General Electric, Southern California Edison unveil world's 1st hybrid electric gas turbine

NORWALK, Calif. (KABC) -- General Electric and Southern California Edison joined forces to debut new green technology in Norwalk which aims to reduce greenhouse gases.

The first of its kind hybrid power plant combines two energy sources - gas turbine and battery power - to run a facility much like a hybrid car.

"First we draw on the battery and then if we need to we draw on the gas," Southern California Edison President Ron Nichols said. "If we don't have to drive too far, then we don't have to use any gas at all."

The utility said the technology will help reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions.

"We believe that this combination is going to reduce startups that burn more fuel, startups that cause emissions, by 50 percent," Nichols said.

Southern California Edison said its customers will benefit from the new technology.

"They're probably not going to see an instant difference on their bill, but collectively, as we do more and more of these changes, it will be lower cost than it would have been otherwise," Nichols explained.

General Electric said the facility basically acts as a giant cellphone charger.

"You take your phone, you take 120 volts AC and make roughly four volts DC to charge your one cell," Shanon Kolasienski with General Electric explained. "And we're trying to charge 18,432 cells."

Air quality experts said the massive gas leak at the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon facility highlighted the need for this kind of technology.

"The importance of having alternatives and supplemental supplies to meet our energy needs while maintaining environmental safeguards," said Jill Whynot, the deputy executive officer of operations for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The hybrid electric-gas turbine in Norwalk was one of two plants already operating in Southern California since late March.