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Turkey to Connect with the European Grid, Expanding Energy and Economic Opportunities

"The territory serviced by ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity) is one of the highest demand regions for energy in the world," according to a report issued in 2009 by the Ministry of Energy*. "The energy policies of ENTSO-E's countries are driving a single market model through the synchronization of more networks, thus increasing the reliability of the supply of electricity to maximize the efficiency of generation, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy while minimizing environmental impact."

Connecting Turkey with the rest of the European grid is an important step to help meet these initiatives. The cross-border system may also enable a new, cleaner energy mix for Europe. There is a demand for renewable energy in European countries, and Turkey has massive renewable energy sources, which makes this new relationship mutually beneficial to both TEIAS and ENTSO-E.

"Smart grid solutions are opening energy opportunities in new ways every day," said Bob Gilligan, vice president-digital energy for GE Energy Services. "Our communications and control technologies are enabling international trade and power-sharing breakthroughs that seemed nearly impossible just a few years ago. When Turkey joins the European energy community, it will be a vital step forward for power systems on both sides of the connection."

GE's smart grid communications and wide area protection solutions will monitor grid status at the points of connection and automate the control of generation and load within Turkey. The system will optimize power sharing and power quality while improving reliability and preventing cascading outages.

GE completed the engineering for the system in a matter of months, using proven products and system integration expertise. Currently in the final phases of testing, GE's wide-area protection solutions should enable the first inter-connection of Turkey's and European grids in September.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $37 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy-GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas-work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

*http://www.enerji.gov.tr/yayinlar_raporlar/Sektor_Raporu_TEIAS_2009.pdf

GE Energy Services
Britton Cronin, +1-972-701-5452
britton.cronin@ge.com