GE Energy turned in a gold medal performance at the recently completed Athens 2004 Olympics Games, using technology and teamwork to assure the reliable delivery of back-up electricity for hundreds of events involving thousands of athletes from around the world.

Through its rentals and services businesses, GE supplied the equipment and the expertise to bring back-up power to 45 Olympic sites. After a year of detailed planning, in just eight weeks leading up to the Games, GE installed more than 180 miles of electrical cables and 1100 distribution panels to 9000 customer outlets, along with generating units that totaled 100 MW of capacity—the equivalent of supplying electricity for 100,000 homes.

“The hallmarks of this effort were speed, scope, complexity and execution,” said Ricardo Artigas, president of GE Energy’s services business. “Preparing for the Olympics was like a marathon, hurdles race and sprint all rolled into one.”

GE Energy assembled a team of its most experienced technicians and personnel from all over the world for the Olympics effort. “More than 100 employees and contractors descended on Athens to coordinate and orchestrate one of the biggest and most challenging special events powering projects ever undertaken,” said Artigas.

“Our responsibility was not only to have the back-up power to the various venues, but to make sure all systems were ready if needed. With an average of 16 venues operating daily, it was like backing-up 16 Super Bowls a day for 16 days. This was our best performance ever.”   

In addition to the electric cables and distribution panels, equipment supplied through GE’s rentals group included 280 diesel generators ranging from 25 to 1850 kW, 24 x 300-kVA isolation transformers for the International Broadcast Center and associated distribution and protection systems.   

In addition, GE provided backup power and the transmission and distribution capabilities to deliver utility-generated power to 35 of the Games’ sports venues; including the Athens Olympic Committee (ATHOC) technology centers at each venue to support phone, computer, security and medical operations; the Olympic Village; media centers; and the ATHOC sponsor hospitality area.