha and Jenbacher gas engines can be installed in weeks and generate power in as little as five minutes. GE’s on-site power generation solutions will enable industries to take the pressure off the national grids, freeing more power for meeting peak load requirements. They also reduce energy losses from transmission and distribution, thus delivering both economic and environmental benefits.”