SAIC Provides DesignBuild Solutions for Geothermal Facilities

Tackling the Growing Need for a Clean, Reliable,
and Secure Energy Supply

As energy prices continue to rise, clean, reliable, and secure energy sources are becoming vital to our nation. Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy are gaining momentum in the market, and more and more utilities are looking to find ways to tap into these natural resources. Geothermal energy offers enormous potential as a renewable energy source since it does not burn fuel and energy production is clean. SAIC has extensive experience in geothermal power and its related technologies and is working with customers to help engineer, procure, and construct services for their geothermal facilities.

"Geothermal power plants are cost-effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. The adoption of this technology is key to achieving our country's sustainability goals," said J.T. Grumski, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "SAIC is committed to helping design and build new generation power plants that produce renewable base-load electricity and are economically attractive energy resources, while mitigating environmental impact."

Integrated Project Delivery

SAIC has been involved in geothermal projects in the U.S. and around the world, resulting in a comprehensive understanding of the technologies, engineering, design, and construction used in geothermal power production. SAIC's integrated DesignBuild℠ project delivery methods represent the union of architecture, engineering, and construction professionals who clearly understand each other's roles and work hand-in-hand with customers to deliver successful geothermal facilities.

Recent Projects

SAIC has been awarded three, recent, noteworthy geothermal contracts:

• Gradient Resources
  Gradient Resources, a vertically integrated developer of geothermal energy projects, is executing an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with SAIC for the delivery of a new 60 megawatt (MW) modular binary cycle power plant at its Patua project in northern Nevada.
  
  Gradient's Patua site, near Fernley, Nev., is the company's first geothermal power plant. Drilling at Patua recommenced in February 2010. Physical construction of the first phase of the power plant will begin in the second quarter of 2011, and the anticipated date for commercial operations is the third quarter of 2012.
  
  The geothermal project is the largest binary plant to ever be constructed. SAIC's technology teammate for this project is TAS Energy Inc., of Houston, Texas. Learn more »

  
  

• U.S. Geothermal Inc.
  In September 2010, SAIC was awarded a contract by USG Nevada LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Geothermal Inc., a leading renewable energy company, to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for phase one of the San Emidio project—construction of a geothermal power plant in northwest Nevada. The contract has a 15-month period of performance and a contract value of more than $22 million. SAIC is also providing a project loan for the Phase one construction costs. Learn more »

  
  

• Terra Gen Sierra Holdings, LLC
  SAIC was also recently awarded a prime contract by Terra Gen Sierra Holdings, LLC, a renewable energy company focused on geothermal, wind, and solar generation to engineer, procure, and construct a binary geothermal power plant in Churchill County, Nev., adjacent to the existing Dixie Valley geothermal facility. The contract is valued at more than $14 million, and the project is scheduled for completion by January 2012.
  
  Under the contract, SAIC is providing DesignBuild services to deliver a new 6.6 megawatt binary plant manufactured by Turbine Air Systems, a company based in Houston, Texas. Learn more »