Elkridge, MD. January 19, 2011 – Global performance improvement solutions provider General Physics Corporation (GP), the operating subsidiary of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX), formally recognized Kansas City Power & Light’s (KCP&L) Hawthorn Generating Station, Unit 5, for achieving a 3 percent heat rate improvement, exceeding its budgeted generation goals for 2010.
Through teamwork and the use of GP’s EtaPRO™ and VirtualPlant™ performance technologies, Hawthorn’s Unit 5 reached a heat rate record of 9,900 Btu/kWh. The estimated 150,000-ton reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions helps KCP&L meet its obligations with the Sierra Club and equates to saving over 60,000 acres of rainforest.
Joe Nasal, Energy Services Senior Vice President for GP, presented the 2010 GP Power Performance Excellence Award to Hawthorn Generating Station Manager Darrel Hensley during a recent plant visit. “We are pleased to be associated with an organization that places a priority on environmental stewardship and efficiency, and wanted to recognize KCP&L’s success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a lower heat rate,” said Mr. Nasal.
“This record heat rate is the result of plant-wide and corporate teamwork in combination with the partnership of GP and their products,” said Mr. Hensley. “This goes to show that a focused effort on plant efficiency can result in real and lasting performance gains.”
“Improving efficiency at our existing generating facilities is a key part of KCP&L’s strategy for providing economic, environmentally conscientious power to our customers,” said Scott Heidtbrink, Senior Vice President of Supply, KCP&L. “We’re extremely proud of this accomplishment and look to extend this success throughout our generating fleet.”
The desire to reduce carbon emissions has resulted in increased management focus and attention on plant performance. KCP&L is targeting heat rate improvement at its coal units as one of the principal methods to meet its commitment to reduce carbon emissions. KCP&L’s coal fleet is currently on target to achieve a year-over-year heat rate improvement of over 1 percent in 2010. This success took a coordinated effort and commitment on the part of many people to make happen. “In the end, the staff at the plants want to make the units run as well as they can but don’t always have all the tools to do it,” said Kenny Luebbert, Principal Performance Engineer, KCP&L. “EtaPRO provides one of the tools they need in this effort.”
About GP
GP is the principal operating subsidiary of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX). GP is a global performance improvement solutions provider of sales and technical training, e-Learning solutions, management consulting and engineering services. GP’s solutions improve the effectiveness of organizations by delivering innovative and superior training, consulting and business improvement services, customized to meet the specific needs of its clients. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing, process and energy industries, and other commercial and government customers. Additional information may be found at http://www.gpworldwide.com.
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