AMEC and joint venture partner awarded contract for US$250 million biomass conversion project

Tuesday, Oct 26, 2020

AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, and its joint venture partner, The Boldt Company, today announced the award of a contract by the Wisconsin State Department of Administration for the conversion of a coal-fired power plant on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus from coal-burning to biomass. 

The value of AMEC’s contract has not been announced.

AMEC and Boldt will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the installation of a new biomass boiler that is capable of burning 100 per cent biomass, as well as two new gas and ultra-low sulphur distillate fired package boilers to replace the existing coal fired units. AMEC and Boldt worked together on an addition to the Manitowoc Public Utilities coal plant in Manitowoc, completed in 2006.

The Charter Street Heating Plant currently burns 108,000 tons of coal each year providing steam and heating for the campus buildings. Once improvements are complete, the upgrades will significantly reduce emissions at the facility, which will be able to burn biomass fuel up to 250,000 tons a year. Plant efficiency is expected to be improved by 5 to 10 per cent and a campus-wide control room will be installed at the plant.

“In 2008, I announced plans to stop burning coal at state-owned heating plants on Madison’s Isthmus,” Governor Doyle said. “Today, we are breaking ground on the Charter Street biomass plant and taking a major step forward to make this goal a reality.  The Charter Street plant will turn a waste stream into clean energy, it will keep energy dollars in our communities, and it will help clean our air and water.”

“Boldt and AMEC have teamed to help deliver this world-class facility to the Madison area,” said Tom Boldt, CEO of The Boldt Company. “Together, we are proud to be a part of one of the largest biomass projects in the nation, and are excited about the environmental and economic benefits this will have on our state.”

Tim Gelbar, President of AMEC’s Power and Process Americas business said:  “We are delighted to be working with the State on this important project that will help reduce its carbon footprint and support their efforts in sustainability and green approaches to economic development.”

Work has begun and is expected to be completed in 2013. 

Source: AMEC