Our team was retained to perform a rigorous assessment of Portland International Airport’s major utilities including chilled water, steam, hot water, domestic water, normal and emergency power, natural gas, fire water, sanitary sewer, and telecommunications.
The goal of the resulting utilities master plan (UMP) was to evaluate the available capacity of the distribution systems, estimate the remaining life of those existing utilities and establish projected replacement dates while considering issues such as reliability, carbon neutrality and future energy resilience.
In addition to analyzing future capacity needs and options for serving the load, the UMP studied miles of distribution systems to identify potential points of failure and aging segments that could impact airport operations. Armed with this knowledge, the team constructed a set of comprehensive project recommendations that addresses future utility needs, protect airport operations and increase system reliability.
The most significant recommendation calls for converting the airport’s aging centralized steam boiler system to a low-temperature hot water system. Concern was expressed over the initial high cost of the changeover exceeding the allotted system budget. Even more concerning was maintaining daily operations during the changeover, requiring that the team develop a phased approach to replacing the aging system. Through a full life cycle and financial analysis, our team confirmed that a low-temperature hot water system would not only provide better energy performance and maintainability, but also a lower total installed cost versus renewing the existing steam system.
The team also worked with the port to develop a step-by-step plan to transition from steam to hot water that avoids long-term heating outages to the airport. This system should provide an immediate payback and long-term advantages for years to come. The report also addressed substantial telecommunications growth expected through 2021. Fixed internet protocol (IP) is expected to grow 20 percent each year, while mobile IP traffic is expected to grow 40 percent annually. By adding capacity and redundant pathways for IT, the airport can continue to meet its customers’ growing needs.
The UMP not only provides recommendations for a comprehensive utility strategy, but also lays out an implementation plan for each option that coordinates with the overall capital improvement plan. This plan aims to prepare port leadership for future repair or replacement projects and identifies possible funding mechanisms to aid in their capital planning and requests.
By taking a proactive approach to its utility needs, the port now has a greater understanding about what systems will need to be replaced, repaired or upgraded and how best to phase those upgrades within the airport’s continuous operation and future capital improvement projects, ultimately keeping its utility infrastructure at least one step ahead of the demand. Preparing now for the future will allow Portland International Airport to greet growth and expansion with open arms and implement a strategy that doesn’t just address immediate needs, but lays the groundwork for successful operations for decades to come.