Our Projects
- All Projects
- Battery Storage
- Protection & Control
- Solar Generation
- Substation Design
- Transmission Line Design
- Wind Generation
RLC reviewed and ensured the accuracy and completeness of approximately 3,000 record drawings for numerous substations by providing P&C drafting and document control support. The client’s Design Packages were outdated or back-logged and needed to be closed out. This effort entailed incorporating existing field markups to as-built CAD conditions per the client’s substation drawing control requirements. All record drawings were reviewed to ensure the client received a complete Design Package drawing including all Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and field markings in sequential order.
CLIENT:
New England Utility (Confidential)
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Beaver Ridge Wind is a 4.5 megawatt 3-turbine wind project located in Freedom, Maine. This was the second operational wind farm in Maine and the first to interconnect to Central Maine Power Company’s grid.
RLC provided engineering, communications, and commissioning oversight services for the 34.5 kV collector system, project interconnection and turbine to SCADA communications.
CLIENT:
Patriot Renewables, LLC
LOCATION:
Freedom, Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Big Level Wind Project is a 90 MW wind farm with twenty‐five (25) turbines. The collector system for the Big Level Wind Project consists of 3.5 miles of overhead and 10.2 miles of underground 34.5 kV infrastructure. The overhead system is comprised of round wood pole structures supporting 1272 kcmil ACSR conductors. RLC developed the alignment of the collector system along with the structure details and material list. The structures are a mix of double circuit and single circuit arrangements.
The Big Level Wind Project is a 25 – turbine 90 MW wind project interconnected to the First Energy 115 kV transmission system in Potter County, PA. The wind turbines are GE 3.6 MW wind turbines.
The project collector system is configured as a combination underground/aerial 34.5 kV, three phase, 4 wire system interconnected to a newly constructed 115 kV – 34.5 kV substation. The collector substation consists of a 115 kV to 34.5 kV power transformer, breakers and control house.
LOCATION:
Potter County, Pennsylvania
START DATE:
July 2017
COMPLETION DATE:
December 2019
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Provided a quick deliverable of permit level design and material list to aid the client in meeting the construction schedule.
The TransCanada – Canadian Solar Project is a multiple, utility scale, photovoltaic facilities project developed by Canadian Solar. TransCanada later purchased each project at its respective completion. RLC was hired to serve as Owner’s Engineer, on behalf of TransCanada, to review and comment on Canadian Solar’s design and construction efforts and practices.
CLIENT:
Canadian Solar
LOCATION:
Multiple Locations Canada
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The overall effort involved the following six projects:
The Canton Wind project consists of 8 – 2.85 MW GEWE wind turbines. This project includes, but is not limited to, the Balance of Plant electrical engineering design work. This design work is necessary for the establishment of a new 115/34.5 kV line terminal at Ludden Lane substation, as well as a 34.5 kV aerial line between the new 34.5 kV line terminal, the ridgeline riser structures, and the 34.5 kV underground system from the ridgeline risers to the wind turbine switchgear. The design work is also essential to the associated communication/SCADA systems.
CLIENT:
Patriot Renewables, LLC
LOCATION:
Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Canton Wind Project is an 8-turbine facility located on Canton Mountain in Canton, Maine. The project now connects to the existing Central Maine Power 115 kV system via 3.4 miles of overhead and 1.8 miles of underground 34.5 kV collector system that interconnects at the Ludden Lane substation, which was expanded for this project.
LOCATION:
Canton, Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC Engineering was selected to provide a full complement of services to support DG interconnections for a local utility. Our deliverables span from compliance review, and feasibility and system impact studies upon the initial interconnection application, to witness testing before final approval. We provide support at critical junctures throughout the interconnection process, and have managed hundreds of studies in support of the client’s DG interconnection program.
