07.07.2023

Hudson Tunnel Project to receive $6.88 Billion Federal Grant

Hudson Tunnel Project Entered into Engineering Phase of Capital Investment Grant Process, Clearing Way for Full Funding Grant Agreement and Major Construction of Project  

06.07.2023

Sika acquires Thiessen Team USA - strong player in US mining industry

Sika has acquired Thiessen Team USA, a US manufacturer of shotcrete and grouting products for the mining industry in the USA. The company serves the Western US mining industry which produces essential minerals for the growing electric vehicle industry among many other critical minerals. The acquisition will open up significant cross-selling potential and will support Sika’s expansion in the US mining market.  

06.07.2023

Return to the Dominican Republic: Bauer Spezialtiefbau completes order on the Monte Grande dam

The Monte Grande dam in the southwest of the Dominican Republic serves as a key element of the country’s infrastructure – for controlling the Yaque del Sur River's water level, flood protection and generation of electrical energy. Tourism and using dammed water for irrigation of agricultural land also play a significant role.  

Market-Place-4.0 PORR Deutschland GmbH, Tunnelbau EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG

05.07.2023

Energy transition - Porr to build caverns and tunnel system for Forbach pumped storage power plant

Energy transition – Porr to build caverns and tunnel system for Forbach pumped storage power plant (Credits: EnBW, Ingo Kamuf)

EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG is investing around EUR 280m in the conversion of the Rudolf Fettweis Plant (RFW) in Forbach from a storage and run-of-river power plant to a pumped storage power plant. PORR has secured the contract for Lot 2 “Civil works” with a total volume of EUR 98.3m.

“Pumped storage power plants are a particularly effective solution for generating alternative energy. They are therefore an important building block for the energy transition”, said Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR AG. As a construction company, PORR already has extensive experience in building pumped storage power plants such as Limberg III in Kaprun. “With Lot 2 of the Forbach power plant, we are making a powerful contribution to tomorrow’s energy supply”.

When the heritage-protected Forbach run-of-river power plant was commissioned in 1914, it was essential for electrification in the north of the Black Forest. Converting it to a pumped storage power plant will now significantly increase its efficiency. Until now, after the water from the Schwarzenbach and Murg dams had passed the turbine wheels, it first flowed into an equalisation basin and then into the Murg. Now an additional, underground sub-basin is being built, which will serve as an indirect power reservoir. From there, the water can be circulated as often as desired and used to generate electricity.

Balancing peaks in energy demand

If, for example, renewable energy is generated that is surplus to requirements, such as wind energy at night, this is used to pump the water from the underground sub-basin back into the day storage tank. If increased demand then occurs during the day, this day storage is used to generate energy. Since it requires no start-up time, the power plant is ideal for balancing energy demand peaks. In daytime storage mode, it has a capacity of around 456 MWh.

Thorsten Weiner, Technical Division Manager PORR Tunnelling Germany, is looking forward to the project: “Even with 3D forecast modelling, BIM planning and exploratory drilling, underground construction work always remains challenging. Having an experienced team that can master these challenges with flying colours is essential. Taking a proactive role in the energy transition gives us additional motivation. It will be a pleasure for us to work on delivering the Forbach pumped storage power plant”.

Massive caverns and tunnels

Construction will begin in autumn 2023. The work on Lot 2 includes, among other things, the construction of caverns, water reservoirs and tunnels using the mining method, the shell of the power plant cavern, the construction of two pressure shafts, and foundation engineering work. Before the new power plant can go into operation in 2027, the PORR team will have to blast and excavate huge cavities and tunnels in the rock. An estimated 450,000m³ of rock excavation material will be produced.

The tunnel system has a total length of 5,200m. In addition, about 510 metres of shafts will be constructed using the raise-boring method. The volume of the underground water reservoirs is 200 million litres. The main tunnel alone will have a length of 946m and a cross-section of up to 71.72m². In addition, there will be six side tunnels as well as access tunnels, supply tunnels and tunnels for energy transmission.

Facts and figures at a glance

• Project type: tunnelling
• Scope of services: Cavity construction of caverns, water reservoirs and tunnels using the mining method, shell of the power plant cavern, construction of two pressure shafts and special civil engineering works
• Client: EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG
• Contractor: PORR GmbH & Co. KGaA / PORR AG
• Contract volume: EUR 98.3m
• Construction start: Autumn 2023
• Completion: 2027

Source: Porr

#Germany (DE) #contract award #energy transition #renewables #hydropower #PORR Deutschland GmbH, Tunnelbau #EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG #Tunnelling #Geotechnics #Energy #special civil engineering

                     

04.07.2023

Sika continues to expand production in growth market India

Sika is opening a new plant in Kharagpur, eastern India, and continues to expand production capacity in the fast-growing Indian market. The plant will manufacture mortar products, concrete admixtures, and shotcrete accelerators for customers in the West Bengal region, which has more than 100 million inhabitants.