Diageo has selected Clarke Energy, a distributor of GE’s Jenbacher gas engines, to install turnkey combined heat and power (CHP) plants at its Guinness breweries in Ogba and Benin City, Nigeria.

Each 3.3MW CHP plant will each feature a natural gas-powered Jenbacher J620 gas engine and a backup diesel engine from a different supplier.

The new Ogba and Benin City projects, which mark fifth and sixth Jenbacher CHP engines of Diageo, will help the company reduce operational costs and lower energy costs at its Nigerian Guinness breweries.

Newly added pre-combustion chamber layout also helps the engine achieve maximum efficiency with low emissions.

The new, ecomagination-approved Jenbacher J620 CHP units are scheduled to be fully installed, tested and in operation by the first quarter of 2013.

Guinness Nigeria Benin electrical/automation manager Henry Ohenhen said that GE’s Jenbacher gas engines are supporting the company’s efforts to incorporate energy efficiency technologies to increase productivity.

"The performance of our previously installed Jenbacher gas engines, in terms of reliability, productivity and efficiency, has been tremendous," Ohenhen added.

"The proven capabilities of GE’s gas engines and Clarke Energy’s comprehensive, local after-sales service support have given us significant competitive advantages, helping us to develop the most modern and advanced breweries in Africa. This latest installation will help support our growth and expansion goals."