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SCS Energy provides ongoing operation/maintenance services for most of the power plants that SCS Energy has installed.  SCS Energy also provides ongoing operation/maintenance services for power plants that were installed by other firms.  As of July 2006, SCS had operation/maintenance responsibility for nine power plants having a total capacity of 16 MW. Two other projects totaling 6.4 MW are under contract and are scheduled to begin operation in late 2006. Several current and prior operation/maintenance projects are listed below:

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Industry Hills Cogeneration Project Owner: City of Industry Location: City of Industry, CA

Project Background

The project employs two 1.0 MW reciprocating engines, one of which is fired 50% on landfill gas and 50% on natural gas, and the other 100% on natural gas.  The project began commercial operation in October 2002.  The project employs post-combustion, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NO_x control.  Hot water from the engines is used to provide thermal energy to the hotel.  Because of the sensitivity of SCR to impurities in the landfill gas, extensive cleanup of the raw landfill gas was necessary.  

The project operates in parallel with Southern California Edison (SCE), and is base loaded and load-following.  It displaces power purchases from SCE.  SCS was responsible for the following aspects of the project:

• Obtained a $600,000 Self-Generation grant from Southern California Edison;

• Designed, fabricated and installed a landfill gas pressurization and treatment skid incorporating gas chilling, reheat and multi-stage gas polishing equipment;

• Design and installation of a fuel blending system and control system to coordinate the flare station, fuel treatment, and fuel blending operation; 

• Design, fabrication and construction of a plant-wide SCADA system to link the individual control systems of the engines, the SCR systems, and the CEMS systems.  The SCADA system allows the facility to load follow and to be remotely accessed.

• Air permits and air emissions testing; and

• Ongoing operation and maintenance of the engine/ generators, appurtenant equipment, and the fuel blending/treatment system.

The total plant capacity is 2.0 MW. SCS currently has responsibility for operation/maintenance of this facility.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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Alta Dena Dairy Cogeneration Project Owner: CEPS, LLC Location: City of Industry, CA

Project Background

The project originally employed one natural gas fired Caterpillar reciprocating engine with a total installed capacity of 1.6 MW.  The project supplies electricity, steam and chilled water to the Alta Dena Dairy. The project employs post-combustion, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NO_x control, and has a CEMS.

The project operates in parallel with Southern California Edison Company (SCE), is base loaded, and displaces power purchases from SCE.

The project began commercial operation in September 2004. SCS was responsible for start-up and day-to-day operation/maintenance for this facility for its first six months of operation.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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Pennsauken Landfill LFGTE  Project Owner: PPL Energy Services Location: Pennsauken, NJ

Project Background

The Pennsauken LFGTE facility employs three Caterpillar 3516 engine/generators.  The plant has a capacity of 2.8 MW.  The project began operation in November 2004.

The facility generates power for "over-the-fence" sale to a manufacturer of aluminum shapes.  The power purchaser remains interconnected to the local electric utility for the purpose of obtaining standby and supplemental power and for export of excess power to the regional power grid.

SCS’ responsibilities on this project include:

• Process engineering;

• Design and installation of a landfill gas pressurization and conditioning skid;

• Installation of the owner-supplied engine/generators;

• Design and installation of all other mechanical equipment and piping;

• Relocation of an existing flare and installation of a new flare;

• Design and construction of all civil, structural and site work; and

• Design and installation of a plant-wide SCADA system.

The plant has a capacity of 2.8 MW.  SCS performed this work on a turnkey basis.  SCS had operation/maintenance responsibility for this facility for its first fifteen months of operation.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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Allentown WWTP Digester Gas Microturbine Project Owner: PPL Energy Services Location: Allentown, PA

Project Background

A 360 kW digester gas fired microturbine project was installed at the  Allentown wastewater treatment plant in December 2000.  The project incorporated twelve 30 kW Capstone microturbines equipped with hot water recovery equipment.  The hot water was used to heat the plant's anaerobic digesters. 

Problems with the microturbine plant's fuel pretreatment, fuel compression and hot water recovery equipment led to a suspension of plant operation in 2001.  SCS was engaged to completely upgrade and refurbish the plant including: 

• Fabrication and installation of a fuel treatment train incorporating hydrogen sulfide, moisture, and volatile organic compounds removal;

• Installation of a new fuel gas compressor;

• Removal and refurbishment of twelve microturbines and the addition of a thirteenth microturbine;

• Installation of new exhaust gas duct work, dampers and controls;

• Replacement of the failed cores of the hot water generators;

• Installation of an SCS designed/fabricated SCADA system; and

• Ongoing operation and maintenance of the facility.

SCS undertook this project on a turnkey basis.  Its total capacity after refurbishment was 390 kW.  The refurbished plant  commenced operation in November 2003.  SCS currently has operation/maintenance responsibility for this facility.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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El Estero WWTP Fuel Cell Project Owner: Alliance Power Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Project Background

The project employs two 250 kW FuelCell Energy, Inc. fuel cells.  The fuel cells use digester gas as a fuel.  The methane content of the digester gas is 62 percent.  The project began operation in November 2004.

