U.S. Army, Hawaiian Electric Aim to Finish Biofuel Power Plant at Schofield Barracks Next Year

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. Army and Hawaiian Electric Company (Honolulu, Hawaii) are constructing a 50-megawatt (MW), biofuel-capable power station. The facility will be located on the Army's Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa, Hawaii, and is expected to be fully operational by the spring of next year.

Construction started on the estimated $167 million generating facility back in June 2016. Burns & McDonnell Incorporated (Kansas City, Missouri) was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. For more information, see June 15, 2016, article - Hawaii Multi-fuel Generating Station Project Breaks Ground.

The Army leased 10.3 acres for the plant. Six biodiesel/natural gas-fired Wartsila 20V34DF internal combustion generators were delivered to the site last week; each has a capacity of 8.4 MW, weighs 159 tons and features selective catalytic reduction technology. The generators comply with current EPA standards.

The Army also leased 2.5 acres for an interconnection easement on Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield for a two-mile, 46-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, which will connect the Schofield Barracks site with Hawaiian Electric's existing Wahiawa substation and grid.

Hawaiian Electric will own the facility and power transmission lines and provide construction, operation and maintenance when the plant is brought online.

The flexible biofuel (biodiesel) and natural gas-fired plant will provide the Army and Hawaiian Electric secure in-land, reliable and renewable power generation, and aid Hawaii in achieving its renewable energy goals.

Construction, final commissioning and testing activities will continue through the end of the year, and the plant is expected to be fully operational by February or March 2018.

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