Power PlantsFuture power generating facilities in the southwestern United States will range from newer alternative energy projects to traditional fossil fuel plants.

Design challenges in power plant projects extend from unique wind loads to traditional heavy construction considerations. For example, large-scale traditional power plants will likely use combinations of drilled shafts and shallow mat foundations, requiring geotechnical engineering oversight to achieve the economies of mixing these systems.Nuclear facilitiesWestern Technologies has provided continuous services at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Facility for the past two decades. Services include recommendations for temporary storage of spent fuel rods, new pipelines and transmission lines, and even security upgrades.Coal-fired facilitiesGeotechnical expertise is extensive at Western Technologies in the construction of power generating facilities, including coal-fired power plants. This experience is important for placement of foundations in bearing materials which support very large static and vibrating loads.Scrubber facilitiesThe air quality of emissions is one of the primary issues of existing power generating facilities. The addition of air cleaning scrubbers to generating facilities can pose several interesting geotechnical concerns. The addition of loads to existing stacks and construction of new stacks inside the plant create a range of geotechnical issues for new and existing improvements.

Western Technologies has successfully addressed these geotechnical issues for many of these facilities and plants. We assist our clients with the planning, design, examination and testing required, answering many of these questions that need resolution in scrubber projects.

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