As the global energy sector shifts toward sustainability, natural gas emerges as a crucial solution, bridging the gap between retiring coal plants and the rise of renewable energy sources. With advancements in gas turbine technology enhancing efficiency and reducing emissions, natural gas is positioned not only as a stabilizer in today’s energy grid but also as a partner in achieving long-term carbon reduction goals. However, with power demands surging due to onshoring, the growth of artificial intelligence and data centers, and the scarcity of gas turbines, energy providers are exploring diverse options to expand generation capacity and meet future load growth.
Maintaining the Demand
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Bringing a project to life requires more than just materials and blueprints — it demands trust and collaboration at every step. We strive to create a foundation of collaboration and transparency to navigate the critical path and keep projects on schedule.
Luke Arsenault
General Superintendent Self-Perform
Explore Our Solutions
Gas Turbines
Reciprocating Engines
LNG
Prefabrication
Plant Upgrades
Gas Turbines
Whether you need support for project development, building a new advanced class plant or adding carbon capture to your next facility, our integrated engineer-procure-construct (EPC) team is here to help. With both open shop and union labor, we have the resources needed to drive your project forward — owning the critical path from concept to completion and delivering predictable results.
Blog
Here Comes the Gas Boom (Again)
Despite renewables driving the power industry, energy-dense, dispatchable electricity is needed. Natural gas is crucial a resource to keep grid stability.
PROJECT
Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV
Blog
The Future of Gas Generation in an Increasingly Decarbonized World
Gas-fired generation facilities provide the reliability, adaptability and dispatchability needed by the power grid, even as renewables gain market share.
PROJECT
R.D. Morrow Sr. Generating Station Repower
We were the EPCM — engineering, procurement and construction management — contractor for the conversion of R.D. Morrow Sr. Generating Station from coal-fired generation to a natural gas-fired combined-cycle operation. The repower project allowed owner Cooperative Energy to achieve greater competitive levels within the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regional transmission organization.
Blog
Unlocking the Benefits of Natural Gas Conversion for Coal-Fired Power Plants
Converting coal-fired plants to natural gas uses existing infrastructure, boosts efficiency, facilitates regulatory compliance and supports energy demand.
Blog
FEED Studies: Optimizing Project Execution in a Shifting Power Market
For large energy projects, FEED studies offer realistic pricing, timeline clarity, risk identification and insights to navigate market challenges.
News
SaskPower Names Burns & McDonnell as EPC Contractor for Aspen Power Station
White Paper
Optimizing Construction With the Right Mix of Technology and Planning
Large-scale construction projects require detailed planning and considerable collaboration. Planning and execution have historically relied on tens of thousands of documents to orchestrate the details. Risks can be reduced through technology to enhance construction planning and facilitate collaboration.
Blog
Q&A: Matt Kram Shares Insight on Data-Driven Construction
The construction industry has been slow to adapt to new technologies, but new ways of utilizing data in construction management are forcing change.
Case Study
Advanced Class Gas Turbine Adds Power Capacity and Reliability
To help meet demand in an underserved area in New England, an independent power producer decided to add a third unit at an existing power plant. The modern turbine boosts capacity while leveraging existing infrastructure.
PROJECT
Chinook Power Station
Southwest Saskatchewan is home to the new 353-megawatt natural gas-fired Chinook Power Station. The combined-cycle plant is not only instrumental in meeting the growing demand for power, but also in providing cleaner energy for the surrounding area.
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Burns & McDonnell took our challenges and, along with our Cooperative Energy staff, developed an execution plan that provided us with the ability to repower the R. D. Morrow, Sr. Generating Station. The integrated team repowered a vintage coal plant with an advanced-class gas turbine and modified existing equipment to make the project successful, while helping Cooperative Energy retain staff and reduce our carbon footprint by half.
Mark Smith
Senior Vice President of Power Generation, Cooperative Energy
Insights to Consider
1.
The power market is in a gas boom facing unprecedented growth stemming from coal retirements, data centers and onshoring manufacturing
2.
Long lead times for turbines can be challenging, but our technology-agnostic approach and experience working with many OEMs helps
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As a tier one EPC contractor , we have completed mega power projects in North America with predictable outcomes.
Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE)
Reciprocating engines offer quick start times and industry-leading ramp rates, which are crucial for grid operators to balance supply and demand with the influx of intermittent renewables. These engines provide spinning reserves and voltage support, optimal cost savings, fuel flexibility and are currently not part of any greenhouse gas emissions rules under New Source Performance Standards (NSPS).
PROJECT
Denton Energy Center
Our team provided environmental and air permitting and engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services for the Denton Energy Center, a 225-megawatt (MW) facility with 12 natural-gas-fired Wärtsilä 18.8-MW reciprocating engine generators.
Blog
Meeting Decarbonization Goals With Reliability and Resilience
Utilities need to plan for dispatchable generation as they transition the generation mix to meet ambitious renewable energy goals.
Case Study
First Large-Scale RICE Project in Wisconsin Provides On-Demand Energy
Following the successful execution of the A.J. Mihm and F.D. Kuester Generating Stations, Burns & McDonnell was hired by Wisconsin Public Service to provide engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services for a new brownfield reciprocating engine generation facility. The new plant is located at the existing coal-fired Weston Generating Station and utilizes seven Wärtsilä W18V50SG engines combining for a net output of 128 megawatts.
Blog
Reciprocating Engine Plant Proves Value During Hurricane Recovery
The flexibility of reciprocating engine technology combined with black start capability proved its worth at New Orleans Power Station after Hurricane Ida.
