Huntington Beach Energy Project Explained

Huntington Beach Energy Project
Name Official:Huntington Beach Energy Project
Country:United States
Location:Huntington Beach, California
Status:O
Construction Began:Units 1-4: 1958
Unit 5: June 2017
Commissioned:Units 1-4: 1967
Unit 5: February 4, 2020
Decommissioned:Units 1: December 31, 2019 [1]
Unit 2: December 31, 2020 (expected)
Unit 3: ?
Unit 4: ?
Owner:AES Corporation
Operator:AES Corporation
Th Fuel Primary:Natural gas
Ps Combined Cycle:Yes
Ps Cooling Source:Unit 2: Pacific Ocean
Unit 5: Atmosphere
Ps Units Operational:1 x 225 MW CCGT
1 x 644 MW CCGT
Ps Units Planned:1 x 200 MW SCGT
Ps Units Decommissioned:1 x 225 MW CCGT
2 x ? MW
Ps Electrical Capacity:869 MW

The Huntington Beach Energy Project (HBEP), formerly AES Huntington Beach, is a natural gas-fired power station located in Huntington Beach, California.

History

The facility was constructed between 1958 and 1969 on a 53adj=midNaNadj=mid.[2] Total station capacity was 1,000,000 kilowatts. It originally consisted of two 215 MW General Electric cross compound 3600/1800 RPM steam turbines (HP/LP turbines). Main steam pressure was 2400 PSI, main steam temperature was 1050 DEG F and reheat temperature was 1000 DEG F. The generators were hydrogen cooled, rated at 128,000 KVA. The boilers were Babcock and Wilcox natural circulation (drum boilers), rated at 1,560,000 LB/HR. The boilers could be fired with natural gas or fuel oil. Units 1 and 2 were completed in 1958. Unit 3 was a General Electric cross compound 3600/1800 RPM at 1050/1000 DEG F, with a 215 MW steam turbine. Unit 4 was a Westinghouse, cross compound 3600/1800 rpm, 1050/1000 DEG F 225MW. The boilers were Babcox and Wilcox Universal Pressure Boilers (called once thru) rated at 1,638,000 LB/HR. All four units were cooled using water sourced from the Pacific Ocean. Unit 5 was completed in 1969 and was a gas peaking unit, rated at 121 MW at 90 deg F. It consisted of 8 Pratt & Whitney GG4a-2 gas turbines exhausting into 4 Worthington expanders 2 stage turbines and 1 Westinghouse generator, 3 phase hydrogen cooled rated at 162,500 KVA, 16,000 volts 3600 rpm. Unit 1 was decommissioned on December 31, 2019, while Units 3 and 4 were decommissioned at an unknown date. Unit 2 is the only original unit still in operation.[1]

In June 2017, AES began construction of a 644 MW combined cycle gas turbine (Unit 5) that is visually smaller and is air-cooled.[3] Unit 5 was commissioned on February 4, 2020. An additional 200 MW simple cycle gas turbine is proposed for the site should additional capacity be necessary.[4] [5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AES Huntington Beach - The Power of Positive Energy. www.renewaeshuntington.com. 2020-02-16.
  2. News: Vega . Priscella . 2019-01-03 . Major construction work scheduled to be completed this year for modernized AES power plant in Huntington Beach . 2022-03-28 . Daily Pilot . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  3. News: Vega . Priscella . 2019-08-21 . New power plant in Huntington Beach is 91% complete, AES says . 2022-03-29 . Daily Pilot . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  4. Web site: Facilities: Huntington Beach AES California. www.aescalifornia.com. 2020-02-16. March 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323123825/http://www.aescalifornia.com/facilities/huntington-beach. dead.
  5. Web site: More environment-friendly power generators go online in Huntington Beach. 2020-02-12. Orange County Register. en-US. 2020-02-16.