Site Breaks Ground on New Biomass Heating Plant
WC Monitor
5/15/2015
Officials this week celebrated the groundbreaking of an expansion to the Savannah River Site’s Biomass Cogeneration Facility that will involve adding a new heating plant. The biomass plant, built and operated by Ameresco, began operation in 2012 and provides energy and steam for Savannah River by using local forest residue and wood chips as fuel. Construction of the new heating plant is expected to start in June, with operations slated for spring 2016, according to a Department of Energy release. It would involve installing a new biomass fueled boiler and relocating an existing boiler to a new building, with a goal of about three to four additional megawatts of power generation.
The plant so far has generated approximately 5.8 billion pounds of steam and more than 330,000 megawatts of electricity, according to DOE. “The DOE/Ameresco Project Team have done a tremendous job since the inception of the SRS Biomass Cogeneration Project and this additional modification will add to the success,” DOE Savannah River Manager Dave Moody said in a statement. “The SRS Biomass Cogeneration Facility supports the Department’s energy efficiency goals and this second plant will further advance our progress to meet national challenges in strategic areas like sustainability and clean energy.”
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), whose district includes the site, heralded the expansion of the facility at the groundbreaking ceremony. “I’m grateful to join DOE and Ameresco today to break ground on the Biomass Heating Plant at the Savannah River Site,” Wilson said in a statement. “This new facility will produce a steady and reliable source of steam for SRS, provides essential support to the ongoing critical national security and environmental clean-up missions, and will create 50 construction jobs in the process. Ameresco is a shining example of how the Energy Savings Performance Contracts can save taxpayer money while producing green energy. For the past five years, I’ve been humbled to work closely with Ameresco. I congratulate them on launching a new phase of their operations and I am grateful for their creation of jobs in the Aiken-Barnwell community.”
