US power plant to reduce emissions by 50 percent

Siemens will supply electrical equipment, power transformers, and its latest control system technology to the US$200 million Holland Energy Park in Holland, Michigan.

The fuel-efficient gas-fired power station is being constructed as part of a 40-year initiative to reduce the carbon footprint in the city of Holland, and is seen as a replacement for the coal-fired plant currently providing energy to the city’s 35,000 residents.

“Siemens [has] contributed expertise across our broad portfolio to help Holland Energy Park operate their power assets as efficiently as possible,” Kevin Yates, President of Siemens Energy Management Department, told Cities Today. “We see a growing number of similar projects in the energy space that rely not only on alternative energy delivery and business models, but collaboration across the value chain. We believe [that] our knowledge and application of our broad technologies will help the industry meet and embrace this evolution.” 

The local utility board, the Holland Board of Public Works, previously awarded procurement contracts to Siemens worth US$45 million for two natural gas combustion turbines and the steam turbine generator at the park, in 2015.

The latest agreement will see the global engineering company step up its involvement in the plant by providing 63 kA type medium voltage GM-SG-AR switchgear and three 138-13.8 kV generator step-up transformers. Siemens will also install its Distributed Control System, which connects and allows for communication between the plant’s various hardware systems.

These critical infrastructure components will enable the plant to achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions at the site by up to 50 percent, and generate over 125 megawatts in summer and 145 megawatts in winter. The higher output in winter will be achieved by redirecting the waste heat generated by circulating water through a heat exchanger to a modern downtown snowmelt system.

In addition to its function in the snowmelt and power space, Holland Energy Park will serve as an educational resource, with special architectural details that allow for public tours and public green space surrounding the facility with nature trails.

The Holland Board of Public Works has also registered with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure in an effort to obtain an Envision Platinum Rating for the facility. The project is expected to be completed in 2017.