November 17, 2011 – Siemens continues to expand its network of gas turbine manufacturing facilities, inaugurating a new gas turbine factory in Charlotte, N.C., yesterday, representing an investment of over $350 million in the 42,000-m² plant.

“The Charlotte plant will not only supply the U.S. and other countries that use 60Hz grids, but will also export our advanced power plant technology around the world,” said Michael Suess, member of the Siemens AG managing board and CEO of the company’s Energy Sector. “We project that exports from this location will increase to more than $400 million annually.” Charlotte is the only Siemens plant in the world that makes both gas and steam turbines, as well as generators.

Worldwide demand for high-efficiency gas power plants is driven by the high availability of natural gas, the aging power plant inventory, and the desire to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, says Siemens.

The average age of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. is about 40 years, says Siemens, meaning there is “great potential for replacing these with modern, more efficient power plants”.