Are you up to taking the plunge? The highly technical, highly complex – and potentially hazardous – energy work many consulting firms shy away from, SME champions. Coal-fired electric generating facilities, biofuel facilities, wind farms, ethanol plants, geothermal systems, natural gas compressor stations, manufactured gas plants and solar cell production facilities.

It’s a whole new world of energy opportunities, and energy suppliers must constantly review their operations to stay in the game. Energy companies look to SME for environmental solutions. We provide consulting for brownfield financing, due diligence for property transactions, emergency response, contamination investigation, risk assessment, remediation, site closure, asbestos and hazardous materials consulting, and environmental regulatory compliance.

At NextDiesel’s new biodiesel plant in Adrian, Michigan, we performed environmental due diligence, designed a spill containment system, negotiated an air emissions permit exemption, and prepared their storm water discharge permit application. We also developed a Hazardous Materials Management Plan; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan; Pollution Incident Prevention (PIP) Plan; and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.

Energy companies also look to SME for geotechnical solutions. We excel at solving difficult geotechnical and structural challenges during design and construction of various types of power facilities including new plants, substations, transmission towers, wind turbines as well as retrofitting equipment at existing plants. Our engineers recommend cost-saving foundation systems, design specialized foundations, as well as address issues related to vibrations, dynamic loads on foundations, and resistivity and corrosivity of soils on various infrastructure.

SME recently performed a geotechnical evaluation for a proposed 600 MW coal-fired electric generating facility and wind farm in northern Michigan that is located within the limits of an existing surface limestone mine. In addition, we provided seismic services to evaluate the effect that blasting, associated with the ongoing mining, would have on the proposed generators. We measured the vibrations from blasts with differing magnitudes of energy at varying distances from the blast site as a basis of comparison to established tolerable vibration limits for the generators. We have also provided due diligence and geotechnical engineering for several wind farms across Michigan.

SME also specializes in materials testing and inspection, including steel construction and welding for construction of buildings and installation of equipment such as above ground storage tanks. We have significant experience in facility management, covering pavements, roofs, and building material components, such as building facades. Clients also ask us for help with repairs and restoration of numerous types of facilities. For the past several years, we’ve been providing engineering evaluations, nondestructive assessments, and restoration designs for the General Electric (GE) Power Systems Group. Energy related projects have taken us around the world to Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, Ireland, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, Nicaragua and Turkey.

Size, scale and location make these projects noteworthy. But ask any of the engineers and consultants in our Energy Group to describe a memorable project, and he or she will talk about what they’re working on now, what they worked on last month -- and what they worked on last year. It’s all challenging work. Like performing due diligence and geotechnical evaluations for wind generation developments. Or identifying hazardous or regulated materials that would impact demolition of a coal heating plant. Or preparing recommendations for repair of wind turbine foundations. Or conducting contamination investigations and delineation assessments at former manufactured gas plant sites.

It’s no wonder clients say: “when a project is challenging, we need SME.” Our engineers and materials specialists thrive on having their “voltage” tested by Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, GE, Wolverine Power and ITC Holdings. In the last 10 years, we’ve completed over 300 projects for these energy powerhouses.

You’ll never have to worry about a bolt from the blue with SME.

For more information contact an SME office near you.
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Click here for a list of representative projects.





© Copyright 2009 Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc.