Reliable Power for a National Printing Company
Summary
For a leading U.S. printing company, uninterrupted electrical power is critical to maintaining productivity and meeting tight delivery deadlines. When power interruptions threatened operations, IEA Power designed, installed, and continues to operate a 3 MW on-site generation system that ensures reliability and peace of mind—no matter the weather.The Challenge
The client needed a dependable, on-site source of backup power to maintain operations during utility outages and severe weather events. Their goals included:
- Maintaining continuous production during utility disruptions.
- Avoiding equipment downtime and missed deadlines.
- Implementing a cost-effective generation solution that could scale with operational growth.
The Solution
In 1986, IEA Power installed a 1,500 kW diesel generator on-site, owned, operated, and maintained by IEA under a shared-savings agreement. This approach allowed the company to benefit from reliable standby power while participating in an interruptible program that helped offset costs.As the company’s energy needs grew, two additional generators were added—bringing total standby capacity to 3 MW. IEA also integrated 24/7 monitoring through its advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, ensuring real-time oversight and rapid response.
To further safeguard operations, IEA implemented a proactive “storm run” protocol:
- When severe weather (lightning, high winds, freezing rain, or snow) is forecasted, the generators start automatically.
- The facility’s load transfers from the utility to the generators, isolating operations from potential grid faults or storm damage.
- Once conditions stabilize, the load is safely transferred back to utility power.
This approach has eliminated production disruptions and protected the facility from countless potential outages over the years.
Result & Impact
- Continuous uptime during utility interruptions and weather-related events.
- 3 MW of reliable standby capacity, owned and maintained by IEA.
- Cost savings through IEA’s shared-savings agreement and interruptible program.
- 24/7 SCADA monitoring for real-time system performance and control.
- Decades of proven reliability, allowing the client to deliver on-time to customers nationwide.
