S&C Electric will procure and construct the electrical equipment necessary to connect 34 Vestas 3.0-MW turbines to the grid. The plant’s capacity, at completion, will be 102 MW. The plant is owned by Coram California Development, L.P.
Increasing renewable energy production at existing plants is a major priority in California considering the renewable energy goals set forth in the new California Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS).
The new goals, as of April 12, will require 33 percent of total energy supplies to come from certified renewable sources by 2020 – one of the most aggressive renewable energy goals in the United States.
But upgrading infrastructure economically while minimizing plant downtime is extremely challenging.
“Given the difficulties inherent in updating an existing plant, we wanted an EPC electrical system provider with a proven track record of swiftly completing complex projects,” said Rick Ortiz Construction Executive for Mortenson Construction.
“S&C Electric offers extensive experience in developing customized approaches for renewable energy integration,” Ortiz said.
For this particular project, S&C Electric will integrate a 69-kV underground transmission line, which is very unusual for renewable energy projects and as such, requires a high level of technical expertise and customisation.
S&C Electric will also develop two 66-kV substations and overhead and underground collector systems.
“We are drawing on our extensive renewable energy and electric utility experience to customize a solution to increase the wind farm’s capacity,” said Dan Girard, director of renewable energy, S&C Electric.
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