Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility, SAN JOSE, CA

VALUE DELIVERED

Despite a six-month delay in the permitting process, University Marelich Mechanical was able to meet both the Energy Commission’s date to produce electricity and the client’s need for substantial standby capacity. UMM leveraged strong relationships with onsite staff and maintained fl exibility throughout the project to meet the persistent demands of redesign as a result of cost reduction measures.

SCOPE OF WORK

• The facility was situated on a 30-acre site on which a combined-cycle power plant was originally intended, but due to cost and time considerations modifi ed to only be a 180MW generation facility consisting of 4-45MW General Electric LM-6000 gas driven turbines.
• University Marelich was the prime contractor responsible for construction activities onsite including the mechanical piping systems and setting equipment in place.

BACKGROUND

Calpine Corporation, owner of the Los Esteros Facility, is one of North America’s leading power companies.

In recent years, Calpine has transformed from one of the nation’s leading developers of power plants to a major power-plant operator and provider of services, focused on providing customers with high-value products and services to meet their unique energy requirements. Calpine’s continued success results from a clear, consistent strategy based on adherence to four key priorities: integrity, liquidity, long-term vision, and earnings

Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Calpine has 89 energy centers in 21 states in the U.S., as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. The centers serve a variety of end users, including electric utilities, municipalities, industrial companies and government institutions. These plants have a capacity of more than 22,000 megawatts. The company increased its generating capacity by more than 70 percent in 2002 and, with over 10 projects under construction, expects a capacity of more than 29,000 megawatts by the end of 2005.

OBJECTIVES

This facility can produce 180 MW of electricity for peak demand periods. Calpine is also under contract with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to deliver power. Part of the approval process to construct was heavily weighted based on the areas lack of adequate transmission infrastructure.

SOLUTIONS

• University Marelich was able to achieve scheduled plant operation by identifying workarounds for possible problems in maintaining schedule such as being prepared to divert efforts to still achieve scheduled operation even though one of the major power distribution centers was not able to be delivered in time. This was achieved even though the project had to be built in half the time originally contemplated.
• Our quality control program was noted by the customer as being the best they ever had.
• We provided document control for all their subcontractors and the customer with a program custom designed for the project ensuring compliance as required by the Energy Commission and Inspection Agencies.

OPERATING COMPANY:
University Marelich Mechanical

CLIENT:
Calpine C* Power

GENERAL CONTRACTOR/
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER:
University Marelich Mechanical

ARCHITECT:
Harris Group

ENGINEER:
Harris Group

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