Learn About the Holland Energy Park Cooling Towers

Why do we need cooling towers?

As construction advances on the Holland Energy Park (HEP), passersby will notice significant progress on the cooling towers structure nearest Chicago Drive. These towers are critical components for cooling the “combined cycle” process that increases the thermal efficiency of the plant. To learn more about how it works, check out the diagram below. Notice how the closed loop from the cooling towers captures excess heat from the plant, helping condense steam from the combined cycle process back into liquid.

How the combined cycle plant works.

What comes out of the cooling towers? Is it smoke?

The only thing exiting the cooling towers is clean water vapor. The cooling towers evaporate water from an entirely separate and contained loop that does not come in contact with the combustion or generation processes.

Will there be a plume?

One of the most frequent questions we hear about the HEP cooling towers is, “Will it produce a big plume [cloud] or shut down the road like the plant in Zeeland?” Unlike the natural gas plant near Chicago Drive in Zeeland, our cooling towers are equipped with ClearSky plume abatement technology to ensure virtually no plume on most days and a very reduced plume under the most inclement conditions. This was an important concern to us from the beginning stages of our planning process including site selection, and so we elected to invest in plume abatement early on to avoid any interruptions to the road or surrounding natural area. Learn more about the process at http://spxcooling.com/Clearsky/solutions/

*image property and courtesy of SPX Cooling, ClearSky Solutions: http://spxcooling.com/Clearsky/solutions/

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Photo property of the Holland Sentinel, Emily Brouwer/Sentinel Staff.

Barton Malow, our EPC Contractor is assembling the construction crane for the Holland Energy Park this week. See the full story at the Holland Sentinel.

The post Crane Assembly Begins at Holland Energy Park appeared first on Holland's Energy Future | P21 Decision.

“The last couple months have been invaluable in helping us reach a contract that’s favorable for all parties,” said Dave Koster, general manager at HBPW. “We have great confidence in the Barton Malow team, and we’re eager to see the Holland Energy Park take shape.”

While the approved bid was for nearly $145 million, HBPW anticipates that adjustments during the open book period of the contract will land the final price below their original budget of $140 million. However, the board still recommended approval of $145 million for contingency purposes.

With construction set to begin next month, the contract schedule calls for generation and testing in late 2016, and substantial completion by February, 2017. More detailed construction milestones are available at p21decision.com/the-new-power-plant/construction-timeline/.

The Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) is a community-owned enterprise providing electric generation and distribution, water, wastewater treatment and broadband utility services to nearly 28,000 business and residential customers in the Holland area. HBPW is committed to enhancing the economic and environmental vitality of the community, providing reliable services at the lowest rates achievable through innovation and efficiency.

The post Holland BPW & City Council Approve EPC Contract for Energy Park appeared first on Holland's Energy Future | P21 Decision.

The BPW is currently working with Holland-based architect GMB to study and plan for the transition of the snowmelt system from relying on James De Young (JDY) Unit #3 to the Holland Energy Park. With the eventual retirement of Unit #3 at JDY, the proposed plan is for construction of a new snowmelt main from the natural gas plant down 8th St and connecting to the existing main line at 8th and Columbia Ave.

The Holland BPW is also considering expansion of the snow melt system with the potential for district energy (using the same system to heat buildings), which could also mean a new snowmelt main down 9th St.

Holland has been enjoying clear sidewalks and streets in the downtown commercial corridor since the system was installed in 1988. It’s an important factor in sustained commercial business success during the winter months, and as downtown has grown, so has the demand for clear streets and walkways.

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