The Department of Energy-Savannah River Site’s Biomass Cogeneration Facility is nearing construction completion. After nearly two years of engineering and construction, the Aiken, SC, power facility is entering the commissioning and start-up phase. This plant, which produces 20 megawatts of electric power and up to 180,000 pounds per hour of medium pressure steam to site users, is nearing mechanical completion in July. Casey Industrial, the general contractor, is wrapping up piping installation and electrical terminations. After two months of check-out and start-up, the plant will begin producing steam and power by September. With the final operating permits now in place, the plant will then begin a performance testing phase and be fully operational in advance of Ameresco’s scheduled date of December 2011. ESI is supporting this final effort with onsite engineering and commissioning management, as well as support by the design staff in our home office. ESI is also wrapping up development of commissioning, operating and maintenance manuals for use by the Ameresco permanent plant staff. Ameresco will then operate the facility for the next 15-20 years to support the mission at Savannah River Site.
