Renewables
Renewable and sustainable resources are essential to the worldwide power generation mix as we move into the future. Developers, utilities and independent power producers (IPPs) are rapidly incorporating these resources into asset portfolios.
What Partnerships Bring to the Renewables Sector
As more projects are launched, new challenges become prevalent. Skilled teams are required to evaluate renewable — especially solar — options in non-sunny climes, sites with more challenging terrain, regions with labor shortages or lack of nearby interconnection points. Likewise, wind power is complex. It requires careful evaluation of numerous factors, including a site’s wind resources, permitting requirements and more. Every type of renewable generation brings unique considerations into the development equation.
The Burns & McDonnell Advantage
We work as your partner through all stages of a renewable project, from project development to engineering, construction, and startup and commissioning. Our integrated engineer-procure-construct (EPC) approach is designed to help you achieve reliable and seamless integration of renewable generation and energy storage assets. Our ability to direct-hire either union and nonunion construction resources means you can be confident in our total installed cost (TIC) estimates. Under a single contract, our team works seamlessly with you to connect new technologies and resources — hydrogen, flow batteries, offshore wind and more — with your generation, transmission and distribution systems, as well as more traditional solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric generation.
Success in renewable generation — whether wind, solar, hydro, storage or other source — is driven by careful preparation and execution. Starting with analysis, front-end planning and consulting services — delivered by 1898 & Co., our business, technology and security solutions consultancy — we set your project up to succeed. We have the in-house professionals in a wide range of specialties to bring renewable generation online, from interconnection and siting to business strategy, asset due diligence and financing structure.
Support Beyond the Basics
We provide support and balance-of-plant design all the way through to construction, procurement, and startup and commissioning. We provide comprehensive environmental services for the renewable industry, including natural and cultural resource assessments, siting, mitigation banking, construction compliance and post-construction monitoring, and wetland studies. We can also work with you as owner’s engineer, analyzing risk, verifying project execution and helping protect your investment in the full range of renewable projects.
As a full-service, integrated construction/design-build/EPC firm, we bring flexibility to your project. We can complete your project through a range of delivery options, including direct-hire skilled labor resources via our subsidiary company, AZCO. These teams are experienced in power delivery and renewable generation, self-performing civil, electrical and mechanical construction and steel fabrication services nationwide.
Balancing the Grid
Renewable power provides the benefits of lower cost and zero emissions. Augmented by energy storage systems, it carries a growing percentage of the power load worldwide. But inverter-based generation comes with the pitfalls of lower available short circuit current, lower system inertia and intermittent availability. When combined with the isolated nature of each island’s grid, renewable generation can challenge the limits of the bulk electric system.
Synchronous condensers (syncons) can slow down the effects of transient power events, giving the grid system time to correct problems before they escalate. By fine-tuning the import and export of reactive power, utilities and developers can support stable voltage control. Our experience with syncons includes key studies — transmission system reinforcement studies, reactive margin studies, short circuit studies — as well as other critical technology assessments, front-end engineering design and reports.
