A Smarter, Cleaner Approach to Airport Power

Schedule

2 years

Location

Pennsylvania

Estimated Cost

$26K          

Client

Power Generation Company

Project Overview

The international airport required a highly reliable, self‑sufficient power source capable of maintaining critical operations under all conditions. Conventional utility service could not guarantee uninterrupted power during grid disturbances, nor could it support the airport’s need for operational resilience, redundancy, and long‑term cost stability. To meet these demands, the airport sought a dedicated onsite generation solution that could operate independently when needed, yet remain integrated with the broader utility system. To address this challenge, LSC designed a 20 MW natural‑gas‑fueled power generation facility built around multiple combined heat and power (CHP) units. These units convert natural gas into electricity and route output through switchgear for efficient distribution. The system was engineered to operate in both Island Mode, providing full onsite power independence, and Mains Parallel Mode, enabling excess generation to flow back to the utility grid—giving the airport the flexibility and resilience it required

Deliverables:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering

Project Team

Taylor Scherz

Director, Project Management

Curtis Fry

Director, Engineering

Standardized Designs That Reduced Cost and Improved Consistency

Working closely with the client, LSC standardized the overall facility design so it could be replicated at additional sites with minimal modification. This standardization effort created consistent configurations across locations, which:

This repeatable design approach allowed the client to scale power solutions efficiently across their system.

Environmental Solutions That Delivered Cleaner, Safer Operations

To further enhance environmental performance, LSC supported the integration of a Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) system that significantly reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from each generator’s exhaust stream.  LSC designed the urea holding tank and all associated piping, supports, and heat‑trace systems required to supply the SCR injection and control system.

These improvements helped the airport achieve: