Construction is nearly complete on a second peaking plant near Groton, SD, and on May 20 a significant milestone was reached in the project.
According to Dick Shaffer, Basin Electric mechanical engineering supervisor and project coordinator, the unit completed its first fire. "For the first time, gas was injected into the turbine and ignited," he said.
Shaffer said the peaking unit will soon be able to start generating poser. "Before that however, GE (General Electric) has to systematically test the various devices to ensure everything is working as it should. Once that is complete, reliability and performance tests can be conducted," he said.
Shaffer added that there is still some work to be done around the site, such as painting, perimeter fencing, lighting and crushed rock surfacing of the site. However, site construction is about 95 percent complete, he said.
The project team anticipates the peaking unit will be available for liminted generation to the electrical grid by May 31 with commercial operation following a few weeks later.