Once projects enter the design phase, RLC performs the associated protection coordination study to ensure the interconnecting project and the utilities system reliability is optimized, including all settings and system operating guides. When projects are ready for commercial operation, RLC oversees the program for witnessing the final testing of the interconnecting project, providing the testing plan, resources for witnessing, and all documentation.
The management of this program by RLC Engineering ensures that the client is fully informed of all projects’ status, schedule, and budget. For each type of service performed, RLC provides weekly updates to the utility on all projects in the queue, turn-key reports and developer summary reports, as well as specialists augmenting the Protection and Coordination function and Project/Construction Management.
LOCATION:
Central, Down East, and Northern Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC performed detail design and engineering services for 9 PV arrays ranging from 2.45 – 5.0 MWAC. Two of the sites in North Carolina use sun-tracking panel mount technology to follow the sun to optimize electrical power generating output. The projects add renewable energy production capacity for Maine, Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina consumers. Arc Flash Hazard Analysis is a requirement of the OSHA 1910.335, NFPA 70E and applicable codes. Our analysis helped the customer determine what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is necessary to prevent injury to the employees when around or working on the equipment. Arc Flash Hazard Analysis is a requirement for the initial installation energization and every 5 years thereafter or if there is design change. RLC generated a report that determined the worst case Incident Energy (IE) Levels and provided the OSHA compliant labels in PDF printable format for the client.
LOCATION:
Multiple Locations
SCOPE OF SERVICES
MAINE
MASSACHUSETTS
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
The client installed a new substation in Farmington, Maine as the result of a private developer’s new solar farm. The new substation was installed adjacent to the existing substation, which resulted in the existing 115 kV line being split into two lines, with a short section of line being relocated to enter the new substation. The area between the new and old substations had to be utilized for multiple purposes, including access and distribution lines, requiring significant coordination between the substation design firm and the transmission design team.
LOCATION:
Farmington, Maine
START DATE:
January 2019
COMPLETION DATE:
December 2020
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Huckins Hill Project was the addition of a +50/-25 MVar synchronous condenser connected to bus 1 and 2, at Huckins Hill 115 kV Substation located in Holderness, NH. The synchronous condenser was located in the expansion to the west side of the existing station. A new 115 kV breaker was installed in the current unused bay on the north side of the station. A new 115 kV circuit switcher was added for switching of the synchronous condenser in and out of service. New relay and communications panels were installed in the existing control house. The new construction was designed to meet Bulk Power Separation (BPS) standards.
CLIENT:
Confidential
LOCATION:
Holderness, New Hampshire
START DATE:
November 2020
COMPLETION DATE:
August 2023
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC performed design and engineering services for New England Battery Storage for their Madison Jones Street project. The Madison ESS is New England’s first fully integrated front-of-the-meter energy storage facility. It is a 4.99 MW / 10 MWh lithium-ion system that participates in the ISO-NE wholesale energy markets, operating reserve markets, frequency regulation market, and capacity market.
CLIENT:
New England Battery Storage
LOCATION:
Madison, Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC performed design and engineering services for New England Battery Storage for their Madison BTM project. This is a 1.5 MW / 3.10 MWh battery energy storage system that will provide load reduction that provides services to the ISO-NE wholesale energy markets. This project began commercial operation in December of 2019. This project helps the Madison Electric Works reduce energy costs to their consumers.
CLIENT:
New England Battery Storage
LOCATION:
Madison, Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Given RLC Engineering’s experience in the Power Generation Industry and our extensive knowledge of the utility and power grid in the Northeast, an overseas developer approached us to establish a Program portfolio of projects throughout the State-of-Maine. RLC used a targeted approach to determine where there was utility capacity at the substation level so the developer could research for available land in those areas.
By developing an Area Study for Maine’s two major utilities, we directed the developer to substations with available capacity. Once the developer provided sites of interest, 93 site feasibility studies were performed to determine a Go or No-Go recommendation. RLC Engineering developed the site plans, one-line diagrams for 25 interconnection applications. RLC supported the developer successfully throughout the interconnection process with only the three (3) sites not proceeding due to wetland issues. This approach helped the developer successfully execute approximately 150 MWac of installed sites over a two (2) year period, which by using traditional methods would have added additional time and costs to the program.
