By Kari Williamson

The biomass facility has been installed under the US$795 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) awarded to Ameresco in May 2009.

The 20 MW, 34 acre, biomass cogenereation facility is on-schedule to provide the necessary process steam to the site as well as provide approximately 30% of power for the site once fully operational in 2012.

The biomass cogeneration facility is expected to generate US$944m of energy, water, operations and maintenance savings during Ameresco’s 19 year plant performance agreement.

“Ameresco is proud to receive the DoE’s final acceptance of the Savannah River Site biomass cogeneration project,” says Keith Derrington, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Federal Operations at Ameresco.

“This project exemplifies how renewable power can meet the electrical demands of the nation’s largest Federal facilities while reducing energy and water costs through energy efficient technology. Most importantly, this project has been implemented through private-sector investment at no direct cost to taxpayers and demonstrates how private sector solutions can meet public sector needs.”

The biomass cogeneration facility was contracted through the DoE Super ESPC programme.

The biomass facilities will convert 325,000 tonnes of fuel per year, including local forest residue and wood chips.