Our team provided full engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services to Upper Michigan Energy Resource Corp. (UMERC) for the F.D. Kuester and A.J. Mihm Generating Stations. The stations provide a combined 180 megawatts (MW) with 10 natural-gas-fired Wärtsilä 18-MW reciprocating engine generators.
Our team designed and built the two new gas-fueled generation facilities. Sited in Marquette and Baraga counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the facilities feature advanced reciprocating engine technology configured to provide flexible, fast-start power that can quickly ramp up or down depending on system demands. At peak construction, more than 200 skilled tradesmen worked on the two sites. The plants feature 18-cylinder Wärtsilä 18V50SG engines with each engine capable of being quickly dispatched separately to balance power demand as needed. Each Wärtsilä engine is designed to quickly scale output up or down with minimal sacrifice in peak efficiency. Construction began in early 2018. The engines and related equipment were delivered in mid-2018, and the plants began commercial operation in mid-2019.
AZCO, our union construction subsidiary, installed 11,000 feet of underground piping and 11,000 feet of above ground piping for Kuester. AZCO’s scope also included testing, cooling water flushing, lube oil flushing and UA equipment setting for seven reciprocating engines.
For Mihm, AZCO’s scope included the installation of 4,500 feet of underground piping, 6,500 feet of above ground piping, testing, cooling water flushing, lube oil flushing and UA equipment setting for three reciprocating engines.
