Siemens won a $10 million bid through the Chicago Department of Water Management to support upgrades to the Springfield Avenue Pumping Station. This will result in approximately $7.5 million annually in energy and operating cost savings. The station will convert from traditional steam turbines and boilers, to drives connected to electric motors, as part of Chicago's 'Build a New Chicago' $7 billion, three-year infrastructure improvement program.
Siemens will provide five ROBICON Perfect Harmony Drives for the project, in addition to electrical distribution equipment such as panelboards, switchboards, safety switches, switchgear and busway systems.
Three buildings were demolished at the Springfield Avenue Pumping Station in April as electricity replaces steam power in the city's water distribution system. In a network of 12 pumping stations, the Springfield Station is one of four being converted to electricity.
According to the Department of Water Management, the transformation at the Springfield Pumping Station will reduce carbon emissions by 17,380 tons each year, based on current water pumping rates. This is the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 2,888 automobiles, according to the USEPA.
The new LEED-certified electrical building, housing much of the Siemens equipment, will also include a green roof system for improved storm water management and solar collection panels. The Springfield project represents a $64.6M investment, and is expected to be completed in July 2015.
