EETS INC

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Substation

EETS engineers, with decades of experience in substation design, are involved in every step from permitting and site planning to designing, equipment procurement, and construction management. Our expertise in cost-effective design solutions ensures that our clients’ specific needs are met. The resulting projects are characterized by reliable power system operation and high performance, as expected from EETS engineering.

SPOTLIGHT

Substation Projects

Illinois (confidential client)

34.5kV Automation Warehouse Substation

The surge in online activities has made automation warehouses indispensable for modern business operations in a competitive global market. EETS took on the role of lead

electrical engineer to deliver a 34.5kV substation as part of a design-build contract for an undisclosed FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) company’s expansive 900,000-square-foot automation warehouse. The project demanded an aggressive timeline to meet the critical needs of multiple stakeholders. The responsibilities included working closely with the electric utility to achieve full compliance with local and utility standards, along with the following:

  • Designed a new 34.5kV greenfield substation, including a 34.5kV:12.47kV oil-filled transformer with containment, 12.47kV switchgear with a main circuit breaker and fused disconnect switch feeders, protective relays (BE1-25, SEL-501, SEL-387), 12.47kV power factor correction capacitor, and lighting.
  • Coordinated the 34.5kV interconnection with the electric utility, designed the ground grid, conducted lighting iso-foot-candle analysis, calculated current transformer (CT) ratings, and performed a 12.47kV underground cable thermal analysis.
  • Developed technical specifications and separate pre-purchase specifications for the 34.5kV:12.47kV oil-filled transformer, 12.47kV power factor capacitor bank, and 12.47kV:480V pad-mounted transformers.

California (confidential client)

69kV Automation Warehouse Substation

With the proliferation of online activities, automation warehouses have become increasingly essential for businesses to operate in today’s global marketplace. EETS was assigned as the lead electrical engineer to design a critical 69kV substation as part of a design-build contract for an undisclosed FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) company’s 700,000-square-foot automation warehouse. The project had an accelerated schedule, with many stakeholders relying on the substation’s timely completion. The scope of work included electric utility coordination to ensure the substation met all local and utility requirements, along with the following:
With the proliferation of online activities, automation warehouses have become increasingly essential for businesses to operate in today’s global marketplace. EETS was assigned as

the lead electrical engineer to design a critical 69kV substation as part of a design-build contract for an undisclosed FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) company’s 700,000-square-foot automation warehouse. The project had an accelerated schedule, with many stakeholders relying on the substation’s timely completion. The scope of work included electric utility coordination to ensure the substation met all local and utility requirements, along with the following:

  • Designed a new 69kV greenfield substation, including a 69kV:12.47kV oil-filled transformer with containment, 12.47kV switchgear with a main circuit breaker and fused disconnect switch feeders, protective relays (BE1-25, SEL-501, SEL-387), 12.47kV power factor correction capacitor, CT/PT metering, and lighting.
  • Coordinated the 69kV interconnection with the electric utility, designed the ground grid, conducted lighting iso-foot-candle analysis, calculated current transformer (CT) ratings, and performed a 12.47kV underground cable thermal analysis.
  • Developed technical specifications and separate pre-purchase specifications for the 69kV:12.47kV oil-filled transformer, 12.47kV power factor capacitor bank, 12.47kV:480V pad-mounted transformers, and 12.47kV load interrupter switchgear units.

RENO, NEVADA

APPLE MILLS SUBSTATION 

With the perpetual growth of Apple, the company initiated a significant data center expansion known as Project Huckleberry. This initiative included the development of a 137-acre solar array capable of generating 43.5 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy and a 22,500-square-foot substation (Mills Substation) connected via overhead lines to a new Nevada Energy switching station. The existing Mills data center spans over 400,000 square feet and supports services such as iTunes, iCloud, the App Store, and Apple Books. Project Huckleberry will double this capacity with an additional 400,000 square feet.
With the perpetual growth of Apple, the company initiated a significant data center expansion known as Project Huckleberry. This initiative included the development of a 137-acre solar array capable of generating 43.5 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy and a 22,500-square-foot substation (Mills Substation)

connected via overhead lines to a new Nevada Energy switching station. The existing Mills data center spans over 400,000 square feet and supports services such as iTunes, iCloud, the App Store, and Apple Books. Project Huckleberry will double this capacity with an additional 400,000 square feet.

As part of this design-build project, EETS engineers contributed to the design of a 100 MVA 120kV:12kV substation. Key deliverables included:

  • Conducting electrical design calculations and developing equipment procurement technical specifications, which encompassed one-line and relaying drawings as well as point-to-point interconnection drawings for station equipment.
  • Designing and analyzing ground grid layouts, including calculations and detailed plan layouts.
  • Preparing protection settings, one-line diagrams, relaying designs, and protection/control panel layouts.
  • Coordinating with the utility and performing short-circuit, coordination, and arc flash calculations.
  • Providing engineering technical support throughout the construction phase.
  • Analyzing submittal data and performing DC load calculations for operational and tripping scenarios, determining the required DC battery system and charger sizes, completing CT saturation calculations for a 12kV feeder circuit, conducting underground duct bank cable thermal ampacity analysis using the Neher-McGrath Method, and designing substation yard lighting with photometric analysis.
  • Designing transmission lines from the Nevada Energy substation to the Mills substation. EETS prepared the plan and profile drawings, performed calculations, and created stringing charts.  

