Cenex Harvest States Plans 11.7 MW Cogen Unit To Produce Energy On-Site In Mankato

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The following is an advisory from Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources Inc.; Houston, Texas), Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives (St. Paul, Minnesota) over a year ago put in an order for a new General Electric (GE) gas turbine generator and expects its arrival in the fall of 2001. Plans call for the installation of the new gas turbine cogeneration unit at Cenex's Mankato, Minnesota soybean processing plant.

Being no stranger to the energy market with its own Country Energy LLC division that markets energy and energy-related products, Cenex has seen the value of generating their own power and steam. Installation of the 11.7 mega-watt (MW) simple cycle GE model 10B turbine generator is scheduled to start this fall with a commissioning date of January 2002. The on-site generator will utilize a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) to produce process steam and electricity for plant use with auxiliary power to be sold to the local grid, making Cenex an Independent Energy Producer (IEP). Reliant Energy/Minnegasco (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is also installing a high-pressure natural gas line interconnect to feed the unit.

This $8 million project is considered under federal regulations as a new source review for nitrogen oxides. After Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis, a determination was made to utilize dry low-NOx burners on the natural gas-fired turbine. The unit will also be outfitted with NOx and SO2 controls to reduce emissions.

Cenex, a privately held cooperative, was founded in 1931 by 25 local cooperatives and today its 7,000 employees serve member cooperatives and producers in 24 states. They provide a variety of products and services from grain marketing and food processing to petroleum refineries and pipelines. Cenex Cooperatives reported third quarter earnings, which ended May 31, 2001, at $150.3 million.