LOCATION:
Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC performed design and engineering services for a 25MW/38 MWH Massachusetts Battery Storage System project which employs Lithium Ion battery technology and an SMA Inverter System.
The Battery Storage system which is integrated within a custom-built building is capable of operating in parallel with an existing 22.8 kV electrical distribution system or as an islanded resource.
The BESS output is automatically controlled to support system events and limit loading on the distribution system.
LOCATION:
Massachusetts
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The MEPCO Project was the design of replacement structure for three 345 kV transmission lines owned by the clients. The lines stretch 127 miles and include over 1000 structures. The existing wood pole structures were built in the 1970’s. Many structures each year are being replaced. The goal of this project was to development of replacement structures that can support the existing 850.8 kcmil ACSR conductor and a future reconductor with 1590 kcmil ACSR.
The replacement structures were designed with a mix of pole materials. Tangent structures used wood poles, running angles used LD steel poles and dead end structures used fabricated steel poles on foundations.
LOCATION:
Bangor, Maine
START DATE:
January 2019
COMPLETION DATE:
September 2019
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The client is responsible for constructing the generator lead from the Milo solar site to the Milo substation. The generator lead is a 1.25 mile long 46 kV line built with Hendrix spacer cable. The line is constructed roadside and required the transfer of the existing 13.2 kV distribution circuit to the new structures.
Along with the difficulty of building the line along the road side the project included two river crossings.
LOCATION:
Milo, Maine
START DATE:
March 2020
COMPLETION DATE:
December 2021
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC provided engineering services that developed the preliminary engineering documents necessary for the submittals of the Utility Interconnection Application and the Annual Energy Production Report. This work is for a solar system that will utilize more than 100 acres of land for development. The initial project was to provide conceptual documentation of a proposed minimum 7.5 MWac photovoltaic based generation facility, which has expanded in physical area and output to a potential 20 MWac site.
LOCATION:
Milo, Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The client is in the process of replacing existing shield wires on multiple 115 kV transmission lines within their system with OPGW. The existing lines are a mix of monopoles and h-frame structures, constructed using wood, light duty, and fabricated steel poles. Many of the existing lines were originally installed the 1970s and required field verification of the remaining original documentation.
Overall, RLC has completed the analysis and design for over 50 miles of line for the addition of OPGW in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.
LOCATION:
Connecticut, Western Massachusetts
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Passadumkeag Wind Project is a 13 – turbine 39.975 MW wind project interconnected to the Emera Maine 115 kV transmission system in Greenbush, Maine. The wind turbines are Vestas V112-3.075 MW wind turbines equipped with the grid streamer control system.
The project collector system is configured as a combination underground/aerial 34.5 kV, three phase, 4 wire system interconnected to a newly constructed 115 – 34.5 kV substation located 17 miles from the wind turbines. The 17-mile aerial collector system is configured as 9 miles of jointly occupied line with Emera Maine and 8 miles of solely occupied line to the ridgeline. The collector substation consists of a Prolec 100 MVA, 115000 Delta – 34500Y/19920 Grd Wye, power transformer, one Schneider 1200 Amp – 34.5 kV line breaker, one Schneider 1200 amp – 34.5 kV DVAR breaker and a 3 unit – 4 MVAR American Superconductor (AMSC) DVAR system. The project interconnection to the Emera Maine bulk transmission system is completed via a 115 kV – 3000 amp, three-breaker ring bus switching station tied into a bundled conductor (2-795 kcmil ACSR conductors per phase) 115 kV transmission line. High voltage interconnecting protection to the project is provided via two of the three ring bus breakers in the Emera Maine switching station.
