GE (NYSE: GE) today released its 2011
ecomagination progress report, announcing that the initiative has
reached more than $105 billion in sales and services since its launch in
2005. For the year, GE generated $21 billion in revenues from
ecomagination products and services and invested more than $2 billion in
research and development, continuing progress toward the company’s goal
of a $10 billion cumulative investment from 2010 to 2015.
Thirty four new products and services were added to the ecomagination
portfolio in 2011, including:
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The FlexEfficiency*
50 Combined Cycle Power Plant, a first-of-its-kind power plant
engineered to deliver a new standard for flexibility and efficiency.
The technology enables the integration of power from a variety of
sources, including solar and wind.
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The Waukesha
275GL+ natural gas engine, which produces lower greenhouse gas
emissions relative to comparable natural gas engines. In one
application, a 16V Waukesha 275GL+ engine operating at the same
horsepower as a competitive engine can avoid more than 1,900 metric
tons of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions
of more than 380 cars on U.S. roads.
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GE’s RailEdge
Movement Planner® software
technology that helps railroad customers move freight faster and
smarter. In one example, a customer increased average train velocity
in a segment of its network by 10 percent. If used throughout the
network, it could help avoid the consumption of 37 million gallons of
diesel fuel per year, equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of
approximately 73,000 cars on U.S. roads.
GE also introduced its first two ecomagination-qualified solutions – the fleet
electrification solution and the ecomagination
Kitchen, a suite of products that can help to reduce kitchen
electricity use by up to 20 percent.
“In a volatile world where the global population is increasing and
governments are under financial pressure, ecomagination is a path
forward,” said Mark Vachon, vice president of ecomagination, GE. “The
results we have generated through ecomagination prove we are delivering
to our customers what they need most. Whether they are countries,
municipalities, companies or individuals, ecomagination is about
resource efficiency and increased productivity – ecomagination offers
great economics.”
Reinforcing its commitment to open innovation, to date, GE and its
venture capital partners have invested $134 million in GE’s
ecomagination Challenge winners. In 2011, the company launched a
regional Challenge in China where it committed $100 million to find and
fund the best gas-powered energy applications. Since its launch, the
Challenge has produced 22 new commercial partnerships, including energy
efficient building maker, Project Frog and SynapSense, makers of
wireless sensor technology and software that reduces electricity
consumption in data centers. All have the potential to transform markets
and radically increase resource efficiency.
* Trademark of the General Electric Company
The report also highlights GE’s industry-leading operational rigor,
which resulted in further greenhouse gas and water use reductions.
Greenhouse gas emissions were lowered 29 percent as compared with an
adjusted 2004 baseline. Similarly, fresh water use was reduced 35
percent from the 2006 adjusted baseline.
The 2011 ecomagination progress report provides an update on the
advancements GE has made against its five ecomagination commitments,
which include:
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Double investment in clean-tech research and development: GE
reinforced its commitment to investing in the future, deploying $2.3
billion in ecomagination R&D. With a total R&D investment of more than
$4 billion in 2010 and 2011, the company is on track toward its goal
of a $10 billion cumulative investment from 2010 to 2015.
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Increase revenues from ecomagination products: In 2010, GE set
an ambitious goal of growing ecomagination revenues at twice the rate
of total company revenue in the next five years. With 34 new products
and services generating $21 billion –ecomagination revenue continues
to grow at twice the rate of total company revenues.
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Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve the energy
efficiency of operations: In 2011, GE energy use was lowered to
48.17 million MMBtu, a reduction of 19 percent from the adjusted 2004
baseline. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions were lowered to 5.09
million metric tons of CO2 equivalents, a reduction of 29 percent from
the adjusted 2004 baseline.
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Reduce water use and improve water reuse: Total fresh water use
was 9.1 billion gallons, a 35 percent reduction from the 2006
baseline, and a 13.5 percent decrease from 2010.
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Keep the public informed: GE is committed to keeping our
customers, stakeholders and communities informed and engaged. Interact
with the 2011 ecomagination progress report at: www.ecomagination.com/progress
or follow us on Twitter @ecomagination.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best
technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in
energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering,
moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For
more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
