Pasadena Power Plant Turbine to Undergo $4 Million Repair

The Pasadena City Council unanimously approved a $4.2 million purchase order agreement with General Electric Vernova Operations LLC to repair the Glenarm Turbine 5, known as GT-5. This crucial component of the City’s power plant has been out of service since November 2023.

The GT-5, one of five generating units at the Glenarm Power Plant owned and operated by Pasadena Water and Power (PWP), provides over 65 megawatts of the facility’s overall 200 MW capacity. The unit was shut down in November 2023 after metallic particles were discovered in lubrication oil samples during earlier inspections by GE.

PWP initially requested $2.3 million for the repair, but GE provided a revised quote considering the additional parts and work necessary to complete and reassemble GT-5’s engine, increasing the required amount to $4.2 million. The main cost drivers are the replacement of fuel nozzles and materials associated with turbine nozzles, blades, and shrouds, accounting for almost 90% of the requested increase.

PWP officials visited GE’s facility in Houston to validate the findings and determined that the additional scope of work identified by GE was valid and necessary. Funds for the contract will be sourced from the fiscal year 2024 Capital Improvements Budget.