DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY – SAVANNAH RIVER SITE BIOMASS COGENERATION FACILITY, SC
Contract Details
Contract Type:
Energy Savings Performance Contract;
Guaranteed Energy Savings;
Renewable Energy; Biomass
Facility Size:
More than 300 sq. miles
Energy Project Size:
$795 million
Energy Savings:
The Department of Energy - Savannah River Site project will create approximately 800 direct construction related jobs during its implementation and result in
25 permanent jobs.
Customer Benefits
The facilities will have the capacity to combust
Ameresco was selected by the Department of Energy
385,000 tons of forest residue annually, although the
(DOE) to design and implement the nation’s largest
site’s current annual steam and electricity needs
renewable energy savings performance contract at
require about 325,000 tons of biomass. More than
$795 million. The centerpiece of this project will be a
20,000,000 tons of forest residue are generated
Summary
biomass-fueled steam cogeneration plant and two
annually in the state of South Carolina. There are
In May 2009, Ameresco was awarded
smaller biomass-fueled plants at the DOE Savannah
numerous sources of clean biomass within a 100-mile
an ESPC task order for design,
River Site in Aiken, SC. Ameresco will also operate
radius of the project site. The use of renewable
and maintain the plants over the term of the
energy fuel sources provides many positive economic
19-year contract.
and environmental benefits to the SRS, and to the
Over $34.3 million annually
construction and operation of three
biomass-fueled renewable plants at the
DOE Savannah River Site (SRS). The
site encompasses more than
300 square miles along the Georgia /
South Carolina border. SRS was
experiencing challenges maintaining
entire Central Savannah River Area.
This delivery order is a prime example of “smart
contracting.” The project was competitively awarded
Key benefits of the SRS biomass project include:
at a firm, fixed price, and the government does not
• Over 2,000,000 MBtu/yr of thermal renewable
start paying the lenders until actual energy savings
energy production and a minimum generation of
are realized. The lenders will then be paid with
77,000,000 kWh of green power
their 1950s-vintage boilers, and at the
savings in energy and other operations, as well as
same time, meeting the requirements
maintenance costs. The community will also receive
of the Clean Air Act and other
the health and environmental benefits tied to the
• No-cost Renewable Energy Credits
mandated improvements in energy
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Support of the South Carolina Biomass
500,000 MBtu/yr
Council Goals
efficiency and increased use of
renewable energy.
• Annual Energy Reductions of approximately
Ameresco guarantees that the energy improvements
will generate significant cost savings, starting at
$34.3 million annually. After the contract ends, all
additional and continuing savings accrue to the DOE.
Construction of the cogeneration facility began in
• Decrease of water intake from the Savannah River
by 1,400,000 kgal/yr, supporting water conservation
efforts in the region
• Reduction of 400 tons/yr of Particulate Matter
(PM) emissions
September 2009, and is scheduled to be operational
• Reduction of 3,500 tons/yr of Sulfur Dioxide emissions
by December 2011.
• Reduction of 100,000 tons/yr of Carbon Dioxide
emissions
The new Biomass Energy Center will have an output
Renewable Energy World awarded the Department of
Energy Savannah River Site Biomass Cogeneration
Facility the 2012 Excellence in Renewable Energy
Award for Biomass Project of the Year.
capacity of 240,000 PPH of steam, which will replace
Environmental Benefits
the site’s existing inefficient D Area coal-fired
Through the DOE’s partnership with Ameresco, the
cogeneration plant. The two smaller plants in the
SRS reduced its carbon footprint. The annual green
K and L Areas each have one 10,500 PPH steam
benefits from this carbon reduction equal:
boiler to replace the aging fuel-oil-fired packaged
► the removal of 9,000 cars from the road
boilers currently serving the SRS.
► the planting of 11,000 acres of trees
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY – SAVANNAH RIVER SITE BIOMASS COGENERATION FACILITY, SC
About the Savannah River Site
The Biomass Cogeneration Facility will replace an
The Savannah River Site is located
existing coal-fired cogeneration plant that is more
in the southeastern coastal area of
than 50 years old, and in dire need of repairs and
pollution-prevention enhancements. The plant design
the United States in the state of South
capacity is 240,000 lbs/hr of steam, and up to 20 MW
Carolina. It is bordered to the west
of “green” electricity. Reducing the distance from the
by the Savannah River and Georgia,
plant to the end user will significantly reduce steam
and is close to several major cities,
losses and improve operating efficiencies. In addition
including Augusta and Savannah, GA,
to the biomass fuel chips, the plant’s fluidized
and Columbia, Greenville, and
boilers are capable of combusting BDFs, including
Charleston, SC. SRS is recognized as
tire chips, as a supplemental fuel to aid in tempera-
a long-term national asset in the
areas of environmental stewardship,
The clean biomass will consist primarily of various types of forest residues,
and the bio-derived fuels (BDF) will consist primarily of scrap tires and pallets.
innovative technology, national
security and energy independence. It
acts with an inspired workforce and
mature, efficient management
processes, while sustaining public
confidence in our people and
capabilities.
Biomass will be used to fuel two steam boilers
capable of producing 240,000 lb/hr of high-pressure
Accolades
“In suport of the Department’s clean energy efforts,
this project demonstrates the Savannah River Site’s
commitment to promote clean and efficient energy
operations. This is the Department’s largest biomass
cogeneration facility, and represents a unique way of
contracting, which allows partnering with industry for
Learn more at www.srs.gov.
construction and operations, and reduces the cost to
the Government, while producing real energy and
environmental benefits.”
About Ameresco
Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is one
- Dr. David Moody, Office Manager
DOE Savannah River Operations
of the leading energy efficiency and
renewable energy services providers.
Our energy experts deliver long-term
customer value, environmental
Services Provided
The solutions were contracted through the DOE
Super ESPC program, and will provide the DOE
and the largest biomass operation in the Federal
through energy efficiency services,
sector. The first-year savings are projected to
Clean biomass and bio-derived fuels will be the
all with practical financial solutions.
primary fuel source for all of the new boilers. The
Ameresco and its predecessors have
clean biomass consists of various types of forest
throughout North America.
For more information about
generating up to 20 MW of electricity. The cogeneration facility will produce clean, green renewable
energy to meet SRS needs for steam used in the
site’s industrial processes and building heating
systems. It will also produce electricity to power much
of the SRS. The K and L Area plants will provide
biomass-produced steam for the areas’ heating and
industrial processes. Measure 2 includes the turn-key
installation of two 10,500 PPH steam-heating
facilities, one to be located in the K Area, and one to
be located in the L Area. These plants will satisfy
winter steam requirements for both domestic heat
and process steam and will be fueled solely with
biomass wood chips, utilizing fuel oil as a backup
source of fuel.
exceed $34.3 million.
ment, and innovative facility renewal
constructed billions in projects
steam, and to power a steam turbine capable of
with its largest renewable ESPC project to date
stewardship, and sustainability
alternative energy, supply manage-
ture and emissions control.
residues that were previously left on the forest
deck to rot, including tree tops, limbs, and small
non-merchantable timber.
Construction of the biomass cogeneration facility began in September 2009
and was completed in December 2011.
Ameresco and our full-range of
energy efficiency and renewable
energy solutions, please visit
www.ameresco.com.
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