CLIENT:
Quantum Utility Generation
LOCATION:
Greenbush, Maine
START DATE:
June 2014
COMPLETION DATE:
January 2016
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Pisgah Mountain Wind Project consists of 5 – 1.8 MW Vestas wind turbines located on Pisgah Mountain. This project includes, but is not limited to, the Balance of Plant electrical engineering design work necessary for the 34.5 kV underground system from the turbines to the riser poles; the 34.5 kV overhead line between turbines and to the new substation; the 34.5kV to 115 kV substation; the interconnection to BHE Section 66 and the communication/SCADA system.
CLIENT:
Cianbro Corporation
LOCATION:
Clifton, Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RLC served as Owner’s Engineer for the client in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The client was committed to develop up to 70 MWdc of solar systems, 35 MWdc in each of the Eastern and Western districts. The plan, which called for the construction of new facilities across the commonwealth, increased the amount of solar power produced by the client in Massachusetts from eight megawatts previously up to 70 megawatts statewide. Along with the significant environmental benefits of increasing the number of utility-scale solar plants in Massachusetts, there will be substantial cost-saving benefits for the client’s customers as well.
LOCATION:
Massachusetts
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Saddleback Ridge Wind Project is a 34.2 MW wind project employing 12 – 2.85 MW GEWE wind turbines. The project utilized approximately 13.5 miles of underground and overhead electrical collector system to interconnect with CMP’s high voltage system. Interconnection to the CMP system required the establishment of a new, 115 kV 3-breaker ring-bus switching substation.
Environmental constraints established the need for an intensive transmission corridor study. The substation transforms the collector circuit voltage from 34.5 kV to 115 kV allowing interconnection to CMP’s Section 229. The substation is also configured to provide for interconnection with the Canton Mountain Wind Farm project.
CLIENT:
Patriot Renewables, LLC
LOCATION:
Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The existing Pisgah Mountain Wind Farm, previously designed by RLC Engineering, consists of five (5) vestas 1.8 MW Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) and is adjacent to the new development of the Silver Maple Wind Project. The Silver Maple Wind Project consists of five (5) vestas 3.6 MW Wind Turbine Generators (WTG), a new 34/115 kV collector substation, a 115 kV interconnecting switchyard consisting of a four-breaker breaker-and-a-half configuration, and associated civil and electrical infrastructure located in Clifton, Maine. The project interconnected with the Versant Power transmission system via a 115 kV transmission line.
CLIENT:
SWEB Development LP
LOCATION:
Clifton, Maine
START DATE:
October 2020
COMPLETION DATE:
November 2022
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Spruce Mountain Wind consists of 10 – 2.0 MW Gamesa G87 Wind Turbines. The project interconnects to a new 34.5 kV three-phase roadside distribution circuit from Woodstock Substation. RLC was hired to facilitate the interconnection process and to serve as the project electrical engineers to design the collector system and communications for construction and for the permit application.
LOCATION:
Maine
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Transmission Lightning Arrester Application Study project was an investigation into line outages caused by lightning events on certain transmission lines. The Utility requested a review of the lightning related outages to determine if the frequency of these outages were outside the norm and if design modifications may be able to improve the performance of those lines. RLC was responsible for investigating the causes and made recommendations on potential mitigation options based on our field inspections. The intent of this investigation was to determine the most feasible mitigation alternative to reduce the number of outages caused by lightning.
LOCATION:
New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut
START DATE:
May 2016
COMPLETION DATE:
September 2016
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The client contracted RLC to review the inspection reports and photos of the transmission structures. An examination of the available information was used to develop a spreadsheet with an analysis of the structures. Each structure was graded using the EPRI Field Guides category A through D. Along with the grading system, notes of the structure deficiencies were provided. The inspection project provided Eversource with a way to assess the condition of 26,000 existing structures.
LOCATION:
Connecticut, Eastern and Western Massachusetts
START DATE:
February 2018
COMPLETION DATE:
August 2018
SCOPE OF SERVICES