Mare Island, California

Pittsburg Power – Island Energy

For over a century, Mare Island served as the location for the Naval Shipyard. In the 1990s, the city of Vallejo initiated the base conversion planning process to transform Mare Island into a commercial and residential community. EETS was hired to work alongside Pittsburg Power, assisting with the electrical aspect of this process, and continues to partner with them.

  • Design of sequenced equipment replacement for Island Energy’s main 115kV:12kV substation serving all industrial and residential service to Mare Island. This substation refurbishment required replacement of 115kV breakers and switches as well as 12kV double-ended switchgear
  • The replacement necessitated a detailed switching plan, along with a sequenced replacement of the 12kV switchgear in several sections and the rerouting and cutover of outgoing 12kV circuits

Sacramento, California

SMUD 115kV Station ‘A’ GIS Substation

Long-time clients, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), contracted EETS staff to design an upgrade for the historic Station ‘A’ Substation in downtown Sacramento. The project entailed a significant upgrade and refurbishment of the 115kV and 12kV network underground system at Station ‘A’.

  • 115kV GIS ring bus and protection
  • (3) 40MVA, 15kV:12kV Load Tap Changing transformers
  • (3) 12kV double bus network switchgear lineups

Willows, California

230kV Manville Substation

Johns-Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company and a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building insulation, contracted EETS engineers to design their new 230kV:21kV substation within the fence line of an existing PG&E substation:

  • Design of 230kV, 1200 amp, 3-pole circuit switcher
  • Design of 230kV/21kV protective relay telemetry and control panel
  • 125V DC battery system/21kV 2000 amp circuit breaker and protective relaying
  • Control building with protective relaying, telemetry, control panels, and battery system
  • Grounding system design

San Jose, California

Calpine c*Power/US Data Port 115kV Substation & Generating Facility

Located in San Jose, California, Calpine’s c*Power program was developed to supply U.S. Data Port’s planned San Jose Internet Campus with highly reliable critical power and ancillary services. c*Power’s critical energy supply enables U.S. Data Port to provide an energy infrastructure that supports environmentally preferred technology. The Los Esteros Critical
Energy Facility, owned and operated by Calpine, caters to all of U.S. Data Port’s power requirements and supplies chilled water for cooling computer hardware. Beyond offering a critically reliable power product, Calpine’s c*Power program also liberates revenue space for U.S. Data Port’s Internet hosting operations and provides ancillary services typically associated with infrastructure costs. EETS engineers were involved in the following electrical designs for a 115kV breaker-and-a-half low profile construction substation:
Located in San Jose, California, Calpine’s c*Power program was developed to supply U.S. Data Port’s planned San Jose Internet Campus with highly reliable critical power and ancillary services. c*Power’s critical energy supply enables U.S. Data Port to provide an energy infrastructure that supports environmentally preferred technology. The Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility, owned and operated by Calpine, caters to all of U.S. Data Port’s power requirements and supplies chilled water for cooling computer hardware. Beyond offering a critically reliable power product, Calpine’s c*Power program also liberates revenue space for U.S. Data Port’s Internet hosting operations and provides ancillary services typically associated with infrastructure costs. EETS engineers were involved in the following electrical designs for a 115kV breaker-and-a-half low profile construction substation:
  • (2) 115kV overhead line positions
  • (2) 115kV underground line positions
  • (12) 115kV:21kV 50MVA load tap changing transformer positions
  • (1) Control building with protective relaying, telemetry, control panels, and battery systems
  • (72) 21kV, 500kcmil copper underground feeders
Generating facilities:
  • (4) 13.8kV, 10MW gas turbine generators
  • (4) 13.8kV:21kV, 12.5MVA step-up transformers
  • (4) 600V, 2.5MW flywheel generator backed UPS system
  • (4) 21kV:600V, 3.0MW step-up transformers
  • (1) Protective relaying control and telemetry panels with battery system

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD)

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) 69kV Substation Rehabilitations

The Contra Costa Water District operates three 69kV substations, which are powered by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), providing electric power to four pumping plants along the Contra Costa Canal. This canal is an integral part of the District’s water distribution system, delivering water to industries and municipalities from Oakley to Martinez.

EETS engineers were engaged to provide the following services to upgrade the aging substations, which were constructed in the 1940s:

  • Develop and evaluate several alternative approaches to achieve a cost-effective project and maximize operational advantages in the planning of the replacement substations.
  • Provide design workshops to ensure stakeholder criteria are incorporated into the design.
  • Coordinate the replacement of substations with the water delivery requirements of the pump stations.
  • Interface with WAPA and integrate their requirements into the design.
  • Prepare detailed design specifications and drawings for equipment procurement and substation construction.
  • Phase construction to minimize cutover and downtime.
  • The CCWD Substation and Pumping Plant Rehabilitation Project posed many challenges in designing the replacement of substation equipment for the three substations without disrupting the operations of the four pump plants they serve.

Power Projects