The project incorporates a waste heat hot water generator and an SCS designed/fabricated digester gas pressurization/treatment skid.  The skid removes moisture, particulates, hydrogen sulfide, halogenated compounds and siloxanes.  The hot water is used to heat the WWTP's anaerobic digesters, which frees up additional digester gas for power generation.  The entire power plant, including digester gas supply and hot water interfaces, are under the control of an SCS designed/fabricated SCADA system.

The power plant operates in parallel with Southern California Edison (SCE) as a baseload unit.  The power plant displaces power otherwise bought from SCE at retail rates.  The project qualifies for net metering under CaPUC regulations.

The total power plant capacity is 500 kW.  SCS executed the project on a design/construct basis.  The project is the largest digester gas fueled fuel cell project in California.  SCS currently has operation/maintenance responsibility for this facility.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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Burbank Microturbine Project Owner: City of Burbank Department of Water & Power Location: Burbank, CA

Project Background

The project employs ten Capstone 30 kW microturbines and one 250 kW Ingersoll-Rand microturbine, all fired on landfill gas with a methane content as low as 38 percent.  The project commenced operation in April 2005.

A project incorporating the ten Capstone microturbines originally commenced operation at this location in July 2001.  After less than a year of operation, the project was shut down due to operational problems with the landfill gas conditioning equipment and the microturbines themselves.

SCS’s responsibilities on this new project included:

• Demolition of unnecessary equipment;

• Refurbishment of the Capstone microturbines;

• Installation of an SCS designed/fabricated landfill gas compression and treatment skid to serve all of the microturbines;

• Installation of a 250 kW microturbine;

• Installation of an SCS designed/fabricated SCADA system; and

• Upgrade of the electric cable and equipment to support the expanded plant capacity.

The project exports 85 percent of the power it produces to the municipally-owned power distribution system.  The project contributes to the City’s commitment to increase green power production.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

Feasibility Study
Grantsmanship	X
Power Sales Agreement
Environmental Permits	X
Interconnection Application	X
Detailed Design	X
Microturbine Procurement	X
Construction QA/QC	X
Construction	X
Plant Startup	X
Ongoing Operation	X

 

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Penrose LFGTE Project Owner: Penrose Landfill Gas Conversion, LLC  Location: Sun Valley, CA

Project Background

The project employs four Cooper reciprocating engines with a total installed capacity of 7.5 MW.  The project is landfill gas fired and has the capability of co-firing with natural gas during periods of low landfill gas methane content.  The project sells power to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

In addition to full responsibility for plant operation/maintenance, SCS implemented a $2.4 million plant betterment project to reduce NO_x emissions, and to increase plant availability and capacity factor.  Key elements of the betterment program included replacement of the individual engine control systems, installation of a plant-wide SCADA system, and installation of continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) on each engine.  In the first year of operation, SCS self-performed major overhauls of two of the engines, including an engine which had been abandoned in-place by the prior owner of the power plant.

SCS has been responsible for operation and maintenance of this facility since February 2005.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

Feasibility Study
Grantsmanship
Power Sales Agreement	X
Environmental Permits	X
Interconnection Application
Detailed Design
Equipment Procurement
Construction QA/QC	X
Construction	X
Plant Startup	X
Ongoing Operation	X

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Toyon LFGTE Project Owner: GGPenToy, LP Location: Sun Valley, CA

Project Background

The project employs two Cooper Superior reciprocating engines with a total installed capacity of 3.8 MW.  The plant was recently updated with a new engine control system and a continuous emissions monitoring system to improve air emissions compliance.  The plant currently sells power to Southern California Edison Company.

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McCommas Bluff Gas Plant Owner: E/S Solutions Location: Dallas, TX

Project Background

The project is the largest project in the United States that produces pipeline quality gas from natural gas using pressure swing absorption (PSA) technology.  The inlet capacity is 9.0 mmscfd.

Principal components of the plant are as follows:

• Raw landfill gas and product gas compression (to 400 psi);

• Dehydration;

• Activated carbon absorption;

• Molecular sieve;

• Thermal oxidizer;

• CO₂ storage; and

• Other supporting equipment.

SCS has been responsible for operation/maintenance of this facility since June 2005.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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Mountaingate Gas Plant Owner: SCS Renewable Energy  Location: Los Angeles, CA

Project Background

The Mountaingate Gas Plant cleans and compresses 2.0 mmscfd (1,400 scfm) of landfill gas.  The processed gas is delivered to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) via a 5.5 mile pipeline where it is co-fired with natural gas at UCLA’s 40 MW on-campus cogeneration plant.

The gas plant consists of the following major components:

• Two 450 hp, 100 psi landfill gas compressors;

• Moisture removal through air-to-gas and chilled water-to-gas heat exchangers;

• Hydrogen sulfide removal and non-methane hydrocarbon removal through chemical scrubbing (proprietary solvent) in a tray tower, followed by activated carbon polishing;

• Solvent regeneration in a stripper tower and disposal of the off gas in a thermal oxidizer; and

• Wastewater treatment consisting of hydrocarbon separation and pH adjustment.

The gas plant is located adjacent to the Mountaingate Country Club. 
A closed landfill under the golf course supplies feedstock to the gas plant.

SCS is responsible for the operation/maintenance of the gas plant and the pipeline, environmental permitting and reporting, liaison with the Mountaingate Country Club, and coordination of day-to-day operation with the UCLA cogeneration plant.

SCS Responsibilities (marked with "X")

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