POWER October 2021 - 24

TOP PLANT
Collaboration Brings the Energy
for Pennsylvania Community
Courtesy: Kiewit
It took a team effort, led by Kiewit as the engineering, procurement, and
construction (EPC) contractor, to overcome numerous challenges and build a
1,000-MW natural gas-fired facility that has sparked a regional renaissance.
Darrell Proctor
power plant often provides a
region with more than just electricity.
A large generation facility
can also be an economic engine for an
entire community.
The Hickory Run Energy Center, a
1,000-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle
power plant, has proven to be just that
for Lawrence County in Pennsylvania. Tyr
Energy LLC is the asset manager for the
plant, located in New Castle in North Beaver
Township, about 45 miles northwest
of Pittsburgh. The facility has been a driving
force behind more than $1 billion in
capital investment projects in the county
over the past few years, providing even
more of a boost to the local economy after
coming online in May 2020.
Hickory Run is contributing to a rebound
in manufacturing in the New
Castle area, a region with a rich industrial
history, starting with iron and brick
works in the mid-1800s and continuing
for many years as a hub for iron and
steel. The area for a time was known as
the " Fireworks Capital of America, " during
a period when more fireworks were
produced in Lawrence County than anywhere
else in the U.S., and the industry
remains important to the region. New
Castle was known as the " Hot Dog Capital
of the World, " owing to the popularity
of the chili dogs produced by Greek immigrants
who settled in the area.
The area today is known as a regional
banking hub, and its location near several
major highways-along with the power
provided by Hickory Run-is supporting
a manufacturing renaissance. The plant's
importance to the region, along with the
perseverance of its builders in overcom24
A
1.
The Hickory Run plant provides a shining example of efficient power generation. The facility
features two Siemens SGT6-8000H gas turbines, two John Cockerill Energy heat recovery
steam generators, and one Siemens SST6-5000 steam turbine. Courtesy: Kiewit
ing construction obstacles, has led POWER
to recognize it with a Top Plant award.
Kiewit Serves as EPC
The plant is owned and operated by Hickory
Run Holdings LLC, a joint venture of Japan-based
ITOCHU Corp.'s wholly-owned
subsidiary Tyr Energy (50%), Kansai Electric
Power (30%), and Siemens Financial
Services (20%). The project was originally
undertaken by an affiliate of New Jerseybased
LS Power Associates. Tyr Energy
acquired the project in June 2016 and
completed the final development, permitting,
and financing arrangements.
Kiewit Power Constructors Co. (Kiewit)
was awarded the EPC contract in 2017.
Siemens Energy was contracted in November
2017 to supply the key components
of the plant, including the turbines
and generators. The scope of the contract
also included a long-term service agreement
including advanced remote moniwww.powermag.com
toring
and diagnostics services for the
combined cycle facility. NAES Corp., an
affiliate of Tyr Energy, provides operations
and maintenance services for the project.
Daniel Blitek of Kiewit, the project
manager for Hickory Run, told POWER,
" The power cycles prime movers consist
of two Siemens SGT6-8000H gas
turbines, two John Cockerill Energy heat
recovery steam generators (HRSGs), and
one Siemens SST6-5000 steam turbine.
The Siemens gas turbines are each capable
of generating approximately 300 MW
of electrical power at low heat rates, but
when combined with the fully duct-fired
waste heat recovery steam generation
of the John Cockerill HRSGs, the sitespecific
combined electrical output from
the gas turbine and steam turbine generators
reaches 1,000 MW with an efficiency
of approximately 57% on a lower
heating value basis. "
The plant also includes a Veolia biologiPOWER
| October 2021

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POWER October 2021

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