The Challenge

The Conti Group was the program manager and served as the owner’s representative throughout construction, partnering with the development firm. (The contract was under Design Build Professionals, Inc., from whom we acquired all the operating assets.) This plant is comprised of three GE Frame 7EA natural gas-fired combustion turbines in simple cycle arrangement, located on 8 acres of the Innercob Industrial Estate in Brechin Castle, Couva, on the island of Trinidad and Tobago.

The facility’s power generated was stepped up to 132 kV for connection to Trinidad & Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC). T&TEC through a substation located adjacent to the project site. Each gas turbine generator has a step up transformer to match the generator 13.8 kV output to the transmission grid at 132 kV.  The facility was designed to operate in the dispatchable mode with provisions for black start.  Each gas turbine generator has a local microprocessor based control system to operate the turbine, generator and auxiliaries.  Local controls were tied to a central control room system that controls the balance of plant equipment.  NOx emissions are controlled by dry low NOx combustors on the gas turbines.

The Solution

The project team overcame logistical challenges as this plant is in a remote location in the West Indies. As the project progressed through the development phase, our team had to navigate the different code requirements being in a foreign as well as United States code since much of the equipment was being manufactured in the U.S.

Also, given the remote location of the site Conti had to adapt the design of the facility to align with the local trade materials available. For example, the region didn’t produce trees suitable for timber, but there is an abundance of sand and materials to produce concrete. In order to use local materials and save costs, we worked with the project team to redesign the facility to use more masonry than structural steel.

Scope of Work