Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL) announced the sale of five of the company's largest gas-fired engines to supply energy for a new electrical power plant in Geneva, IL, located 40 miles west of Chicago. The $18 million project involves construction of a 29MW power plant capable of providing critical peak power for up to 40,000 homes. The plant is scheduled to open in January 2004.
The city of Geneva will own and operate the natural-gas-powered plant designed to generate electricity during periods of peak electrical demand. The plant will help the city maintain reasonable electric rates by supplementing power purchased from the existing electricity grid through external generation utilities. It will offer clean, efficient, distributed power close to homes and businesses while protecting the city against price volatility in the electricity market.
The new plant will be powered by five Caterpillar G16CM34 gas-fired, reciprocating engines, manufactured by Caterpillar Motoren (Kiel, Germany). Each engine weighs more than 300,000lbs, and measures 40ft x 15ft x 10ft. Stacked together, the five engines would stand nearly eight stories tall. The engines have arrived in Geneva and will be installed as part of the current construction phase.