PROJECT
New Orleans Power Station
We provided engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services for the natural gas-fired New Orleans Power Station (NOPS), which generates 128 megawatts (MW) of power for the city of New Orleans during peak usage times with seven Wärtsilä 18.8-MW reciprocating engine generators.
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Insights to Consider
1.
There are currently no capacity restrictions on recips under the NSPS rule
2.
Recips provide reliable, on-demand power for grid support and load following for renewables
3.
In the past 15 years, we’ve executed 28 RICE projects, representing over 50% of the market share in the U.S.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
As global demand for natural gas rises, industries are increasingly focusing on LNG to meet local peak demands and supply remote areas or regions challenged with permitting new pipelines with fuel. This growing interest drives the need for new projects and upgrades to existing facilities.
Blog
Firming Capacity in a Changing Energy Landscape
Dispatchable power is crucial to meet the growing U.S. electricity demand. Utilities are looking to solutions to firm capacity and provide reliable power.
PROJECT
LNG Peak Shaving Facilities
We were the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contractor for two new liquefied natural gas (LNG) peak shaving facilities in southeastern Wisconsin. The greenfield sites each include natural gas pretreatment, liquefaction, an LNG storage tank, vaporization, and LNG truck loading and unloading facilities.
White Paper
Plotting the Optimal Approach for LNG Storage Selection
The abundance of natural gas is creating opportunity to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) for peak shaving and to improve reliability. Evaluating plot space, siting options, and cost and schedule against project goals can help identify the right LNG storage container solution.
White Paper
Evaluating Firm Fuel Options to Weather Challenging Conditions
Power disruptions in Texas due to an extreme winter storm exposed the urgency of preparing generation facilities to operate on firm backup fuels when necessary. Operators have several options to consider as they explore the feasibility of inclusion in new facilities or updating existing plants.
White Paper
Identifying Contaminants in LNG With a Proper Gas Analysis
When present, contaminants can pose challenges in the liquefaction process to make liquified natural gas (LNG). Some freeze, which can slow or complicate the liquefaction. Others corrode equipment or, in some cases, violate contractual pipeline and LNG quality agreements. These realities have boosted the need for accurate analysis of natural gas contaminants.
Blog
Permitting Flexibility: Prepare Now for the Next Winter Storm
Preparing for the next major storm involves understanding air permit flexibility. Power producers can make immediate modifications to expand limitations.
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Insights to Consider
1.
LNG peak shavers are cost-effective and provide firm gas
2.
LNG peak shavers help with pipeline avoidance as permitting pipelines gets tougher
3.
Our team has system planning, design and construction experience
Prefabrication
Prefabrication is a cornerstone of self-perform construction services, shifting from traditional outsourcing to in-house assembly. The result is safer processes and a reduced reliance on the supply chain. Instead of relying on subcontractors to fabricate and preassemble components off-site or in the field, more owners and general contractors now prefer preassembly in controlled shop environments. Our AZCO construction subsidiary leads this effort, delivering experienced in-house prefabrication of pipe, metal and electrical components as part of our extensive service portfolio.
Producing Tangible Results
Cobots provide the cutting-edge needed to streamline prefabrication efforts. Welders collaborate with these collaborative robots to produce quality and precise components. Incorporating this leading technology into our in-house prefabrication facilities contributes to projects staying within budget and schedule constraints.
Blog
Three Ways Prefabrication Can Help Expedite Gas Turbine Projects
Prefabrication has reemerged in construction because it delivers faster, safer and more affordable projects, especially as part of an integrated team approach.
Blog
Creating Control in Unpredictable Circumstances
As construction health and safety standards adapt for social distancing, crews seek ways to reduce hours while advancing projects. Prefabrication can help.
Video
Prefabrication
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Insights to Consider
1.
Prefabrication reduces work-hours in the field by moving fabrication activities into a controlled environment
2.
Prefabrication creates efficiency and can increase quality
3.
We have 90,000 square feet of advanced, automated shop space
Plant Upgrades
Capacity constraints, supply chain challenges and lengthy interconnection queues are all challenges associated with development of new generation, leading to extending the lives of aging coal plants. The market has responded to this difficulty of obtaining new generation capacity to meet demand by shifting the focus toward optimization of existing facilities. Power producers nationwide have aggressively invested in plant improvement projects. With over 125 years in power, our team is ready to help you increase the reliability of your existing assets, multiply efficiencies and reiterate commitments to safety for your operators and the communities you serve. By implementing strategic structural, mechanical, electrical and/or control upgrades, your operations can be streamlined to maximize efficiency and provide reliable operations.
Blog
Reap the Rewards of an Effective Program Management Partnership
To safeguard capital investment, an external program management team provides utilities an efficient, cost-effective solution for executing complex projects.
Blog
The Rise of Plant Services: Enhancing Efficiency and Reliability in Power Plants
Plant upgrade services for gas and nuclear generation plants have emerged as a key strategy for reliable, efficient and safe dispatchable energy.
Blog
6 Strategies for Improving Power Plant Water Treatment
Power plant owner-operators can navigate the regulatory landscape by implementing strategies that dovetail with plant optimization.
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Insights to Consider
1.
Supply chain, interconnection queues and increasing load-demand are keeping plants operational longer than anticipated
2.
Plant upgrades keep plants operating reliably and maintain
3.
Evaluations and upgrades are critical to maximize a return on investment on generation assets operating beyond their original life
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