New terms are always emerging in the energy business. With GE‘s recent deployment of eight Aero LMS100 turbine-generators in a California natural gas plant intended to act as a partner to renewables by ramping up and down extremely quickly, “wind firming” is the latest term that has emerged in the generation business.

The CPV Sentinel’s eight turbines can reach peak capacity in 10 minutes and are therefore part of “wind firming” because they provide a back-up system for intermittent generation sources such as wind and solar.

GE has also developed the 7FA turbine, which can reach 75% of its peak capacity in 10 minutes. With increasing development of renewables, thermal generators that work as allies to renewables rather than competitors may be the way of the future.

Pictures: Aero LMS100 turbine (top), 7FA turbine (above), Courtesy of GE’s Txchnologist blog.